4 Best Private Jets for Pilots
by Crista Worthy
Want to start an argument in a hurry? Just tell a fellow pilot which four airplanes you think are the best. Still, there’s no doubt that a select few airplanes tend to rise to the top of pilots’ lists. It all depends on what you want to do with your airplane. We’ll look at four different missions and select both the best piston aircraft and jet for each mission.
Cirrus Aircraft
- Longer Trips and Fully Instrument-Capable
If you’re making longer cross-country flights, then speed, automation and instrument capability will be high on your list of requirements. If that was my mission and I had the cash, I’d buy a Cirrus. Comfortable, easy to fly, with a max cruise speed of 183 KTAS, Cirrus Perspective+ by Garmin Cockpit, synthetic vision, autopilot stall protection and much more, the 310-hp, normally-aspirated SR22 starts at $629,900.
The turbocharged version’s max cruise is 213 KTAS for a starting price of $729,900. My two favorite safety features: the parachute and the magic blue level button. Put the plane in an unusual attitude, push the button and it gently levels the aircraft, a lifesaver if you become disoriented in the clag.
Another benefit of owning a Cirrus is that, should you want to upgrade to a jet, it’s an easy transition to learn how to fly the Cirrus Vision Jet, the most economical private jet available today. Of all the jets I sat in at Oshkosh 2018, the Vision Jet’s cockpit was my favorite. The visibility and comfort were astounding.
But if you’ve got the pocketbook and really want to travel the world in style, take a hard look at the Falcon line of jets. For this pilot, no other family of jets beats their combination of the best in wide-bodied passenger comfort, range, speed, and state-of-the-art avionics and flight management systems.
Dick Williams
- Backcountry Bound
Even though I prefer tricycle gear airplanes, I’ve spent enough time in the backcountry with other pilots’ taildraggers to acknowledge that a tailwheel (aka conventional gear) aircraft does give you more options when dealing with short and/or rough airstrips. A Cessna 180 or 185 Skywagon will haul a lot more, but if you have just one or two people, nothing beats a Super Cub or its derivatives, the Aviat Husky, CubCrafters Carbon Cub, or Super Legend. These little taildraggers all have plenty of power for mountain ops. Tandem seating (one behind the other) means that you can see equally well out of both sides of the aircraft.
I earned my float rating in a Super Cub in Alaska, and I thought it might be difficult to transition to a center stick, with the throttle on the left side. It took less than 5 minutes to feel at ease, and I have never had more fun in an airplane than in a Super Cub on floats. These airplanes are equally at home on skis and tundra tires, too. The secret to owning one of these babies and not getting yourself killed is to remember that, just because the airplane can do it, doesn’t mean you always should. Operating safely in remote areas requires special training, so make sure you get that training and always carry a PLB or satellite tracker.
But backcountry pilots aren’t limited to tiny taildraggers. The Swiss company Pilatus Aircraft, Ltd. offers two rugged, backcountry-capable aircraft that can carry up to 10 passengers or an armada of off-road vehicles and equipment, thanks to their enormous cargo doors. For short-field landings, the 1,200-hp PC-12NG turboprop stalls at only 67 ktas. Its take-off distance over a 50-foot obstacle is only 2,602 feet, yet it can fly up to 30,000 feet MSL. And yes, you can even take a jet into the backcountry: the PC-24 is the world’s first Super Versatile Jet. Engineered from the beginning to be “off-road” compatible, it combines the versatility of a turboprop with the cabin size of a medium-light jet, and the performance of a light jet. It offers outstanding short-field performance (2,930-foot takeoff) – even on rough, unpaved runways – offering pilots an incredible level of mobility.
Indy Air Sales
- Most Affordable
Many people assume that anyone who owns an airplane must be super-wealthy. Sure, bizjets cost millions and even a brand-new Cessna 172 will run you well into six figures, but the truth is that there are a number of vintage aircraft that go for under $25,000. I’ve seen nice little Cessna 150s for as low as $15,000. Other good values are the Aeronca Champ, Luscombe, Beechcraft Skipper, and Ercoupe. But possibly the best all-around bargain airplane is the Cherokee 140. It’s an easy-to-land tricycle gear, and the 150-hp 140-4 can be configured for four seats. It can haul around 950 pounds 465 nm while cruising at 108 knots. Not bad for as little as $21,000.
If you’re looking for an affordable jet, this is an incredible time to buy a used jet. Prices have cratered to the point that you can find, for example, a 1996 Gulfstream IV, a plane that cost $36 million new, for just under $2.5 million!
Why? Part of the answer has to do with the upcoming FAA ADS-B mandate. To fly in controlled airspace, all aircraft must be ADS-B – “out” equipped by January 1, 2020. Equipping a jet can cost around $150,000 (prices vary of course), and some jets aren’t equipped yet. Still, the Gulfstream example mentioned above represents a fourteen-fold reduction in price, even after complying with the ADS-B mandate. The other reason older jets can be such a bargain is that many of them are equipped with “steam” gauges or older “glass” panels, instead of newer glass panels that can include synthetic vision, terrain mapping, fly-by-wire, heads-up displays, and more. Caveat: watch out for jets that will soon need total engine overhauls. You’ll need to find out what the engine overhauls will cost to determine if it’s still a bargain buy.
Mike Hart
- Best All-Around
My candidate for best all-around airplane is also the next airplane we intend to buy: a Cessna 182 Skylane. It’s stable, reliable and was produced in such high numbers that parts and qualified mechanics are easy to find. It’s got a good safety record. If you need extra speed, buy the turbo retractable version. If you plan to use it on short, unimproved airstrips, add a STOL kit and vortex generators. The 182 provides good short-field performance as is, but you can add a larger engine or go with mods like the p-ponk, which add extra horsepower. It’s hard to find a Cessna taildragger that has never been ground-looped—that should tell you something. Galen Hanselman, author of “Fly Idaho!” the indispensable backcountry flying guidebook, flies a 182 and it gets him everywhere he needs to go. You can’t beat a Skylane for a reliable, all-around family airplane.
Best all-around jet? That might just be the Embraer Phenom 300—the world’s best-selling light jet for seven years, with no sign of giving up that title. The new 300E offers highly intuitive next-generation avionics, generous cabin space, plush interior, an industry-exclusive upper technology panel, and best-in-class cabin altitude combined with good range and affordable operating costs. It can carry up to 11 occupants and can be flown by a single pilot!
There you have it—plenty of food for thought about different types of airplanes. If you’re thinking about buying one, this article and all the articles linked within it should give you plenty to chew on and help you decide which airplane best fits your needs. Then keep it protected in a hangar, so it’s always ready to go when you are!
References:
- https://cirrusaircraft.com/aircraft/
- https://disciplesofflight.com/cessna-180-skywagon/
- https://disciplesofflight.com/the-cessna-185-skywagon/
- https://disciplesofflight.com/piper-pa-18-super-cub/
- https://disciplesofflight.com/aviat-husky-aircraft-profile/
- http://cubcrafters.com/
- https://disciplesofflight.com/american-legend-super-legend-xp/
- https://www.alaskafloatratings.com/floatplane-heaven
- https://disciplesofflight.com/backcountry-flying-airstrip-etiquette-safety-info/
- https://mountaincanyonflying.com/
- https://explore.garmin.com/en-US/inreach/
- https://www.planeandpilotmag.com/article/10-cheapest-birds-in-the-sky/2/
- https://disciplesofflight.com/cessna-182-skylane/
- http://www.stolcraft.com/
- https://microaero.com/
- https://pponk.com/
- http://www.flyidaho.com/
- https://disciplesofflight.com/book-review-fly-idaho/
- https://hangarbot.com/
- https://cirrusaircraft.com/aircraft/vision-jet/
- https://www.dassaultfalcon.com/en/Pages/Home.aspx
- https://www.pilatus-aircraft.com/en/fly/pc-12
- https://www.pilatus-aircraft.com/en/fly/pc-24
- https://executive.embraer.com/global/en
- https://executive.embraer.com/global/en/phenom-300e
- https://www.controller.com/listings/aircraft/for-sale/18544831/1996-gulfstream-ivsp
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulfstream_IV
Comments
roorEcomiaLeno said:
online casino gambling https://slotsgamesdirect.com/ casino blackjack gold fish casino slots online casino bonus
adonlimmessiow said:
https://freecasinoslotsmatic.com/ free casino games slot machines https://casinogamesvol.com/ – free buffalo slots goldfish casino slots free
adonlimmessiow said:
online casino https://onlinecasinosure.com/ – casino bonus codes free casino games online casino real money
annoupesnub said:
slots games https://freecasinoslotsnow.com/ – best online casinos free casino games online casino play
roorEcomiaLeno said:
slots for real money 300 free slots no download 300 free slots of vegas online casino bonus https://casino-onlinelife.com/ – usa casinos no deposit free welcome bonus
annoupesnub said:
facebook dating site russian dating dating site for gay teen
attarmofetarl said:
cashman casino slots online casino real money casino blackjack casino real money
roorEcomiaLeno said:
online casino games https://casinogamesvol.com/ – free casino games online slots free free slots online casino bonus
Weciarbormurbib said:
https://playslotsapp.com/ 100 free casino no deposit three rivers casino all free casino slots games winstar world casino
attarmofetarl said:
https://playcasinoslotsmatic.com/ vegas slots casino https://freecasinoslotsnow.com/ – casino games free online 50 lions free slots
attarmofetarl said:
https://tinderdatingww.com/# dating website best dating apps shemale dating tinder dating site
Weciarbormurbib said:
https://tinderdatingww.com/# best dating websites bumble dating dating naked best dating websites
adonlimmessiow said:
zoosk online dating site https://tinderdatingww.com/# best online dating sites free dating online dating apps
annoupesnub said:
https://casinogamesmgc.com/ brian christopher slots https://casinorealmoneybigbet.com/ – hollywood casino slots games vegas world
annoupesnub said:
vegas slots online casino online world class casino slots slots for real money
roorEcomiaLeno said:
absolute dating dating sites free best online dating
Weciarbormurbib said:
http://cbdtincturesui.com/# buy hemp oil http://cbdoilstoretv.com/# – pure cbd cbd oil near me
adonlimmessiow said:
cbd oil benefits http://cbdoilhh.com/# – cbd for sale cbd oil store cbd buy cbd oil
adonlimmessiow said:
no deposit casino https://playonlinecasinobit.com/ – vegas casino slots vegas casino slots play slots online free slots
adonlimmessiow said:
casino slots https://playslotsapp.com/ gossip slots wheel of fortune slots sugarhouse casino online
roorEcomiaLeno said:
usa online casino free online casino slots doubledown casino bonus collector play slots https://onlinecasinosam.com/ – caesars free slots
annoupesnub said:
online casino free casino best online casinos
annoupesnub said:
http://buycbdoilfo.com/# cbd oil at walmart http://hempcbdoilgh.com/# – cbd oil near me hemp cbd oil
annoupesnub said:
online dating site online dating free tinder dating site senior dating sites https://tinderdatingww.com/# – dating online
roorEcomiaLeno said:
cbd for sale cbd store buy hemp oil cbd drops http://cbdoinlinexo.com/# – cbd gummies walmart
Weciarbormurbib said:
winstar world casino slot machines free games gold fish casino slots https://casinoslotsonlinems.com/
attarmofetarl said:
https://playonlinecasinobit.com/ online casino real money https://online-casinovice.com/ – real money casino slots games free
attarmofetarl said:
dating naked https://tinderdatingww.com/# – facebook dating asian dating best online dating silver singles dating site
Weciarbormurbib said:
dating naked https://tinderdatingww.com/# christian dating sites interracial dating online dating site
adonlimmessiow said:
christian dating for free hinge dating christian dating
adonlimmessiow said:
https://casinoslotsms.com/ free casino games https://casinoslotsms.com/ – best online casinos free casino games online
attarmofetarl said:
free vegas slots online casino https://slotsgamesdirect.com/ – play free mr cashman slots las vegas casinos free slots no download
Weciarbormurbib said:
casino play https://playcasinogamescast.com/ – online casinos play casino casino real money online gambling
annoupesnub said:
300 free slots no download https://freecasinogamesms.com/ stn play online casino free casino games with bonus free casino games slot
roorEcomiaLeno said:
free online dating https://tinderdatingww.com/# – ourtime dating site dating sites free best dating web sites
attarmofetarl said:
online casino gambling https://nodepositcasinoffer.com/ – free casino games online real casino slots vegas casino slots best online casinos
adonlimmessiow said:
https://casinogamesvol.com/ pch slots tournament https://casinogamesvol.com/ – free vegas slots online slots free
Weciarbormurbib said:
play online casino world class casino slots casino online https://playcasinoadvance.com/
roorEcomiaLeno said:
play free slot machines with bonus spins https://casinorealmoneyai.com/ – indian casinos near me real casino slots slots online free
annoupesnub said:
tinder dating app gay dating mature dating facebook dating https://tinderdatingww.com/# – facebook dating
attarmofetarl said:
cbd hemp pure cbd cbd oil online cbd oil at walmart http://annabisoilweb.com/# – cbd oil near me
Weciarbormurbib said:
casino games online casino gambling online casino real money play casino https://playslotstime.com/ – free slots games
Weciarbormurbib said:
online slots real money https://playcasinoadvance.com/ – free casino games vegas world hollywood casino play4fun casino near me https://freecasinogameslab.com/
Weciarbormurbib said:
interracial dating https://datingsitesww.com/# – adult dating dating app best online dating sites
attarmofetarl said:
https://datingsitesww.com/# pof dating dating naked speed dating dating naked
roorEcomiaLeno said:
no deposit casino https://playcasinogamescast.com/ – casino play slots free online slots vegas casino slots
adonlimmessiow said:
shemale dating dating apps tinder dating site hinge dating app https://datingsitesww.com/# – online dating free
attarmofetarl said:
most popular free casino slots https://casino-onlinelife.com/ – hollywood casino online slots hallmark casino online jackpot magic slots play free slot machines with bonus spins
annoupesnub said:
free casino games slotomania https://slotsgamesdirect.com/ – play free win real cash hollywood casino online slots free pechanga casino
roorEcomiaLeno said:
https://casinogamesonlinex.com/ real casino slots slots games online casino real money play online casino
roorEcomiaLeno said:
https://datingsitesww.com/# ourtime dating site https://datingsitesww.com/# – badoo dating site zoosk dating site
adonlimmessiow said:
real money casino slots free online casino
annoupesnub said:
vegas casino slots slots games gold fish casino slots
roorEcomiaLeno said:
https://casinogamesonlinex.com/ world class casino slots https://casinorealmoneyai.com/ – online casino bonus big fish casino
attarmofetarl said:
play casino https://slotsgamesdirect.com/ – play slots online gambling free casino games vegas slots online
annoupesnub said:
online gambling https://playcasinostyle.com/ – casino online slots slots for real money big fish casino
adonlimmessiow said:
online slots free can play zone casino free 200 free slot casino games
adonlimmessiow said:
slot games https://freecasinogameslab.com/ – slots online slots games free real money casino
Weciarbormurbib said:
free vegas slots free casino slots free vegas slots https://casinogamesmgc.com/
annoupesnub said:
no deposit casino https://playonlinecasinogit.com/ – vegas casino slots big fish casino play slots online
annoupesnub said:
https://playcasinoslotsmatic.com/ free games online no download https://casinorealmoneyai.com/ – casino games winstar world casino
roorEcomiaLeno said:
free slot games for fun https://playonlinecasinobit.com/ – no deposit win real cash buffalo slots zone online casino
adonlimmessiow said:
https://freecasinoslotsnow.com/ casino blackjack https://freecasinoslotsmatic.com/ – free casino games online free casino
attarmofetarl said:
casino play https://freecasinogameslab.com/ – real money casino play slots online free casino games online
Weciarbormurbib said:
online casino slots games free slots games casino game https://playslotstime.com/ – real money casino
attarmofetarl said:
vegas slots best time to play slot machines rock n cash casino slots firekeepers casino
roorEcomiaLeno said:
https://playslotsapp.com/ online slot games best online casino big fish casino casino online
roorEcomiaLeno said:
online casino gambling https://casinogamesmgc.com/ free slots games online casino slots online casino
annoupesnub said:
slots games free slots slots games free
attarmofetarl said:
online gambling best online casino online casino bonus online casino games
adonlimmessiow said:
most popular free casino slots caesars slots free casino chumba casino real vegas casino games free https://freecasinoslotsnow.com/ – no deposit win real cash
Weciarbormurbib said:
https://playcasinoadvance.com/ jackpot magic slots https://freecasinogameslab.com/ – slotomania slot machines hollywood casino
annoupesnub said:
https://slotsgamesdirect.com/ casino online https://nodepositcasinoffer.com/ – casino game vegas slots online
adonlimmessiow said:
free online slots https://casinogamesmgc.com/ – free slots games online casino gambling online casino slot games
annoupesnub said:
free casino games vegas world https://playcasinogamescast.com/ free slots vegas casino games online online slot games
roorEcomiaLeno said:
https://slotsgamesdirect.com/ plainridge casino https://casinogamesvol.com/ – us online casinos for real money best free slots vegas world
adonlimmessiow said:
slots for real money https://casinorealmoneyai.com/ – play casino casino play best online casinos no deposit casino
attarmofetarl said:
best online casinos casino online slots free online slots real money casino
roorEcomiaLeno said:
free slots online no download https://casino-onlinelife.com/ cashman casino slots free casino game ruby slots
Weciarbormurbib said:
free slots slotomania casino game can play zone casino free parx online casino https://casino-onlinelife.com/ – casino games online
Weciarbormurbib said:
free online slots https://casinogamesonlinex.com/ – free casino slot games free slots real casino slots online casino
attarmofetarl said:
bbw dating https://datingsitesww.com/# plenty of fish dating site tinder dating app free dating sites no fees
Weciarbormurbib said:
discord dating servers https://datingsitesww.com/# – discord dating servers bbw dating shemale dating
annoupesnub said:
date sites https://datingsitesww.com/# – badoo dating site naked dating top dating sites
attarmofetarl said:
best casino slots online https://onlinecasinosam.com/ online gambling sites world class casino slots penny slots free
Weciarbormurbib said:
https://playcasinoslotsmatic.com/ online gambling https://playcasinoadvance.com/ – cashman casino slots casino real money
roorEcomiaLeno said:
casino slot https://casino-onlinelife.com/ – zone online casino cashman casino slots big slots games for free online slot machines
adonlimmessiow said:
casino play https://onlinecasinosure.com/ free casino games free slots games online casino games
Weciarbormurbib said:
https://casino-onlinelife.com/ best online slots https://casino-onlinelife.com/ – online casino bonus pala casino online
roorEcomiaLeno said:
https://onlinecasinogameslots21.com/ casino play online slot games online casino gambling big fish casino
adonlimmessiow said:
gay dating plenty of fish dating site hinge dating bumble dating
roorEcomiaLeno said:
christian dating for free discord dating servers best dating web sites bumble dating app
roorEcomiaLeno said:
https://playslotsapp.com/ slots for real money casino bonus codes slots for real money online casino bonus
annoupesnub said:
casino real money online casino world class casino slots slots online https://onlinecasinosam.com/ – cashman casino slots
annoupesnub said:
online dating apps https://datingsitesww.com/# – free dating sites no fees free dating sites hinge dating app best dating web sites
Weciarbormurbib said:
https://datingsitesww.com/# our time dating https://datingsitesww.com/# – asian dating best dating websites
attarmofetarl said:
https://datingsitesww.com/# our time dating christian dating absolute dating facebook dating
attarmofetarl said:
slots games free casino games online casino game vegas slots online https://casinorealmoneybigbet.com/ – real money casino
roorEcomiaLeno said:
high 5 casino https://casino-onlinelife.com/ – slots of vegas casino penny slots free online free casino blackjack
Weciarbormurbib said:
play casino games for free https://casino-onlinelife.com/ – play free for real money vegas world free games pala casino online play online casino games