Bezos has many responsibilities as a business manager and investor. Because of this, Bezos is constantly traveling for business and attending events across the world. Therefore, Bezos is almost always on the move. With constant obligations across the world, commercial airlines are not always able to ensure that Bezos's time is spent properly. So, to save time, Bezos operates several private business jets to shuttle himself and his executives, close friends, and family across the world.
The former Chief Executive Officer operates two Gulfstream G650ERs in his fleet, per StratosJets. Let's take a closer look at each of these individual aircraft and how Bezos customized them to his liking. Let's also take a look at some of their unique design features, which may be the reason Bezos chose them as his private jet of choice.
Jeff Bezos jets and options
As mentioned earlier, Jeff Bezos owns two Gulfstream G650ERs. Both of these are owned by one of Bezos's holding companies, which is called Poplar Glen LLC, and is based out of Seattle, Washington. The holding company also owns a hangar on Boeing Field that Costco previously owned. The hangar itself was valued at $5.5 million at the time of its sale in October 2015, per The Business Journals.
Jeff Bezos previously owned a Dassault Falcon-900EX that was originally manufactured in 1994. However, Bezos and his holding company sold the jet in 2015 in favor of a newer Gulfstream business jet.
The first Bezos-owned Gulfstream jet was purchased in 2015. This aircraft is a 2015 Gulfstream G650ER that is serial 6133. The aircraft is also registered as N271DV, per FlightAware. This specific aircraft is powered by two Rolls-Royce BR 700 series engines, which provide over 14,750 pounds of thrust each. The aircraft is also fitted with 22 seats.
The second Bezos-owned Gulfstream was brand newly purchased in 2019. Per FlightAware, the aircraft is a Gulfstream G650ER that is serial 6396. Per SuperYachtFan, this aircraft is registered as N758PB. Similar to his other G650ER, N758PB seats 22 passengers but has slightly different engines. This specific aircraft is powered by two Rolls-Royce BR 700–15 engines. These are slightly improved and provide 14,975 pounds of thrust each. Both of these aircraft are registered with Bezos's holding company, Poplar Glen.
Brief history of the G650ER
The G650ER is the upgraded version of the G650. When it was initially introduced, it was the largest and fastest business jet. However, it will be passed by the G700 once it achieves Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification this year. The G650 was initially introduced within the company in 2005 and unveiled to the public in 2008.
The aircraft underwent an extensive flight testing and certification process. During the testing process in 2011, a G650 crashed shortly after takeoff. The aircraft was certified by the FAA in September 2012 and was introduced into the market shortly after.
The G650ER was announced as an upgraded version of the G650 with an extended range. This aircraft can reach destinations that are 7,500 nautical miles (8,600 miles) away. This was a large improvement to the original G650's range of 7,000 nautical miles (8,100 miles). Gulfstream can also convert existing G650s to G650ERs by adding tanks to existing space in the aircraft's wings. Throughout flight testing, the aircraft set several world records for the longest non-stop flights by a purpose-built business jet and also several speed records. Some of these include speed records along the following routes:
- White Plains, NY, to Shanghai
- Tuscon, AZ, to Taiwan
- Tuscon, AZ, to Singapore
The G650ER was officially certified in October 2014 and was introduced later that year.
Main features of the G650ER
The large cabin business jet has several notable features that make the aircraft unique. The fuselage of the aircraft is designed as an oval instead of the typical circular cross-section. This allowed for a more spacious cabin. Both the fuselage and wing are manufactured from metallic materials, whereas many of the flight controls, which are fly-by-wire controls, are produced from composite materials.
The wing has a sweep that reaches 36 degrees, which is greater than any other previous Gulfstream business jet. It has the unique feature of not using leading-edge high-lift devices, where the leading edge is a continuously changing curve. The G650ER utilizes a yoke and column control device, which is similar to the older G550.
The G650ER has the following specifications:
Length | 99 feet nine inches |
|---|---|
Wingspan | 99 feet seven inches |
Height | 25 feet eight inches |
Range | 7,500 nautical miles (8,600 miles) |
Maximum operating speed | Mach 0.925 (710 miles per hour) |
Cruise speed | Mach 0.90 (690 miles per hour) |
Takeoff distance | 6,299 feet |
The aircraft also has a cabin length that is just under 47 feet long. The cross-section has a maximum width of eight feet two inches and a height of six feet three inches. This large cabin can fit several living areas and up to 19 passengers. Gulfstream offers several options, including a full kitchen and bar or living areas that can sleep up to ten passengers. The G650ER is also pressurized to an altitude of 4,850 feet when the aircraft is flying at 51,000 feet.
