When it comes to chartering or buying a private jet, our clients at Sentinel Aviation appreciate the importance of flexibility and performance. While some require spacious aircraft to attend team meetings and events across the globe, others might require more flexible, efficient planes.
Whether it is for a luxury weekend getaway or a business day trip, light jets, very-light jets (VLJs) and mid-sized jets offer a combination of comfort, speed and flexibility. Short flights are about more than just the distance or time spent in the air; they also often require less time commuting to and from the airport. That’s why jets need to be able to take off and land on shorter, harder-to-reach runways so that they can access more airports and destinations.
At the same time, short flights shouldn’t sacrifice comfort or safety. Here is a selection of the best private jets for short trips – offering reliable, convenient and luxurious travel, even for quick hops.
Embraer Phenom 300E
The Phenom 300E has become the most successful business jet of the past decade, the best-selling light jet for 12 years running, and the fastest single-pilot jet in production. The Phenom 300E is capable of speeds up to Mach 0.80, features a quieter cabin than ever before, has best-in-class cabin altitude, and now offers autothrottle for a more automated and intuitive flying experience. The Phenom 300E also delivers innovative technology such as the industry’s first runway overrun awareness and alerting system (ROAAS) which provides timely alerts to the crew to reduce the risk of overrun during landing.
Embraer’s top light jet is also known for its comfortable and convenient features. It can seat up to 10 passengers while offering abundant leg space and the best cabin altitude in its class. Plus, owners can customise the plane’s interiors to best suit their tastes and needs, from relaxing white tones to elegant blue and grey palettes.
Cirrus Vision SF50
Cirrus aircraft are renowned for state-of-the-art safety features. The Vision Jet is no exception to the rule, ensuring peace of mind for flyers. Whether it is for the flagship parachute system or the advanced safe return autoland system, the Cirrus Vision SF50 surely is a pilot’s best friend. Designed around the largest cabin in its class, the carbon fibre fuselage creates spaciousness, with unexpected head and shoulder room and panoramic windows for an immersive experience.
If you are going away for the weekend, unwinding can start as soon as you step on the plane. The very light jet has ready-to-use entertainment displays and plenty of additional premium features to make family travel relaxing and enjoyable. Of course, executive group seats can also be customised to facilitate meetings and create a more formal setting.
Hawker 850 XP
The Hawker 850XP is a derivative of the world’s longest running corporate jet production programme and the best selling business jet of all times with an endurance of 5hrs. The 850XP is the third model in the Hawker 800 series and was the first to feature Hawker Beechcraft blended winglets
Made by Beechcraft Corporation, the Hawker 850XP is one of the charter market’s most versatile and reliable mid-size private jets. Its large cabin makes this aircraft the ideal size for eight passengers to fly medium-haul journeys in comfort and luxury.
The aircraft’s avionics suite features four adaptive screens displaying navigation, terrain awareness warning systems, weather, reduced vertical separation minimum and enhanced ground proximity warning systems. The system is set up intuitively to decrease workload while increasing safety and awareness in the cockpit.
Cessna Citation M2
The exterior of every Citation jet is a work of art, and the interior an exquisite display of function. Intentionally designed to create a sense of calm within a hectic business world, masterful craftsmanship exudes luxury throughout the cabin.
The addition of standard Garmin autothrottles and emergency autoland in the flight deck gives the pilot extra control. The Citation M2 Gen3 aircraft is the perfect entry-level jet. Perfect for corporate, charter or private use, the updated Citation M2 jet features enhanced cabin lighting and cabin technology.
Every model in the range is designed to be both convenient and highly efficient. The M2 Gen3 is also more spacious than its predecessor, with additional storage space in-cabin, enabling smoother family travel and more stress-free journeys.
Piaggio P180 Avanti EVO
The Piaggio P180 Avanti is so typically Italian! An Italian executive transport aircraft with twin turboprop engines mounted in pusher configuration, it seats up to nine people in a pressurised cabin and may be flown by one or two pilots for up to 2.5hrs. The elegantly designed plane blends the very best of Italian style, peerless craftsmanship, and intelligent thinking.
Its speed exceeds 400 KTAS, faster than many jets and at a fraction of the direct running costs. With greater range, faster climb, reduced fuel costs, a lower noise footprint, added safety systems, and a more luxurious cabin, the Piaggio P180 Avanti is truly a class act. Additionally, there is a significantly improved service and support network, which includes an innovative new maintenance programme that ensures costs are kept under control.
Pilatus PC-24
Swiss aircraft maker Pilatus Aircraft has unveiled a thorough update of its PC-24 executive jet, which increases the payload and range of this aircraft type. The PC-24 will see its range increase by 200 nm (370 km), with its full fuel payload boosted by an additional 600 pounds (272 kg), for a maximum payload capacity of 3,100 pounds (1,406 kg).
Pilatus has achieved this by optimising structural elements in the wing and fuselage, reducing the aircraft empty weight while simultaneously increasing the maximum take-off weight limit.
In addition to these performance improvements and a new predictive maintenance data-transmission system, PC-24s will now be built with technological improvements on the passenger experience side.
HondaJet Elite II
Honda Aircraft Company has launched an upgraded version of its Elite model business jet. The HondaJet Elite II was unveiled in 2022. Like its predecessor, the Elite S, it is the fastest, highest and farthest flying and most fuel-efficient aircraft in its class with a range of 1,547 nautical miles, a maximum cruising altitude of 43,000 feet and a maximum cruising speed of 422 knots.
It also has the most cabin space, with a typical configuration of one crew + six passengers and an alternative configuration of one crew + seven passengers or two crew + six passengers.
The Elite II features HondaJet’s characteristic over-the-wing engine mount, a configuration that improves performance by reducing aerodynamic drag.It is powered by a HF120 turbofan jet engine made by GE Honda Aero Engines, a joint venture headquartered in West Chester, Ohio, that was created in 2004 to design, manufacture, sell and service engines for business aviation.
