News

Bombardier’s Global 8000: The Fastest Business Jet in the World

Speed, comfort, and range are the trifecta of power for bizjets. And there’s a new champion across all three pillars: the Bombardier Global 8000. Set to become the world’s fastest bizjet, with speeds reaching above Mach 1, the Bombardier Global 8000 has a range of 8000nm and delivers what Bombardier promises will be the smoothest ride of any jet in its class. It’s a true marvel of engineering and one setting the stage for an even more exciting future for private aviation: supersonic jets. Butting up against the supersonic barrier With a Mach 0.94 cruise and top airspeeds that have […]

Airbus Lets Private Jet Buyers Build a Virtual Cabin

Virtual reality (VR) is one of the most talked-about technologies of the last decade, with new use cases springing up everywhere. Private aviation is one benefactor of VR, with everything from virtual jet tours to virtual pilot training. Now, famed airframer Airbus is adopting VR technology to help its customers build their perfect jet interior, one detail at a time. The ACJ TwoTwenty Creative Studio offers an immersive experience for personalized luxury like never before. Comfort takes center stage Concerning the trifecta of speed, distance, and comfort, cabin customization has become one of the most in-demand facets of private jet […]

Joby Aviation Leads the Race Toward an Air Taxi Future

The market for eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) aircraft grows larger by the year. Excitement is building around air taxis as more aviation companies explore partnerships and purchase agreements. We’ve entered an exciting new phase in the march toward commercial eVTOL flights. Joby Aviation, an undisputed industry leader, has received FAA Part 135 Certification. It’s a crucial achievement, and it brings Joby — and all eVTOLs — one step closer to commercial reality. The hype for air taxis is ramping up 2022 is shaping up to be a big one for air taxi developments. Earlier this year, eVTOLs got […]

Why Is China’s Private Jet Fleet Shrinking?

The pandemic had a significant impact on the world, but few countries suffered the protracted effects of the virus like China. Until May 2022, the country was subject to a series of stringent lockdowns and quarantines that effectively stagnated the economy and disrupted the broader developed world. Every industry felt the effects of the pandemic, including private aviation. In fact, analysts are expressing concerns of a prolonged period of depression for China’s private fleet. It’s bad news for airframers reliant on APAC (Asia-Pacific) markets to bolster jet sales. Surveying China’s private fleet According to year-end figures from China’s 20 largest […]

Range vs. Comfort: Private Aviation Demands Shift

Comfort has always been a chief variable in the purchase of a private jet, but most airframers assume comfort is implied and prioritize speed and distance for new models. Now, as various jet classes reach the pinnacle of efficiency given current technology, attracting new buyers returns to an appeal to luxury. Determining factors for buyers now include inches of extra space, available amenities, and luxury features. Range and speed now come second to comfort Would you rather get to your destination quickly or comfortably? For owners of private jets, given one option, comfort wins out. Thankfully, these variables aren’t mutually […]

A Closer Look at the Newer, Faster Cirrus SR Series

Among turboprops and ultralights, Cirrus is a respected industry leader. Its SR Series of jets is beloved by owners, and the company continues to improve the line to keep up with evolving technology. This year, Cirrus launched the sixth iteration of its SR Series, proving once again the surest path to market dominance is sticking with what works. While the Cirrus SR may look like the old familiar airframe, it’s what’s under the façade that’s turning heads. It’s newer, faster, and packed with innovations poised to keep it at the front of the pack. A beloved aircraft continues to evolve […]

Textron Acquires Slovenian Electric Aircraft Company Pipistrel

Private aviation is on the precipice of an eco-friendly era of innovation, including sustainable aviation fuel and boomless supersonics. Leading the charge into aviation’s new golden age are electric jets, which are rising to prominence around the globe. And established airframers are taking notice. Textron Aviation recently announced its acquisition of Pipistrel, a Slovenian electric jet company. The startup is well respected for its electric jets and innovative tech, and Textron’s acquisition is a sign of its investment in an electric aviation future. Breaking down the Pipistrel acquisition Textron entered an agreement to acquire Pipistrel in March 2022, and the […]

NetJets Moves Away From Jet Cards to Embrace 25-Hour Leases

For years, jet cards were the industry standard for fractional flights and charters. They ensure members access to jets on demand and steady revenue streams for fleet operators. But NetJets, the world’s largest private fleet operator, is changing the game. Moving forward, it won’t offer jet cards. Instead, it’s implementing a 25-hour leasing program — a change likely to launch a new trend in the private charter sector. The shift to a fractional leasing model As it says goodbye to jet cards, NetJets is opting for a fractional leasing model for its aircraft. The model isn’t technically new: NetJets previously […]

Business, Pleasure, Personal: Why People Fly Private

It’s proving another exceptional year for growth in the private aviation industry. With first-quarter travel figures up, and more private charters logged, it’s clear a new crop of flyers has developed a taste for the benefits of private air travel. But what’s bringing them to private aviation? Is it business? Pleasure? Personal preference? Evidence suggests it’s all three. For travelers, private aviation represents a new luxury they never knew they wanted — or needed. Private air travel continues to surge As the lingering effects of the global pandemic continue to wane, private air travel is up and on the rise […]

Saying Goodbye to the Antonov AN-225

Designed and built in Soviet Ukraine in the 1980s, the Antonov AN-225 was the world’s largest aircraft for more than 30 years. It set records for the heaviest aircraft ever built and the largest wingspan of any aircraft in service. For aviation enthusiasts, it was part innovation, part icon, and part mythical beast. Now, the AN-225 is no more — a piece of aviation history destroyed by Russian invasion forces. The destruction of the Antonov AN-225 was met with alarm and sadness in the aviation community, which had an enduring devotion to the world’s largest plane. The aircraft, a marvel […]