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Choosing right aircraft can be 'plane' sailing

Boeing
Keith Wallis

With more than 20 major aircraft manufacturers, the figure is nearer 40 if one includes smaller Russian, Indian and American companies, choosing the right corporate aircraft is about as difficult as buying a limousine.

Ultimately, though, the decision will depend on factors such as price, performance and passenger capacity.

The Ferrari of the skies is undoubtedly the US$16.1-million Cessna Citation X which cruises comfortably at Mach .92, just below the speed of sound.

It can whisk you and up to nine passengers between Hong Kong and Singapore in about 2.5 hours, far quicker than conventional passenger jet.

For endurance and passenger-carrying capacity, the Gulfstream V leads the pack. Carrying 18 passengers, it can fly non-stop between Hong Kong and Toronto at speeds comparable to the Boeing 747-400. List price is $28.5 million.

From the same stable is the Gulfstream IV at $23 million. The non- stop range is about 7,800 kilometres - about the distance from Hong Kong to Sydney.

Those seeking passenger-carrying capacity can look to the Boeing Business Jet, an executive version of the Boeing 737 airliner. It can carry between 10 and 42 people.

Travelling distance is about 8,500 kms before refuelling.

It is priced at US$32 million and corporate owners and air charter companies have already placed orders for 35.

Airbus Industrie, Boeing's main rival in the big jet market, is also looking at offering corporate versions of its popular range of A310, A320 and A340s.

Between these there is a range of jets, from the popular Learjet, used by Haikou-based Hainan Airlines and Hainan VIP Flight Service in Beijing for air taxi and corporate work, to the Beechjet 400, Challenger 604 and Hawker 800.

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