Owning and operating a private jet.
Discussion
It's a bit slow in work today...
Anyway, I intend on winning one of those big euromillions rollover jackpots in the next 12 months and fancy spending some of my £100m+ fortune on getting into a bit of aviation...
So, starting from the position of having no experience of flying anything, but lots of money and free time. What would one* need to do, in order to buy, store, maintain and indeed safely fly a 'private jet' capable of taking at least 6 passengers (including crew, but ideally more) 350kgs+ of luggage and crossing the Atlantic and travelling from the UK to Vancouver in a reasonable amount of time in comparison to say an A380.
This all stems from a conversation between friends a few weeks ago that private jet ownership is largely about status and unless you enjoy flying it yourself even taking the huge cost out of the equation its far more hassle in the long run than just 'normal' first class air travel.
Anyway, I intend on winning one of those big euromillions rollover jackpots in the next 12 months and fancy spending some of my £100m+ fortune on getting into a bit of aviation...
So, starting from the position of having no experience of flying anything, but lots of money and free time. What would one* need to do, in order to buy, store, maintain and indeed safely fly a 'private jet' capable of taking at least 6 passengers (including crew, but ideally more) 350kgs+ of luggage and crossing the Atlantic and travelling from the UK to Vancouver in a reasonable amount of time in comparison to say an A380.
This all stems from a conversation between friends a few weeks ago that private jet ownership is largely about status and unless you enjoy flying it yourself even taking the huge cost out of the equation its far more hassle in the long run than just 'normal' first class air travel.
- once I win I will refer to myself as "one".
I think to Vancouver would be pushing it for most private jets but I'm sure the bigger, more expensive ones can go further.
I'm no expert but that was my immediate thought.
A friend of mine has one (the same black Learjet that was in Quantum of Solace) and I definitely would if I had the money!
I'm no expert but that was my immediate thought.
A friend of mine has one (the same black Learjet that was in Quantum of Solace) and I definitely would if I had the money!
AB said:
I think to Vancouver would be pushing it for most private jets but I'm sure the bigger, more expensive ones can go further.
I'm no expert but that was my immediate thought.
A friend of mine has one (the same black Learjet that was in Quantum of Solace) and I definitely would if I had the money!
I was trying to fathom it all by looking at some s/h listings for private jets and some of the older ones (sub 5m) seemed to have a range of about 1000miles which doesn't seem enough to cross the pond which must pretty a pretty limiting factor. I'm no expert but that was my immediate thought.
A friend of mine has one (the same black Learjet that was in Quantum of Solace) and I definitely would if I had the money!
P-Jay said:
This all stems from a conversation between friends a few weeks ago that private jet ownership is largely about status and unless you enjoy flying it yourself even taking the huge cost out of the equation its far more hassle in the long run than just 'normal' first class air travel.
I can't imagine there are many owner-piloted biz jets . For most it is the convenience, not the status. Even when flying first, one has to contend with check in, security, delays, and mixing with the great unwashed, not to mention the lack of first, or even business class on most the short haul flights one would need should one's final destination be anything other than a major international hub. Your own aircraft leaves when you say so, and flies the exact route you want. No hassle.
LimaDelta said:
I can't imagine there are many owner-piloted biz jets . For most it is the convenience, not the status. Even when flying first, one has to contend with check in, security, delays, and mixing with the great unwashed, not to mention the lack of first, or even business class on most the short haul flights one would need should one's final destination be anything other than a major international hub.
Your own aircraft leaves when you say so, and flies the exact route you want. No hassle.
Yeah, the person I mentioned above has a 24/7 pilot on standby.Your own aircraft leaves when you say so, and flies the exact route you want. No hassle.
LHR to YVR is a shade under 5000 miles. You'd be doing very well to get that sort of range from a private jet. I think you'd be looking at something like a Gulfstream 5, or an Airbus 319. On the upside you'd have room for more than 5 mates.
But why bother? With *my* £100m (it's mine because I've been thinking about this for ages) I'd have my driver drop me off at the kerbside then travel first class. When I became bored of that, I'd chip into something like Netjets. They have a couple of models in the fleet that would get you to YVR.
But why bother? With *my* £100m (it's mine because I've been thinking about this for ages) I'd have my driver drop me off at the kerbside then travel first class. When I became bored of that, I'd chip into something like Netjets. They have a couple of models in the fleet that would get you to YVR.
Netjets appeals to my fantasy nouveau riche self. Guess they don't let you have a go though.
Still I'd be even more of an idiot if I had that sort of money, I'm sure I'd probably end up in some sort of bother with the authorities for tying up the airwaves of traffic control humming dam busters or making machine-gun noises.
Still I'd be even more of an idiot if I had that sort of money, I'm sure I'd probably end up in some sort of bother with the authorities for tying up the airwaves of traffic control humming dam busters or making machine-gun noises.
Dr Jekyll said:
Apparently Conrad Black's wife got upset because they had to travel first class across the atlantic and leave their jet behind while their friends could use their Gulfstreams. He had to explain that their friends were billionaires while they were only worth about £800 million.
Precisely. A hundred million in the bank means punting around Europe in your own jet. If you want your own inter-continental capability, you should have worked harder at school, and become a billionaire.I think a lot of Conrad's problems were down to the fact his wife didn't grasp that simple fact.
The costs are absolutely staggering.
First, if you want a jet with a range of over 5000nm, realistically 6,000+, you're looking at something like a Gulstream G550. That'll be $50,000,000 please.
Then you have to worry about servicing, fuel, and hiring a flight crew. Assuming you want to go flying all over the globe in the thing, expect to pay $5 million a year to run it, and that includes amortizing major overhauls. Those engines are probably 6-8,000 hour engines, but once they get up there I'd imagine that you're looking at a million to overhaul them.
A private Jet that's capable of transatlantic flight is a toy that is probably beyond the realistic reach of someone with 100 million pounds, as sad as that is to say. I suppose you could snag an older used G5 with a 5800nm range for somewhere around $15-20 million in good shape but you still need to insure it, hanger it, fuel it, fix it, etc.
Someone I knew who owned a jet (Lear 45 if memory serves) once said "Owning a Jet as compared to a plane like a Mooney is like the guy with a Corvette saying 'I think I want to get into a Bugatti Veyron but every 3 months I'll get bored and blowit up and buy another'"
First, if you want a jet with a range of over 5000nm, realistically 6,000+, you're looking at something like a Gulstream G550. That'll be $50,000,000 please.
Then you have to worry about servicing, fuel, and hiring a flight crew. Assuming you want to go flying all over the globe in the thing, expect to pay $5 million a year to run it, and that includes amortizing major overhauls. Those engines are probably 6-8,000 hour engines, but once they get up there I'd imagine that you're looking at a million to overhaul them.
A private Jet that's capable of transatlantic flight is a toy that is probably beyond the realistic reach of someone with 100 million pounds, as sad as that is to say. I suppose you could snag an older used G5 with a 5800nm range for somewhere around $15-20 million in good shape but you still need to insure it, hanger it, fuel it, fix it, etc.
Someone I knew who owned a jet (Lear 45 if memory serves) once said "Owning a Jet as compared to a plane like a Mooney is like the guy with a Corvette saying 'I think I want to get into a Bugatti Veyron but every 3 months I'll get bored and blowit up and buy another'"
Edited by Captain Cadillac on Friday 21st September 00:46
Is it time to trot out the old "If it floats, flys or f*cks, it's cheaper to rent it" yet? 
On a serious note how do you "check in" if you have a private jet? In films they just drive up to the runway in a Limo but surely you'd still need to get past airport security, have your luggage X-Ray'd and passport checked?
On a serious note how do you "check in" if you have a private jet? In films they just drive up to the runway in a Limo but surely you'd still need to get past airport security, have your luggage X-Ray'd and passport checked?
Guvernator said:
Is it time to trot out the old "If it floats, flys or f*cks, it's cheaper to rent it" yet?
On a serious note how do you "check in" if you have a private jet? In films they just drive up to the runway in a Limo but surely you'd still need to get past airport security, have your luggage X-Ray'd and passport checked?
The process is pretty much the same, you just do it at the private/GA terminal, rather than the public one. Many airports allow you to drive up to the a/c. Luggage generally isn't checked on departure, though customs obviously have a right to check what you are bringing in to their country. Clearance docs etc should all be handled by your PA.On a serious note how do you "check in" if you have a private jet? In films they just drive up to the runway in a Limo but surely you'd still need to get past airport security, have your luggage X-Ray'd and passport checked?
Netjets and such are the only viable option with those sort of funds unless you want to do it for 5 years and then be bankrupt.
Smaller bizjets and VLJs are much more affordable (but have much shorter range). Factor around 1000GBP to 1500GBP per hour to operate plus crew. Check out the Citation Mustang etc.
Smaller bizjets and VLJs are much more affordable (but have much shorter range). Factor around 1000GBP to 1500GBP per hour to operate plus crew. Check out the Citation Mustang etc.
Surely if you have a large bank balance and a hankering for your own plane you buy yourself a two seat war bird and then it doesn’t matter if you go dacka, dacka, dack when coming over the top of the neighbors house at 400kts.
If you and your friends/family etc want to go somewhere quick together you either jump on a scheduled flight or do a private charter.
If you and your friends/family etc want to go somewhere quick together you either jump on a scheduled flight or do a private charter.
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