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:
casino games no download no registration casino slots free no deposit casinos las vegas casinos free slots
Weciarbormurbib said:
cashman casino slots https://nodepositcasinoffer.com/ slot games casino online slots casino games
annoupesnub said:
free casino games online https://freecasinoslotsnow.com/ – no deposit casino big fish casino best online casinos casino slots
roorEcomiaLeno said:
free casino free casino games cashman casino slots free slots
attarmofetarl said:
https://nodepositcasinoffer.com/ casino online https://playcasinostyle.com/ – online casino gambling real casino slots
adonlimmessiow said:
online casino gambling https://casinogamesmgc.com/ – online gambling sites gsn casino free casino blackjack games
roorEcomiaLeno said:
casino play https://casinogamesvol.com/ – casino real money play online casino online casino real money
annoupesnub said:
https://freecasinoslotsmatic.com/ online slot games https://playcasinoadvance.com/ – casino slots big fish casino
roorEcomiaLeno said:
https://slotsgamesdirect.com/ play slots cashman casino slots best online casino casino online
annoupesnub said:
buffalo slots pch slots free slots vegas world new online casinos
roorEcomiaLeno said:
hypercasinos hollywood casino online online casino slots no download casino online
Weciarbormurbib said:
slot games free slots slots for real money casino slots https://casinogamesvol.com/ – online casino slots
adonlimmessiow said:
https://casinogamesmgc.com/ free penny slots with bonus spins online casino no deposit free welcome bonus free las vegas slot machines stn play online casino
attarmofetarl said:
real money casino https://online-casinovice.com/ – online casino games casino game vegas slots online best online casino
adonlimmessiow said:
slots online online casino bonus free casino games online
Weciarbormurbib said:
casino games https://casinogamesmgc.com/ online casino real money real money casino casino bonus codes
attarmofetarl said:
free casino games free casino games online slot games
annoupesnub said:
200 no deposit bonus usa https://casinogamesmgc.com/ – free vegas slots online casino casino online las vegas casinos slots machines
adonlimmessiow said:
https://nodepositcasinoffer.com/ vegas slots online play casino casino slots no deposit casino
annoupesnub said:
casino play online casino games free casino slot games casino real money https://freecasinoslotsmatic.com/ – big fish casino
roorEcomiaLeno said:
888 casino download https://casinogamesmgc.com/ jack online casino best online slots las vegas free penny slots
adonlimmessiow said:
casino online slots https://freecasinogameslab.com/ – free slots online slots online casino real money
Weciarbormurbib said:
online gambling https://playcasinostyle.com/ – free slots free casino games online online slots play slots online
roorEcomiaLeno said:
https://onlinecasinogameslots21.com/ online slots casino slots online casino gambling cashman casino slots
annoupesnub said:
slots games https://playcasinoadvance.com/ – slot games online slots real money casino no deposit casino
roorEcomiaLeno said:
https://casinogamesmgc.com/ bovada casino https://casinogamesmgc.com/ – parx online casino slot games with bonus spins
attarmofetarl said:
casino play online casino bonus online casino real money play slots https://playonlinecasinobit.com/ – slots online
annoupesnub said:
free casino slot games casino online slots online casino real money
roorEcomiaLeno said:
casino slots casino real money free casino slot games
roorEcomiaLeno said:
online slots https://casinoslotsonlinems.com/ gold fish casino slots vegas slots online vegas slots online
Weciarbormurbib said:
big fish casino casino slots real money casino online casino real money https://playcasinoslotsmatic.com/ – casino play
roorEcomiaLeno said:
all free casino slots caesars free slots online casino slots no download
attarmofetarl said:
play lady luck online vegas casino free online games free casino games online online casino reviews
annoupesnub said:
online casino https://casinogamesvol.com/ – doubledown casino free slots online slot games hollywood casino free slots
adonlimmessiow said:
vegas world free slots https://casinogamesvol.com/ free casino free slots casino games virgin online casino
adonlimmessiow said:
sildenafil viagra https://sildenafildosing.com/# viagra for sale where can you buy viagra pills viagra coupon
attarmofetarl said:
casino game no deposit casino free casino games casino bonus codes
adonlimmessiow said:
vegas casino slots https://casinogamesmgc.com/ online casinos casino online slots real money casino
Weciarbormurbib said:
play slots online casino play slots online vegas slots online https://online-casinovice.com/
annoupesnub said:
https://sildenafildosing.com/# viagra online sales generic brand viagra viagra for men viagra purchase
attarmofetarl said:
slots games slots free world class casino slots online casino bonus
adonlimmessiow said:
free slots world class casino slots casino online casino real money
roorEcomiaLeno said:
https://kamagrasildenafilonline.com/# buy viagra us https://sildenafilkernes.com/# – buy sildenafil buy viagra pills from canada
annoupesnub said:
casino play https://playcasinostyle.com/ – slots games free slots slots free slot games
attarmofetarl said:
viagra pills for sale online https://kamagrasildenafilonline.com/# – generic viagra buy online viagra cheap viagra generic generic viagra best price
adonlimmessiow said:
cashman casino slots best online casino vegas slots online casino game https://onlinecasinosam.com/ – slot games
Weciarbormurbib said:
viagra online prescription female viagra pills uk where can i buy viagra online viagra cheapest https://sildenafilkernes.com/# – online viagra
adonlimmessiow said:
https://onlinedatingtind.com/# best dating websites dating sites facebook dating site gay dating
roorEcomiaLeno said:
best dating web sites free online dating dating websites best dating websites https://onlinedatingtind.com/# – best dating profiles
roorEcomiaLeno said:
online casino bonus https://casinogamesmgc.com/ – play online casino casino online slots play slots online casino slots
annoupesnub said:
https://tinderdatingww.com/# relative dating free online dating sites facebook dating app best dating profiles
Weciarbormurbib said:
badoo dating site local dating local dating local dating
attarmofetarl said:
best dating websites date sites best dating apps bumble dating
annoupesnub said:
https://online-casinovice.com/ real money casino https://playslotsapp.com/ – casino games online casinos
adonlimmessiow said:
eharmony dating site naked dating zoosk dating site best dating sites
roorEcomiaLeno said:
christian dating sites https://tinderdatingww.com/# – local dating hinge dating app free dating websites mature dating
adonlimmessiow said:
where can i buy viagra https://sildenafilstarik.com/# – buy viagra pills canada viagra pills for sale uk is it safe to buy viagra online buy sildenafil online
Weciarbormurbib said:
hinge dating app tinder dating app date sites dating app https://onlinedatingdd.com/# – silver singles dating site
annoupesnub said:
russian dating https://onlinedatingtind.com/# discord dating servers bumble dating free dating websites
attarmofetarl said:
bumble dating site online dating sites interracial dating online dating apps https://tinderdatingww.com/# – ourtime dating site
annoupesnub said:
generic viagra buy online https://kamagrasildenafilonline.com/# viagra online pharmacy viagra for men what does viagra do
adonlimmessiow said:
bumble dating https://onlinedatingdd.com/# relative dating naked dating bumble dating site
roorEcomiaLeno said:
free dating sites no fees https://datingappsworld.com/# – dating website adult dating plenty of fish dating site
roorEcomiaLeno said:
viagra online bestellen https://kamagrasildenafilonline.com/# – where can you buy viagra pills buy viagra cheap viagra online where can you buy viagra
annoupesnub said:
squirt dating https://onlinedatingdd.com/# squirt dating dating app dating
Weciarbormurbib said:
dating naked https://datingappsworld.com/# – zoosk online dating site local dating adult dating
attarmofetarl said:
generic viagra walmart viagra generics viagra pills prescription viagra coupon https://sildenafilstarik.com/# – buy viagra paypal
Weciarbormurbib said:
casino real money https://casino-onlinelife.com/ – casino bonus codes best online casino slots online real money casino
Weciarbormurbib said:
generic viagra pills https://sildenafilstarik.com/# – buy viagra generic cialis without dr prescription viagra pills price generic viagra soft gel capsule
annoupesnub said:
https://casinogamesvol.com/ no deposit casino big fish casino cashman casino slots casino play
attarmofetarl said:
free casino slot games https://casinorealmoneyai.com/ – casino online slots slots games free online slot games slots for real money
annoupesnub said:
slots for real money slots free casino games vegas slots online https://freecasinoslotsmatic.com/ – casino online slots
roorEcomiaLeno said:
play online casino free casino play slots world class casino slots
adonlimmessiow said:
hearts of vegas free slots https://casinogamesvol.com/ – slots games free slot games free casinos near me biggest no deposit welcome bonus
Weciarbormurbib said:
https://online-casinovice.com/ vegas casino slots https://playcasinoadvance.com/ – big fish casino online casino real money
roorEcomiaLeno said:
free slots games big fish casino slots online casino online
attarmofetarl said:
hypercasinos https://casinogamesonlinex.com/ – play slots online for money best online casinos caesars slots free casino free penny slots online
adonlimmessiow said:
viagra pill buy viagra paypal viagra online sales buy viagra without presc https://kamagrasildenafilonline.com/# – viagra pills for sale canada
annoupesnub said:
play slots for real money most popular free casino slots vegas world free games hollywood casino free slot play https://casinogamesonlinex.com/ – liberty slots casino
attarmofetarl said:
no deposit casino slots free online casino real money free slots
roorEcomiaLeno said:
https://casinogamesonlinex.com/ casino slots free free casino games online buffalo slots free slots slotomania
adonlimmessiow said:
slotomania slot machines https://casinogamesonlinex.com/ totally free casino games lady luck casino vicksburg free slot machine games
annoupesnub said:
viagra online canadian pharmacy https://sildenafildosing.com/# – viagra online us generic viagra online buy cheap generic viagra
Weciarbormurbib said:
big fish casino https://online-casinovice.com/ – play casino free slots games slots online slots for real money
attarmofetarl said:
free casino games slot machines best free slots no download house of fun slots slots online free https://casinogamesonlinex.com/ – world class casino slots
annoupesnub said:
vegas world free slots games https://casinogamesonlinex.com/ – play casino slots hollywood casino free slots free casino slots with bonus bovada casino
adonlimmessiow said:
online gambling https://casinoslotsonlinems.com/ world class casino slots casino blackjack big fish casino
adonlimmessiow said:
https://casinorealmoneyai.com/ slots games online casino real money free casino slot games play online casino
attarmofetarl said:
slots for real money online casinos online casino slots
attarmofetarl said:
viagra prescription https://sildenafilstarik.com/# best viagra pills generic viagra gel generic viagra names
roorEcomiaLeno said:
viagra pills sale buy viagra in mexico female viagra pills online buy generic viagra without prescription https://kamagrasildenafilonline.com/# – buying generic viagra online
annoupesnub said:
free casino games play slots online gold fish casino slots
roorEcomiaLeno said:
play casino games for free https://casinogamesonlinex.com/ – slot games with bonus spins free slot machines hollywood casino free slots online casino bonus codes
adonlimmessiow said:
slots of vegas casino https://casinogamesonlinex.com/ – free casino games slot machines vegas slots online gsn casino las vegas free slots
adonlimmessiow said:
casino games real casino slots free casino slot games world class casino slots
roorEcomiaLeno said:
online slot games https://slotsgamesdirect.com/ play slots slots free casino online slots
annoupesnub said:
casino real money https://casinogamesonlinex.com/ – slot machine games free grand falls casino play free casino slots now ruby slots
Weciarbormurbib said:
https://casinoslotsms.com/ slot games online casinos real money casino online casino real money
Weciarbormurbib said:
buy viagra online reviews https://sildenafilstarik.com/# viagra online canadian pharmacy viagra purchase buy cheap viagra
annoupesnub said:
world class casino slots https://playcasinogamescast.com/ – slots games free online slots best online casinos best online casino