Private planes are not always as huge or heavy as commercial jets like the Boeing 747 or 737, which can make the term ‘heavy’ confusing. The classification of the Dassault Falcon 2000 as a heavy or large aircraft raises questions about its origins and meaning.
This article will explain what the phrase means in the context of private aviation, why it is employed, and how comfort and range play a significant role. Heavy, according to the FAAN.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) categorizes aircraft as small or large, which can be interpreted differently due to their diverse shapes and sizes.
Technically, ‘heavy’ refers to jets with a maximum take-off weight (MTOW) of 150 tons (300,000 pounds) or more.
This classification is significant to air traffic controllers because planes capable of carrying such a massive load generally displace so much air that they can produce deadly turbulence for the plane that follows in its wake.
This rule does not apply in all instances. Several chat boards cited the Boeing 757 as an example, which was categorized as heavy for a while due to its specialist engines producing a bigger wake of turbulence than other planes of its size.
Despite possessing an MTOW of 273,000 lbs, plane engines, aerodynamics, and capacities may change over time as a result of alterations or redesigns, causing them to enter or exit the heavy category.
The Boeing 757’s powerful engines and big wing enabled it to take off from shorter runways and in less favorable conditions than many other planes of its size. Check out our post on what makes the 757 iconic here.
What is a heavy jet?
Some of the confusion surrounding the term “heavy” in private aviation may originate from the type of aircraft being referred to. Although the 757 features jet engines (Rolls-Royce RB211 turbofans), it is not commonly referred to as a jet.
The term “jet” normally refers to a small plane with jet engines, and a private cabin-converted 757, albeit intriguing, is unlikely to be found.
Furthermore, the majority of the time, such small planes are used for private purposes. So, how do we discriminate between aircraft in this narrow category of private jet-powered planes? So, enter the big private jet. Let’s take a closer look at what defines them.
A slightly chubby jet.
Essex Aviation, a private jet merchant, refers to heavy private jets as “large cabin aircraft.” For such a little aircraft, instances in this class may appear a bit stocky. However, for the private aircraft business, this is a plus.
FlyExclusive provides interior customization possibilities for larger cabins, which Simple Flying briefly discussed in a recent post.
It also means that the few passengers being transported have enough space to be comfortable. Customers will not have to squat when crossing the length of the cabin, and there is plenty of space for sideways seating on couches, dining, working, or sleeping on a genuine bed.
For consumers looking for luxury at 10,000 feet, a fat jet is ideal. This could explain why the term “heavy” is used to describe jets in this class, as their tall, wide cabins displace more air than a narrow cabin jet of the same length.
But, a heavy lifter.
Essex Aviation defines a heavy private jet as one with a maximum take-off weight (MTOW) of 50 tons (100,000 pounds), which seems like a good place to draw the line. For reference, the MTOW of an aircraft would be the Basic Empty Weight (BEW) + fuel weight + passenger and cargo weight.
The limit can be established by a variety of factors, including the aircraft’s structural integrity, the lift it can achieve, the drag it produces, and the environmental conditions it is likely to experience.
A high MTOW may indicate a number of factors, the most obvious of which is the ability to convey more clients and their luggage. It could also imply that the plane is well-engineered in terms of reliability, as well as aerodynamics and flight efficiency.
For these reasons, a tiny private aircraft with a high MTOW is highly desirable, and seats as low as 12 to 18 provide more flexibility to the private aviation customer.
And quite heavy duty.
The long-range private jet is frequently associated with the hefty private jet, and this may be the most crucial consideration for this type of aircraft. When looking at a battery, it may have the words “heavy-duty” inscribed on the side, indicating that it can perform its function for an extended period of time.
We may look at private jets in the same way. In this example, ‘heavy’ refers to the ability to fly farther and longer than others of its size.
The Bombardier Global 7500 jet is a popular choice in business aviation due to its impressive speed and range. Simple Flying recently reviewed its performance.
Speed allows travelers to get to their destination quickly, but it also significantly expands their route and destination alternatives. For the private flier, this might be a significant element in determining whether it is worthwhile to spend more money on a jet that can travel further.
Heavy private jets: the best
While the list in the video above is impressive, it leaves out a few big names from the roster of large private planes available. By examining some data and dimensions, we should be able to broaden the list to include additional notable examples.
First, let’s look at the cabin dimensions and maximum takeoff weight. Only jets with cabin heights of seven feet are mentioned here, however if any of these exceed your budget, there are many more slightly less vertically liberal examples with MTOWs far over 100,000 pounds.
| Aircraft | MTOW (lbs) | Cabin Height (ft) | Cabin Width (ft) | Cabin Length (ft) | Cabin Volume (cubic ft) |
| Airbus ACJ321 | 196,210 | 7 | 12 | 114 | 8,547 |
| Boeing BBJ 3 | 187,700 | 7 | 12 | 107 | 7,290 |
| Boeing BBJ 2 | 174,200 | 7 | 12 | 99 | 6,525 |
| Boeing BBJ | 171,000 | 7 | 12 | 79 | 5,396 |
| Airbus ACJ320 | 169,785 | 7 | 12 | 91 | 6,825 |
| Airbus ACJ319 | 168,650 | 7 | 12 | 79 | 5,843 |
| Airbus ACJ318 | 145,504 | 7 | 12 | 71 | 5,300 |
| Embraer Lineage 1000E | 120,152 | 7 | 9 | 84 | 3,914 |
| Embraer Lineage 1000 | 120,152 | 7 | 9 | 84 | 3,914 |
Is range more essential than comfort?
Essex Aviation identifies Conklin de Decker as one of the most popular heavy private aircraft, demonstrating the importance of range to customers. These models are not usually the cheapest or most capacious, but they offer impressive maximum ranges.
| Aircraft | Passenger Capacity (for Example Range) | Max Range (nm) | Average New Cost ($) |
| Bombardier Global 7500 | 16 | 7,474 | 81M |
| Bombardier Global 6500 | 14 | 6,563 | 56.2M |
| Gulfstream G700 | 13 | 7,150 | 78M |
| Dassault Falcon 8X | 12 | 6,290 | 68.5M |
Ever faster and more accessible.
As technology advances, big private jets have begun to look less fat in recent years. In the instance of the Global 7500, its innovative wing shape performs a lot of heavy lifting, giving it very amazing performance considering its small.
The 7500’s ability to break the sound barrier during testing (see video in the article) suggests potential for additional progress in this category.
With the next Bombardier Global 8000 boasting even higher numbers than its predecessor, top-tier heavy private aircraft will become increasingly accessible to private aviation consumers as firms replace their fleets with newer models.
Another trend worth following is the fractional ownership model of private jet ownership, which makes expensive and long-range jets considerably more accessible. Since I mentioned FlyExclusive, they will soon have access to Volato’s Vaunt technology and fractional ownership protocols.
This means that they will allow partial ownership of planes in their fleet, and their coordination will be facilitated by cutting-edge technology. As private aviation evolves, more people may be able to profit from the advantages that heavy private jets provide.