Have you ever wondered what drives the high prices of the latest business aircraft?
As it turns out, new business jets not only showcase cutting-edge technologies and luxurious designs but also prioritize minimizing pilot workload and maximizing aircraft efficiency to save costs and ensure passenger and pilot comfort.
Today, I’m excited to introduce you to the Top 5 new business aircraft that are currently shaping the way we travel.
We’ll start from the least recent and work our way up to the newest player in the aviation industry.
New business jets
Dassault Falcon 6X
The Dassault Falcon 6X, an ultra-long-range heavy business jet crafted by Dassault Aviation in France, was unveiled in December 2017. It is powered by 2 Pratt & Whitney Canada PW812D turbofans and can achieve a top speed of Mach 0.90 or 516 kn (956 km). It also has a range of up to 5,500 nm (10,186 km) and a maximum altitude of 51,000 ft.
Making its maiden flight on March 10, 2021, the 6X attained certifications from both the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) in August 2023. This marked a significant milestone, leading to its official introduction on November 30, 2023.
Equipped with the Honeywell Primus Epic EASy III flight deck, the 6X boasts state-of-the-art avionics that integrates various systems and information sources into a user-friendly interface. The intuitive design of the flight deck minimizes pilot workload and improves safety.
Designed to accommodate up to 16 passengers and operated by a crew of 2, the Falcon 6X’s approximate equipped price in 2023 was around $53 million.
Cessna 408 SkyCourier
The Cessna 408 SkyCourier is a twin-engine utility turboprop aircraft developed by Textron Aviation, under their Cessna brand. It is designed primarily for cargo and freight operations, as well as passenger transportation (19 seats available) in some configurations.
The SkyCourier took its maiden flight on May 17, 2020, with FedEx receiving the first production model on May 9, 2022. Other operators include the Mexican regional airline Aerus, the Western Aircraft service company, and the American airline Bering Air. As of January 2024, there were 33 aircraft units registered within the United States.
The aircraft is equipped with Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-65SC turboprops and Garmin G1000 avionics.
The Cessna 408 SkyCourier boasts a maximum cruise speed of 210 knots (390 km), a maximum range of 900 nm (1,700 km), and a ceiling altitude of 25,000 ft.
In 2023, the freighter version was priced at $7.195 million, while the passenger version cost slightly more, $7.745 million.
King Air 360 and 360ER
The Beechcraft Super King Air family comprises a range of twin-turboprop aircraft manufactured by Beechcraft. Since its introduction to the civilian sector in 1974, it has become a highly reliable aircraft company.
Its newest aircraft model introduced in August 2020, the King Air 360 and 360 Extended Range (ER), are powered by the Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-60A turboprop engines and feature the IS&S ThrustSense Autothrottle system.
The ThrustSense Autothrottle enables pilots to automatically manage the engine’s power setting. This system calculates and adjusts power levels as needed, thereby reducing pilot workload and improving safety.
The King Air 360 operates with a maximum cruise speed of 312 kn (578 km) and a maximum operating altitude of 35,000 ft. The 360ER has a slightly lower maximum cruise speed at 303 kn (561 km).
360ER can accommodate 15 passengers, which is four seats more than the 360 model. Also, the extended-range model boasts a range of 2,539 nm (4,702 km), surpassing the 360’s range by 700 miles. One of the standout features of the 360ER is its impressive useful load, totaling 7,174 lb. In contrast, the 360 has a 2,000 lb lighter useful load. This makes the 360ER an ideal choice for consumers who require the capability to transport large loads over longer distances.
The price for the new King Air 360 is around $8.5 million, and for the 360 ER, it’s a little bit more at around $8.9 million.
HondaJet Elite II
The HondaJet is a very light business jet manufactured by Honda Aircraft Company. While Honda is a Japanese multinational corporation, the HondaJet was developed and manufactured in the United States.
The latest model HondaJet Elite II, was introduced in October 2022 and made its debut on May 22, 2023, in Geneva. With a maximum altitude of 43,000 ft, a range of 1,547 nm (2,865 km), and a speed of 422 kn (782 km) HondaJet Elite II offers quick and efficient travel, thanks to its 2 GE Honda HF120 engines.
The jet features a Garmin G3000 (newer version of G1000) integrated flight deck, autothrottles, and a Garmin Autoland system that is capable of autonomously controlling and landing the aircraft in emergencies without any inputs from humans.
In its typical configuration, the HondaJet accommodates either 1 crew member and 6 passengers or 2 crew members and 5 passengers. Alternatively, it can be configured to carry 1 crew member and 7 passengers or 2 crew members and 6 passengers. The approximate cost of the aircraft is around $7 million.
Daher TBM 960
The Daher TBM (Tarbes Business Aircraft Manufacturer) refers to a family of single-engine turboprop aircraft produced by the French aerospace company Daher. The newest 960 variant, introduced on April 5, 2022, is powered by a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6E-66XT turboprop engine and “controlled by a dual-channel full authority digital engine control (FADEC)” system.
The FADEC system plays a pivotal role in optimizing the aircraft’s performance, for example by adjusting the fuel flow to maintain optimal airspeed. It manages various engine functions, simplifying tasks like engine starts into a one-step process.
The Daher TBM 960 price varies from $4.6 to $4.9 million, reflecting its advanced features and capabilities. With 100 units already built by January 2024, the TBM has gained recognition for its reliability and efficiency in the aviation industry.
Operating with a maximum cruise speed of 326 kn (603 km) at 31,000 ft, the TBM offers a maximum range of 1,730 nm (3,204 km). It is designed for a crew of two pilots and is capable of accommodating up to six passengers.