Every private aircraft, from turboprops to ultra-long-range jets
Updated
Private aircraft fall into seven categories that map cleanly to mission type. Very light jets and turboprops cover regional hops under 1,800 nautical miles for four to seven passengers. Light, midsize, and super-midsize jets handle transcontinental US trips for six to ten people. Large-cabin and ultra-long-range jets cross oceans nonstop with up to nineteen passengers. The right category is the one that matches your typical mission — runway constraints, passenger count, and range — rather than the most aircraft you can afford.
What are the categories of private aircraft?
Which private aircraft models matter most?
These models account for the bulk of the charter and fractional fleet. Each gets a dedicated page with specs, costs, ownership economics, and head-to-head analysis.
How do you choose the right aircraft category?
Category choice is driven by three constraints: the longest leg you fly regularly, your typical passenger count, and the runways at the airports you actually use. Get those three right and the category narrows to two options at most.
Range first. If your longest recurring mission is New York to Aspen at 1,520 nm, a light jet covers it nonstop in winter winds. If it's New York to London at 3,000 nm, you need at least a super-midsize and realistically a large-cabin. Don't buy capability you won't use — every extra category up doubles the operating cost.
Passengers next. Most light and midsize cabins comfortably seat what they advertise minus one. A 9-seat light jet is a 7-seat working jet. If you regularly fly with eight executives, you're shopping super-midsize or above.
Runways last but absolutely binding. Aspen, Telluride, Sun Valley, and a handful of Caribbean destinations rule out larger aircraft outright. The PC-12 and PC-24 get into airports that a G550 cannot legally use.