High... Higher... Highest

The range of aircraft, the jazzed up interiors, the fuel-efficiency, the maintainability and all come with a price tag. And the ultra-rich demand planes which are not only high-performing aircraft but also that goes along with their stature.

By R. Chandrakanth

nOThINg leSS ThAN $25 million and going up to $70 million are what high-end business jets are priced at. The more the accoutrements- swanky interiors, spa, king-size beds, conference room and the works-the price tag soars. And the good news is that the high-end segment is scoring. The Teal Group in its 2012 report has forecast that the upper end of the market is growing while it is sluggish for the rest. It predicts that over the next decade, 65 per cent of the deliveries, measured in value terms will be high-end business jets, as against the 50:50 split in the decade gone by.

Richard Aboulafia, Vice President, Analysis at Teal Group, expects Bombardier and Gulfstream to capture shares of about 33 per cent and 30 per cent respectively in a market that is likely to expand to about $250 billion over the next 10 years. Canada's Bombardier is working on Global 7000 and 8000 models, planned for service entry in 2016 and 2017, respectively, while General Dynamics is already positioning its Gulfstream 650, another large-cabin model. French aerospace major Dassault Aviation, which mostly builds high-end jets, is expected to hold on to a 14 per cent share. Brazil's Embraer and Textron's Cessna are to share about 17 per cent of the market between them.

With market movements becoming clearer, aerospace majors are positioning their products as to move out of the recessionary trends and high-end jets are expected to give them the leeway. The majors are betting more on this segment as they see a growing passion among ultra high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) to own these fantastic machines.

Wealth creation

Forbes in its 2011 report has co-related wealth creation to worldwide demand for business jets. The number of billionaires in 2011 was 1,210, up from 1,123 in 2008, representing a 20 per cent increase and 53 per cent versus 2009. The most significant growth in the number of billionaires occurred in China with a very impressive increase of 66 per cent yearover- year, followed by Russia & CIS (61 per cent) and Latin America (47 per cent).

luxury collectibles

Capgemini and Merrill Lynch Global Wealth Management said luxury collectibles (e.g. luxury automobiles, boats, jets) remained the largest single segment (29 per cent) of investments of passion for ultra-HNWIs. And ultra-HNWIs posted slightly stronger-than-average gains in their numbers and wealth. The global population of Ultra-HNWIs grew by 10.2 per cent in 2010 and its wealth by 11.5 per cent. As a result, ultra-HNWIs accounted for 36.1 per cent of global HNWI wealth, up from 35.5 per cent, while representing only 0.9 per cent of the global HNWI population.

It is this segment that the jet manufacturers are eyeing. While luxury comes at a cost for the ultra-HNWIs, it goes along with their lifestyle. Prices range from about $31 million for a Bombardier Global 5000 to $65 million for the Gulfstream G650. Airbus lists a price of $68 million for its smallest single-aisle A318 to about $245 million for the twin-aisle A350, which is under development.

As planes have become bigger and fancier, their interiors have also changed dramatically, incorporating the luxurious amenities once found only on private yachts. Expansive and expensive beds, sauna, conference room, exquisite interiors and the works are quite the norm in these luxurious jets.

Here are some of the traditional (we are excluding the wide body aircraft of Boeing and Airbus) high end business jets which are rocking the world. We are looking at one high-end business jet from each of the selected OEMs.

Gold standard in business aviation-G650

The Gulfstream G650 ultra-large-cabin, ultra-high speed business jet is, quite simply, the golden standard in business aviation. The flagship of the Gulfstream fleet flies faster and farther than any traditional business aircraft and envelops its privileged passengers in a level of comfort far greater than any other aircraft in its class.

Introduced in 2008, the G650 will carry eight passengers and a crew of four on nonstop legs of 7,000 nautical miles (12,964 km). That means it will link Dubai with New York and London with Buenos Aires. With its powerful Rolls-Royce BR725 engines, the G650 will cover shorter distances at a speed of Mach 0.925. No traditional business jet will take you closer to the speed of sound. Exceptional power and ultra-long legs aside, the G650 will be remarkably versatile. It will deliver excellent takeoff and landing performance with a balanced field length of just 6,000 feet.

The G650 is the most technologically advanced business aircraft in the sky. The G650 comes standard with many advanced safety features such as enhanced vision system (EVS) II, the head-up display (HUD) II and the synthetic vision-primary flight display (SV-PFD). Its Planeview II cockpit comes equipped with a triplex flight management system, automatic emergency descent mode, 3-D weather radar, advanced flight controls-in short, a full array of sophisticated, next-generation technology to improve pilot situational awareness and enhance safety.

Gulfstream G650 is an upgrade on G550, one of the most expensive corporate jets made by General Dynamics. According to reports, the Gulfstream G550 cost $59.9 million.

Most Accomplished Bizjet-Bombardier Global 6000

Canadian aviation company, Bombardier, is aiming to displace Gulfstream as the world's most expensive business jet with the introduction of two new models. The Global 7000 and 8000, which will cost about $65 million apiece, will beat the high-speed range of the $58.5 million Gulfstream G650. Both new private jets will have a high-speed cruise of Mach 0.90; the 7000 will have a range of 7,300 nm at Mach 0.85, while the 8000's range will top out at 7,900 nm at Mach 0.85. Both will borrow elements from the existing Global Express XRS (rebranded as Global 6000) and 5000.

The Global 6000 corporate jet is the most luxurious, most accomplished business aircraft ever built, accommodating the desires of the most sophisticated and demanding traveller with no compromises. Building on its Global Express heritage and raising the bar yet again, this extraordinary aircraft offers even greater cabin comfort, enhanced performance and further advanced technology for increased productivity and peace of mind.

No other business jet flying today carries you faster, farther. The highlights are: optimal luxury, privacy and amenities; a business tool of unsurpassed performance; and technology at the leading edge of corporate aviation. Ready to fly with only 30 minutes warning, no other intercontinental business aircraft takes you faster, farther than the XRS. Powered by Rolls-Royce BR710, flying at altitudes of up to 51,000 ft (15,545 m), this high performance aircraft has exceptional range, carrying eight passengers and a crew of four 5,450 nautical miles non-stop at Mach 0.87, 6,150 nautical miles non-stop at Mach 0.85 and 6,500 nautical miles non-stop at Mach 0.82-bridging Tokyo and New York, or Moscow and Los Angeles, non-stop.

First Fully Fly-By-Wire Business Jet-Falcon 7x

The Dassault Falcon 7X is a large-cabin, long-range business jet manufactured by Dassault Aviation, the flagship offering of their business jet line. It was first presented to the public at the 2005 Paris Air Show. As of 2008, the approximate unit cost of the 7X was $50 million. It is the first fully fly-by-wire business jet. It is also equipped with the same avionics suite, the Honeywell Primus EPIC "enhanced avionics system" (EASy) that was used on the Falcon 900EX and later on the Falcon 2000EX.

The Falcon 7X is notable for its extensive use of computer- aided design, the manufacturer claiming it to be the "first aircraft to be designed entirely on a virtual platform", using Dassault Systemes' CATIA and PLM products.

It is a superb aircraft that gives you the ultimate experience of flying in the air! It runs higher, farther and faster than any other large jets from Falcon. This expensive jet offers you sleeper accommodation for 12 to 15 people, including its three crew members.

Rich Embraer Legacy

Embraer launched the Legacy 650 in 2011 and the jet is based on the Legacy 600 but has an increased range and payload. The cabin is similar to the 600 and offers the same outstanding comfort for up to 16 passengers. Its three zones and 15-metre-long cabin makes it the largest in its class. With its new Rolls-Royce turbofans, the Legacy 650 is able to offer true transatlantic range and fly directly from London to New York or from Dubai to Hamburg.

Upgraded cabin systems minimise noise and provide full Internet access, and new cockpit technology enables the crew to fly more efficient routes while minimising workload and fatigue. The 650 can accommodate up to 14 passengers, and sells for over $30 million.

'ULTRA-LARGE' BUSINESS JET-LINEAGE 1000

The Embraer Lineage 1000 is a variant of the Embraer 190 regional jet airliner, launched as a private jet on May 2, 2006. The Lineage is advertised as an "ultra-large" business jet with comfortable seating of 19.

The greatest change in the Lineage 1000 is the added fuel tanks in the lower deck cargo hold space, nearly doubling the jet's range, besides a lavish interior, divided into five sections including an optional bedroom, washroom with running water, and a walk-in cargo area at the rear. Another selling point is the larger fuselage cross-section than other comparable business jets, such as the Gulfstream V and the Bombardier Global Express.

Inconspicuous on the outside, luxurious on the inside, the Lineage is way bigger than the largest traditional bizjets and is ready to take on bizliners. And it's cheaper than both, priced at $49 million.

HAWKER 4000-EFFICIENCY AND COMFORT

As the most advanced super-mid-size jet in the world, the Hawker 4000 features high-efficiency engines and an industry-first composite fuselage. Lighter and stronger than aluminium, this carbon-fibre technology allows for enhanced speed and range performance.

Praising its impressive marriage of efficiency and comfort, the Hawker 4000 has been recognised by the Robb Report with the "Best of the Best" award for being a category leader that flies effortlessly between continents.

It has a top speed of Mach .84 (555 miles per hour) and the high-efficiency Pratt & Whitney turbofan engines are not only quiet but dependable. The flight deck features a fully-integrated Honeywell Primus Epic system: built on the same advanced avionics as the Boeing 777. It has room for eight to ten seats and can be custom tailored to specifications

CESSNA CITATION X SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFERENT

The Cessna Citation X is a long-range medium business jet, powered by two Rolls-Royce turbofan engines. The Citation brand of business jets encompasses six distinct "families" of aircraft. Although based on the earlier Citation III, VI and VII models, the Citation X is significantly different, with a totally new wing design, engines, and features a glass cockpit. The Citation X is an upgraded model with improved engines and avionics.

In 2010, Cessna initiated a major update of the aircraft, the Citation Ten, which includes upgraded AE3007C2 engines with new fans, Garmin G5000 flight displays with three 14-inch screens and a heads-up display. The elliptical winglets that were available as an aftermarket option on the Citation X will become standard, and a stretch of 38 cm will improve passenger comfort. Due to a 1.4 per cent improvement in specific fuel consumption (SFC) and increased thrust, Cessna is advertising an increase in payload of 97 kg, an increase in cruise speed at FL490 from 460 to 479 knots, and a range increase of 190 nmi (352 km). First flight was completed on January 17, 2012. The unit cost is $22 million.