While it’s true light jets typically aren’t as fast as larger private jets, there are more than two dozen light jets that have a maximum cruise speed exceeding 500 miles per hour
If you want to fly by light jet – because you don’t need the range, passenger, or baggage capacity of larger private jets, you don’t necessarily have to give up speed. In addition to more than two dozen light jets that have maximum cruise speeds exceeding 500 miles per hour, the Cessna Citation Excel/XLS and Bombardier Learjet 40/45 series, which technically are midsize jets but are often sold in light jet programs, also can fly you at 500 + miles per hour.
Choosing The Right Jet Card
Specific to true light jets, Dassault’s Falcon 10 and 100 are the speed leaders with a maximum cruising speed of 564 miles per hour. Many of the other fast light jets are out of production, but the good news is you can find them in the various jet card programs.
If you want speed and a specific jet, OneFlight International has a program using the Beechcraft Beechjet 400, which has a maximum cruising speed of 531 miles per hour while the Hawker 400XP at 518 miles per hour (from Magellan Jets) and the Phenom 300/300E at 511 miles per hour (Flexjet, NetJets, Airshare, Magellan Jets, Nicholas Air, OneFlight), are all programs where you can specify particular jet types. Consider subscribing to Private Jet Comparisons here if you want to compare over 250 programs in easy-to-use spreadsheets.
Which light jets are fastest? Compare over 60 light and very light jets by maximum cruise speed, normal cruise speed, and long-range cruise speed:
| Aircraft Name | Max Cruise Speed (mph) | Normal Cruise Speed (mph) | Long Range Cruise Speed (mph) |
| Dassault Falcon 10 | 564 | 520 | 498 |
| Dassault Falcon 100 | 564 | 520 | 498 |
| SyberJet SJ30 | 556 | 534 | 502 |
| Sabreliner Sabre 40A | 552 | 493 | 471 |
| Bombardier Learjet 25D | 547 | 510 | 481 |
| Bombardier Learjet 24D | 547 | 505 | 472 |
| Bombardier Learjet 24E | 547 | 505 | 472 |
| Nextant Aerospace 400XT | 542 | 529 | 466 |
| Bombardier Learjet 35A | 541 | 502 | 488 |
| Bombardier Learjet 36A | 541 | 502 | 488 |
| Bombardier Learjet 31A | 532 | 507 | 480 |
| Bombardier Learjet 31ER | 532 | 507 | 480 |
| Bombardier Learjet 31A/ER | 532 | 507 | 480 |
| Bombardier Learjet 31 | 532 | 507 | 480 |
| Beechcraft Beechjet 400 | 531 | 513 | 456 |
| Beechcraft Premier I | 531 | 490 | 426 |
| Nextant Aerospace 400XTi | 529 | 514 | 467 |
| Beechcraft Beechjet 400A | 527 | 517 | 472 |
| Cessna Citation CJ4 | 522 | 522 | 437 |
| Beechcraft Premier IA | 522 | 490 | 426 |
| Beechcraft Hawker 400XP | 518 | 518 | 472 |
| Beechcraft Hawker 400XPR | 514 | 514 | 489 |
| Embraer Phenom 300 | 511 | 495 | 441 |
| Embraer Phenom 300E | 511 | 495 | 441 |
| Pilatus PC-24 | 506 | NA | 407 |
| Cessna Citation Encore+ | 495 | 495 | 428 |
| Cessna Citation Encore | 495 | 495 | 428 |
| Cessna Citation Ultra | 495 | 495 | 428 |
| Honda Aircraft HA-420 HondaJet | 486 | 486 | 410 |
| Sierra Industries FJ44 Super SII S550 | 483 | 483 | 411 |
| Cessna Citation CJ3 | 480 | 480 | 400 |
| Cessna Citation CJ3+ | 480 | 480 | 400 |
| Sierra Industries FJ44 Super II 550 | 478 | 478 | 398 |
| Cessna Citation CJ2+ | 475 | 475 | 404 |
| Cessna Citation CJ2 | 475 | 475 | 396 |
| Beechcraft Diamond 1A | 467 | 467 | 423 |
| Embraer Phenom 100EV | 467 | 383 | 383 |
| Cessna Citation Bravo | 466 | 466 | 386 |
| Cessna Citation M2 | 465 | 436 | 381 |
| Sierra Industries FJ44 Eagle II 501SP | 463 | 443 | 403 |
| Cessna Citation V | 457 | 457 | 403 |
| Sierra Industries FJ44 Stallion 501SP | 455 | 420 | 397 |
| Embraer Phenom 100E | 449 | 427 | 383 |
| Embraer Phenom 100 | 449 | 427 | 383 |
| Cessna Citation CJ1+ | 448 | 448 | 353 |
| Cessna Citation S/II | 444 | 444 | 359 |
| Cessna Citation CJ1 | 438 | 438 | 353 |
| Cessna Citation Jet | 434 | 419 | 348 |
| One Aviation Eclipse 500 | 427 | 425 | 380 |
| One Aviation Eclipse 550 | 427 | 425 | 380 |
| One Aviation Total Eclipse 500 | 427 | 425 | 380 |
| Cessna Citation II/IISP | 409 | 409 | 369 |
| Cessna Citation 500 | 409 | 382 | 357 |
| Cessna Citation I/ISP | 397 | 397 | 357 |
| Cessna Citation Mustang | 391 | 391 | 367 |
| Cirrus Vision SF50 | 345 | 339 | 276 |
Compare More Private Jets
Compare Large Cabin Jets by range
Compare Light Jets by baggage capacity
Compare Midsize Jets by baggage capacity
Compare Large Cabin Jets by baggage capacity
Compare Large Cabin Jets by speed
Compare Light Jets by cabin size
Compare Midsize Jets by cabin size
Compare Large Cabin Jets by cabin size
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Conklin & de Decker, a JSSI company, is a leader in aviation research, consulting, and education with offices in Massachusetts, Texas, and Arizona. The mission of Conklin & de Decker is to enable the general aviation industry to make more informed decisions when dealing with the purchase, operation, and disposition of aircraft by furnishing objective and impartial information. Founded in 1984, Conklin & de Decker focuses on fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft operating costs, performance and specification databases, maintenance management software, financial management, fleet planning, market research, aviation tax issues, and financial, tax and management seminars. Conklin & de Decker consults with numerous individuals, corporations, and government agencies worldwide. More information on their products and services, copies of articles published, and a unique “Members Only” section can be found on their website.
