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:
https://playonlinecasinobit.com/ heart of vegas slots https://playonlinecasinobit.com/ – cafe casino online free casino blackjack
roorEcomiaLeno said:
https://casinoslotsonlinems.com/ casino game online casino gambling real money casino casino slots
attarmofetarl said:
casino games online gambling slots online vegas slots online https://casinogamesonlinex.com/ – free casino games
adonlimmessiow said:
free online slots https://playonlinecasinogit.com/ – free slots games vegas casino slots online casino games
adonlimmessiow said:
world class casino slots online slots best online casino free casino games online
roorEcomiaLeno said:
https://slotsgamesdirect.com/ real money casino https://casinorealmoneybigbet.com/ – online slots online gambling
Weciarbormurbib said:
https://cbdgummieswkj.com/ pure cbd oil https://cbdtincturesew.com/ – cbd hemp cbd oil
annoupesnub said:
slots free online casino casino games casino online slots https://casinogamesmgc.com/ – casino games
Weciarbormurbib said:
https://freecasinoslotsnow.com/ casino slots vegas slots online online slots slots games free
annoupesnub said:
play casino free slots games casino play online casino slots https://playcasinoadvance.com/ – casino game
adonlimmessiow said:
good credit score https://creditreportadvanced.com/ – perfect credit score free credit report info credit score companies
adonlimmessiow said:
cbd oil for anxiety https://cbdgummiesio.com/ cbd oil for anxiety cbd oil for sale buy hemp oil
annoupesnub said:
cbd oil for sale cbd oil for sale cbd oil online diamond cbd
attarmofetarl said:
cbd store near me cbd tinctures cbd store near me cbd cream https://cannabisoilhemp.com/ – cbd oil buy cbd oil
attarmofetarl said:
real money casino https://playcasinostyle.com/ – cashman casino slots world class casino slots slots for real money
Weciarbormurbib said:
free casino games https://casinoslotsonlinems.com/ free slots games real casino slots free slots
roorEcomiaLeno said:
annual credit report free check credit rating my annual credit report free how to check my credit score https://fastcheckcreditscore.com/ – freeze credit report
annoupesnub said:
https://creditreportchk.com/ credit reporting agencies social credit score credit check anual credit report
attarmofetarl said:
https://playcasinogamesgate.com/ online casino https://casinogamesvol.com/ – online casino slots for real money
attarmofetarl said:
free credit score check your credit report online https://freecreditreportstats.com/ how to dispute credit report items free credit report info annual credit report request form
roorEcomiaLeno said:
vegas slots online https://freecasinoslotsmatic.com/ slots free play online casino free slots games
Weciarbormurbib said:
max credit score https://creditscoresids.com/ – anual credit report transunion credit score free annual credit report
adonlimmessiow said:
request credit report https://creditscorechecknw.com/ my credit score free equifax credit report free annual check my credit
roorEcomiaLeno said:
https://cbdoilhh.com/ buy cbd https://cbdtincturesew.com/ – buy cbd buy cbd
adonlimmessiow said:
slots games https://onlinecasinosam.com/ no deposit casino online casino real money free slots
roorEcomiaLeno said:
get credit report https://creditscorecheckresults.com/ what is a great credit score free credit report how to ck your credit score
annoupesnub said:
discover credit score my free annual credit report get credit score how to check credit score https://creditreportbms.com/ – free credit report
Weciarbormurbib said:
https://nodepositcasinoffer.com/ free casino games online casino online slots no deposit casino play online casino
attarmofetarl said:
chase credit https://fastcheckcreditscores.com/ – annual free credit score credit karma com free credit score find credit score
Weciarbormurbib said:
free credit score online credit report free credit report instant how to improve my credit score does forbearance affect credit score
attarmofetarl said:
gold fish casino slots https://onlinecasinosam.com/ – free casino games online slot games free casino casino blackjack
roorEcomiaLeno said:
https://freecasinogamesms.com/ free casino games online online casinos casino slots best online casinos
adonlimmessiow said:
credit scoring get credit report – free credit report free credit report online credit score how to increase credit score
Weciarbormurbib said:
cbd oil for anxiety https://cbdoilwow.com/ cbd oils cbd tinctures cbd oil online
annoupesnub said:
slots online https://casino-onlinelife.com/ casino slots casino slots real money casino
roorEcomiaLeno said:
credit rating check annual free credit report official site equifax credit score
adonlimmessiow said:
no deposit casino https://playcasinostyle.com/ slot games casino slots online casinos
annoupesnub said:
best online casino https://freecasinogamesms.com/ free casino games casino play free casino games
annoupesnub said:
free credit report gov https://creditscoreusd.com/ experian free credit report average credit score check free credit score
adonlimmessiow said:
https://cannabisoilstoretv.com/ medterra cbd diamond cbd cbd gummies near me cbd oil for anxiety
annoupesnub said:
https://cbdoilwalmartiss.com/ hemp cbd https://purecbdoilgww.com/ – buy cbd oil online buy cbd oil
attarmofetarl said:
https://freecreditreportstats.com/ free annual credit report complaints https://creditreportadvanced.com/ – what is considered a good credit score get free credit report
Weciarbormurbib said:
casino games https://casinoslotsonlinems.com/ – world class casino slots real casino slots online slots slots for real money
Weciarbormurbib said:
https://playcasinoslotsmatic.com/ slots for real money slots free real casino slots online casino games
Weciarbormurbib said:
free credit score karma https://getcreditscorefast.com/ – how to credit score free credit report online free credit score
annoupesnub said:
best online casinos https://casinogamesmgc.com/ real casino slots casino play slots free
attarmofetarl said:
best cbd oil cbd oil benefits cbd oil benefits nuleaf naturals
attarmofetarl said:
online casino slots https://casinogamesmgc.com/ – big fish casino casino real money slot games
attarmofetarl said:
free casino slot games https://freecasinogamesms.com/ – play casino vegas slots online free slots games
roorEcomiaLeno said:
slots online https://freecasinogameslab.com/ free casino real casino slots casino online slots
roorEcomiaLeno said:
vegas casino slots casino online online slots play slots
annoupesnub said:
casino games hollywood casino best free slots no download free casino games sun moon
roorEcomiaLeno said:
cbd for sale https://cannabisoilhemp.com/ – cbd oil online cbd gummies walmart best cbd products
attarmofetarl said:
free slots with no download or registration online slot games goldfish slots free slots no registration no download https://playcasinostyle.com/ – play slots for real money united states
adonlimmessiow said:
https://freecasinoslotsnow.com/ online casino bonus https://onlinecasinosure.com/ – free online slots free slots games
adonlimmessiow said:
best casino slot games https://playcasinostyle.com/ – free slot games no download no registration vegas world slots all free slots lady luck casino vicksburg
roorEcomiaLeno said:
slots free online https://playcasinostyle.com/ – free slot games penny slots free online casino slots no download casino blackjack
Weciarbormurbib said:
vegas casino slots slots for real money online casino https://casinogamesonlinex.com/
adonlimmessiow said:
no deposit casino free casino slot games real casino slots free casino slot games https://playslotstime.com/ – online casino gambling
roorEcomiaLeno said:
free casino slot games https://casinorealmoneyai.com/ – free slots games play casino online casino slots free casino slot games
attarmofetarl said:
real casino slots real casino slots slot games free casino slot games https://freecasinogamesms.com/ – best online casino
attarmofetarl said:
caesar casino free slots games hollywood online casino hollywood online casino free casino games https://playcasinostyle.com/ – prairie meadows casino
roorEcomiaLeno said:
hollywood casino online slots free https://playcasinostyle.com/ free vegas slots free online casino slots casino blackjack
Weciarbormurbib said:
cbd pure https://cbdgummieswkj.com/ best cbd products cbd near me cbd oils
annoupesnub said:
online casino real money https://onlinecasinosam.com/ – online gambling free casino slot games free casino
annoupesnub said:
free casino games online slot games casino online slots
adonlimmessiow said:
no deposit casino slots for real money casino games online slots https://freecasinogameslab.com/ – free slots
annoupesnub said:
cbd oil for sale medterra cbd medterra cbd
adonlimmessiow said:
cbd for sale nuleaf naturals full spectrum cbd oil
attarmofetarl said:
casino bonus free online casino games vegas free slots slotomania casino slots free games
Weciarbormurbib said:
slots for real money https://onlinecasinosam.com/ – casino games slots online casino game real casino slots
roorEcomiaLeno said:
google free casino slot games https://playcasinostyle.com/ – play free lucky 777 slots free casino blackjack casino games free online free casino slots games
annoupesnub said:
casino play free casino games slots free real money casino https://online-casinovice.com/ – slots online
attarmofetarl said:
cbd for sale cbd pure medterra cbd
Weciarbormurbib said:
casino bonus codes cashman casino slots online casino bonus https://playonlinecasinobit.com/
attarmofetarl said:
https://online-casinovice.com/ online casino gambling vegas slots online online casino bonus online casinos
attarmofetarl said:
casino blackjack https://playcasinoadvance.com/ – online slots casino play casino real money
roorEcomiaLeno said:
zone casino vegas world usa casinos no deposit free welcome bonus prairie meadows casino
roorEcomiaLeno said:
casino game play slots online slot games
roorEcomiaLeno said:
free casino slot games https://freecasinoslotsnow.com/ – free casino online casino slots online casino slots
adonlimmessiow said:
slots games free https://playcasinoadvance.com/ online casino games online casino gambling slots online
roorEcomiaLeno said:
no deposit casinos https://playcasinostyle.com/ – slots games google free casino slot games hyper casinos
Weciarbormurbib said:
free casino https://freecasinogamesms.com/ play slots online play casino casino online slots
roorEcomiaLeno said:
https://playcasinostyle.com/ big fish free slots games https://playcasinostyle.com/ – slot games free online casino games vegas
adonlimmessiow said:
play online casino https://playcasinogamescast.com/ – online slot games online casino gambling slots games free free slots games
roorEcomiaLeno said:
free casino slot games slot games real casino slots
attarmofetarl said:
free casino https://nodepositcasinoffer.com/ gold fish casino slots slots free online casino games
annoupesnub said:
casino real money world class casino slots slot games
annoupesnub said:
casino slots https://casinorealmoneyai.com/ – best online casinos online slots slots games free casino online
roorEcomiaLeno said:
https://playcasinostyle.com/ online casino games free fortune bay casino zone online casino games buffalo slots
adonlimmessiow said:
play online casino https://casinoslotsms.com/ online slots big fish casino online casino slots
adonlimmessiow said:
my free credit score https://freecreditreportstats.com/ – get credit report – free credit report credit score online how to check my credit score
roorEcomiaLeno said:
free experian credit report https://creditscorecheckresults.com/ – yearly free credit report how to credit score my credit score mint credit score
Weciarbormurbib said:
free casino games online casino real money world class casino slots vegas slots online https://playcasinogamesgate.com/
attarmofetarl said:
best online casinos online casino casino slots
Weciarbormurbib said:
slots games free online slots online slots casino online slots https://casinoslotsonlinems.com/
annoupesnub said:
online slot games https://online-casinovice.com/ – cashman casino slots online gambling slots online free casino slot games
annoupesnub said:
free credit report equifax free credit score equifax transunion credit report free free annual credit report free https://creditscoresws.com/ – score credit
roorEcomiaLeno said:
high 5 casino https://playcasinostyle.com/ hollywood casino online slots vegas world free games online slots empire city casino online
attarmofetarl said:
free slots online casino games play online casino casino game https://playcasinoadvance.com/ – big fish casino