Since the first business jets, some manufacturers have tried to make the largest private jets, where others tried to make the smallest private jets. This got me thinking, which are the smallest?
For the purposes of this article, I am only focusing on production private jets. These private jets are either currently in production, or have recently come out of production, with several on the secondary market.
So these are the smallest private jets!
15. Learjet 45
The Learjet 45 is the “largest” small business jet. Despite this, when you compare the Learjet 45 to other business jets, it is still one of the smallest private jets on the market!
In the early 1990’s, the Learjet division of Bombardier was seeking to develop a new business jet that could compete with newer Cessna models. On top of this, it would replace older Learjet aircraft.
To do this, Learjet designed the Learjet 45 completely from scratch (instead of using the Learjet 23 as the basis). However, the outer shell of the Learjet 45 was inspired by the Learjet 23’s outer shell.
As with all other Learjet business jets (including the Learjet 23), the Learjet 45 is very cheap. In order to do this, the Learjet 45 was designed to have a wingspan of 47 ft 10 in (14.58 m), whilst being 58 ft 0 in (17.68 m) long.
14. Pilatus PC-24
When it comes to Pilatus business jets, they are more well known for their turboprop aircraft. However, the PC-24 is Pilatus’ newest business jet, as well as being their largest.
Following the release, and subsequent success of the similarly small PC-12, Pilatus asked their customers what they liked, and didn’t like about it. Using this research, they developed the PC-24, their first jet-powered business jet.
The PC-24 maintains the PC-12’s low price point, general ruggedness and its ability to takeoff from short runways. However, at the same time, it also has a longer range and higher top speed.
In order to accomplish this, Pilatus similarly made the PC-24 one of the smallest private jets available. By the end of it, the PC-24 has a length of 55 ft 2 in (16.85 m) and a wingspan of 59 ft 9 in (17 m).
13. Embraer Phenom 300E
In recent years, the Phenom 300 has become a favorite of smaller-scale international corporations. This is in part due to it being one of the smallest private jets on the market!
Following the release of the Phenom 100, Embraer found that several potential customers were turned away from the aircraft due to an inability to carry as many passengers as they’d hoped for.
After finding out the number they’d hoped for, Embraer began designing the Phenom 100 to carry more people, in this case, six. This aircraft was simply a lengthened Phenom 100, called the Phenom 300.
Despite being only a longer variant of the Phenom 100, the Phenom 300 is still incredibly small (compared to most other private jets). Embraer designed the Phenom 100 to be a mere 52 ft 2 in (15.9 m) long.
12. British Aerospace 125
Following the introduction of the Dassault Falcon 20 in France and the Learjet 23 in the US, the British knew that they couldn’t pass over this opportunity. Or else they risked British businessmen turning to France or the US for transportation.
As such, they tasked Hawker Siddeley with developing a new type of aircraft, commonly referred to as a private/business jet. Their answer was the HS. 125. However, Hawker Siddeley had since been absorbed into British Aerospace.
To reflect this, British Aerospace redesignated the HS. 125 as the BAe 125. This is the name the aircraft has used ever since. As one of the first business jets, the BAe 125 is one of the most successful aircraft in history!
When the BAe 125 was first introduced, it was one of the largest private jets of its time. However, as subsequent business jets have been introduced, the BAe 125 has been comparatively smaller, at only 50 ft 6 in (15.39 m) long.
11. Grob G180 SPn
For much of its history, Grob was one of the big players in the trainer aircraft game. However, in the mid-2000’s, Grob decided that it wanted to diversify into other aviation related businesses, including the private jet business.
This led to the development of the Grob G180 SPn. However, in 2008, the Great Recession saw Grob go under, before being saved by H3 Aerospace. This reorganization saw the G180 SPn project take a back seat.
However, Grob continues to produce and maintain the parts for the various G180’s in private hands. Many attempts have been made by the company to raise finance to continue to produce the aircraft, all to no avail.
Despite this, the G180 is still one of the smallest private jets currently on the market, the secondary market that is. Grob designed the G180 to be cost-effective, and therefore small at only 14.81 m (48 ft 7 in) long.
10. Hawker 400
The Hawker 400 started off as the Beechjet 400/Mitsubishi MU-300, where it was produced in Wichita, Kansas. However, it was eventually given to Hawker to produce. Nevertheless, it is one of the smallest private jets out there!
In the early 1980’s, Mitsubishi began to develop a longer and faster business jet with a longer range. However, the project became too much, and the rights to the aircraft were sold to Beechcraft (owned by Raytheon).
The aircraft subsequently became known as the Beechjet 400. However, after acquiring Hawker from BAe, the Beechjet 400 was added to the Hawker line as the Hawker 400, where it was mass-produced and sold.
In order to make it faster and give it a longer range, the Hawker 400 was made out of composites. However, due to its intended class, the Hawker 400 was also incredibly small, at only 48 ft 5 in (14.76 m) long.
9. Learjet 25
Whilst the Learjet 23 was the shortest Learjet aircraft, it wasn’t ever (truly) successful, despite being the first business jet ever built. Its descendant, the Learjet 25, however, does not really have that issue…
The Learjet 25 was the first aircraft developed from the Learjet 23. Using the Learjet 23 as a base, the fuselage was extended and the aircraft was given more efficient engines and larger fuel tanks.
Subsequently, the Learjet 25 would serve as the basis for the Learjet 28, and by extension many of Learjet’s subsequent business jets. Up until the point it was acquired by Bombardier.
In order to contend with other private jets of the era (such as the Grumman Gulfstream GII and Piaggio PD.808) the Learjet 25 was similarly small. Learjet gave it a wingspan of only 35 ft 7 in (10.85 m) and a length of 47 ft 7 in (14.50 m).
8. Pilatus PC-12
Pilatus is known for making the “swiss watch” of private jets. This moniker is in part due to the PC-12, which would eventually go on to become Pilatus’ flagship aircraft until being replaced by the jet-powered PC-24.
For almost its entire history, Pilatus had made general aviation aircraft and trainers, mostly being used in Europe. However, they began to see a change in the winds, so to say, with business aviation taking off (no pun intended).
As such, they began to create a longer version of their turboprop-powered general aviation aircraft. This aircraft was primarily meant to serve as a cheap-to-operate, short haul business and regional aircraft.
In order to keep costs low, by having only one engine, Pilatus designed the PC-12 to be 47 ft 3 in (14.4 m) long and have a wingspan of 53 ft 5 in (16.28 m). This allowed it to be cheaper than its competitor aircraft.
7. SyberJet SJ30
I have to admit, for some unknown reason, I really like the look of the SJ30. My personal feelings aside, the SJ30 also has one other title: as one of the smallest private jets in the world.
SyberJet is the latest incarnation of the aircraft manufacturer founded by Ed Swearingen. Previously, this company had developed a series of small regional airliners, mostly being turboprop and propeller-driven.
However, in the 1990’s, after reorganizing into Sino Swearingen, they decided to diversify. Most notably this was done by entering the business jet market, through the SJ30 program.
As with their previous aircraft, Sino Swearingen and later Emivest, designed the SJ30 to be quite cheap. To do this, the SJ30 was designed to be only 46.8 ft (14.3 m) long, having a wingspan of 42.3 ft (12.9 m).
6. Beechcraft Premier I
After Raytheon bought Beechcraft and Hawker, they were merged into one entity – Hawker Beechcraft. All of the business jets (minus those already in production) were under the Hawker name, with all others being Beechcraft.
Prior to this, Beechcraft began looking to diversify into a bigger, jet-powered aircraft, to supplement their King Air family. The result was the faster and longer-range Beechcraft Premier I (also known as the 390).
Whilst not as successful as Raytheon had hoped it would be, Beechcraft sold almost 300 copies of the aircraft. The majority of the customers were smaller multinational companies, who bought the Premier I on its size.
To this end, the Premier I was designed to be 46 ft 0 in (14.02 m) long, with a wingspan of 44 ft 6 in (13.56 m). This helped to minimize the price, which also helped to sell the perceived inferior technology of the Premier I.
5. HondaJet HA-420
Honda is perhaps best known for making cars. However, it isn’t well known for its other manufacturing divisions, most notably its aviation division. The only aircraft it produces is the Honda Hondajet.
The idea behind the Hondajet had been floating around Honda Motor Co. since the late 1990’s. However, no member of the board was willing to suggest it, until one did in 2003, resulting in the Honda Aviation Co.
In 2003, the Hondajet flew for the first time. Since then, it has become quite popular as a short-range business jet, mostly due to its size and the fact that it is very economical for a business jet.
To this end, the Hondajet was designed to be only 42 ft 7 in (12.99 m) long, with a wingspan of 39 ft 9 in (12.12 m). As of the time of writing, it is the smallest private jet produced by a non-American company.
4. Cessna Citation M2
Cessna are renowned for making some of the world’s smallest private jets. Arguably, this has been what has made them so successful, with them owning the vast majority of the light jet market.
In the late 1980’s, Cessna was looking to develop a new business jet that could replace its successful Cessna I series. To do this, Cessna developed a series of smaller and longer private jets.
This series is known as the Cessna CitationJet family, and consists of four jets, progressively getting longer. The shortest of those aircraft is the Cessna CitationJet I, otherwise known as the Cessna M2.
In total, the M2 is only 42 ft 7 in (12.98 m) long, with only 11 ft (3.35 m) being used for the cabin. On top of this, the M2 also has a wingspan of only 47 ft 3 in (14.40 m), making it one of the smallest private jets in the world.
3. Embraer Phenom 100EV
Today, Embraer is known for producing some of the world’s best private jets. Perhaps the best of them is the Phenom 100, which also serves as the basis for the aforementioned Phenom 300.
Before the Phenom 100, Embraer was known for producing regional airliners. However, in the early 2000’s, they chose to diversify, entering the very light jet (VLJ) market.
The result of this work was the Phenom 100, one of the world’s smallest private jets. Since then, the jet has become quite popular, mostly due to its small size and low cost, both to acquire and to operate.
In order to make the latter a reality, Embraer made the vast majority of the airframe out of composites. On top of this, the Phenom 100 is only 42 ft 1 in (12.82 m) long, with a wingspan of 40 ft 4 in (12.3 m).
2. Stratos 716X
You have perhaps not heard of the Stratos 716X, or maybe not the company behind it. However, they are attempting to create the world’s most technologically advanced and smallest private jet!
Stratos is an aviation startup hoping to take the principles of Silicon Valley and apply it to the world of aviation. More importantly, the world of business aviation, before eventually taking over the entire industry (hopefully).
To do this, Stratos is developing the Stratos 714, and alongside it, the Stratos 716X. As with the SF50 (more on that in a minute), the 716X is supposed to redefine the VLJ market and push down prices.
In order to accomplish this, the Stratos 714 and 716X are made mostly out of carbon fiber and composites. However, they are both very small, at only 35 ft 10 in (10.91 m) long, with a wingspan of 40 ft 6 in (12.34 m).
1. Cirrus Vision SF50
When Cirrus Aircraft released the SF50 in 2006, the entire industry went absolutely insane! Many hailed Cirrus as having created the first “people’s private jet” by giving it a comparably low price.
This made the SF50 not only the smallest private jet in the world, but also made it the cheapest private jet on the market.
Prior to making the SF50, Cirrus Aircraft was famed for its line of general aviation aircraft and trainers. However, the company wanted more, and to do this, had to invent something completely different.
To do this, Cirrus created the world’s first civilian single-jet aircraft. This helped to keep costs for Cirrus owner’s low, as well as giving it several different uses, both as a private jet and as a general aviation aircraft.
In order to make the single jet engine powerful enough, the SF50 had to be small. The result was an aircraft that is only 30 ft 11 in (9.42 m) long, with a wingspan of 38 ft 8 in (11.79 m).
If you had the money, would you buy any of these private jets? Tell me in the comments!
Featured image courtesy of Papas Dos via Flickr.