The Pilatus PC-24 is new and the most spacious aircraft in the light jet category
Light jets provide an affordable way to access private aviation. With prices for on-demand and jet card charter of a light jet often starting at under $5,000, depending on where you are going and with how many people, light jets, including its category subset very light jets, are a good way to get the most value when flying privately. Light jets are defined as having a maximum take-off weight of under 20,000 pounds with very light jets typically referred to as those aircraft with a maximum take-off weight under 10,000 pounds.
Of course, when choosing light jets size can be an issue. both cabin height can impact how much you have to duck when moving around while width and length impact how spacious it feels once you are flying. Cabin volume combines all three, and according to research by Conklin & de Decker Associates, the new Pilatus PC-24 is the champion when it comes to light jets with its cabin measuring 501 cubic feet followed by the Embraer 300/300E at 324 cubic feet. Next from Cessna are the Citation Encore (310 ), Citation Encore + (310), Citation V ( 310) and Citation Ultra (310).
Of course, if you are taller, height may an issue. From that perspective, the Beechcraft Premier I and IA at a height of 5.4 inches will give you the most headroom in the category followed by the Pilatus PC-24 at 5.08 feet and then Embraer’s Phenom 100 and 300 at nearly five feet in cabin height (4.92 and 4.94). Other light jets that will give you more head space include the Dassault Falcon 10 (4.9), Dassault Falcon 100 (4.9), HondaJet HA-420 (4.8), Cessna Citation V (4.8), Cessna Citation Ultra (4.8), Beechcraft Beechjet 400A (4.8), and Beechcraft Diamond 1A (4.8). At a cabin height of 4.75 feet are the Citation CJ3+, CJ2, C2+, CJ1, CJ1+ and M2.
In terms of width, the Pilatus PC-24 is again the leader at 5.58 feet followed by Beechcraft’s Premier 1/1A at 5.5 feet. While the Sabreliner Sabre 40A offers a cabin 5.25 feet wide, it hasn’t been manufactured since the 1970s so you are unlikely to find many on the charter market or featured in jet card programs. However, the Phenom 100 and 300 series, both with cabins at 5.08 feet wide are highly popular, and a number of jet card providers, including Executive AirShare, Flexjet, JetSuite and Nicholas Air offer programs featuring them. The narrowest private jet is the Cessna Citation Mustang at 4.58 feet.
For cabin length, the PC-24 at 23 feet is longest. Cessna’s Citation V, Ultra, Encore, Encore +, CJ4 and Embraer’s Phenom 300 and 300E all have cabins over 17 feet long. On the compact side, the Mustang, Learjet 24D/24E and Eclipse 500/550 and Total Eclipse 500 each have cabins under 10 feet in length.
When choosing a light jet you need to make sure to verify how many seats on the aircraft as the same airplane types can be configured with a different number of seats. With light jets, you will also want to check to see if there is an enclosed toilet and if it is separated by a hard door or just a curtain.
Which is the roomiest light jet? The most spacious light jets measured by cubic volume, cabin height, cabin length and cabin volume:
| Aircraft Name | Maximum Take-off Weight (lbs.) | Cabin Height (feet) | Cabin Width (feet) | Cabin Length (feet) | Cabin Volume (cu. ft.) |
| Pilatus PC-24 | 17,968 | 5.08 | 5.58 | 23.00 | 501.0 |
| Embraer Phenom 300 | 17,968 | 4.92 | 5.08 | 17.17 | 324.0 |
| Embraer Phenom 300E | 17,968 | 4.92 | 5.08 | 17.17 | 324.0 |
| Cessna Citation Encore+ | 16,830 | 4.75 | 4.83 | 17.33 | 314.0 |
| Cessna Citation Encore | 16,630 | 4.75 | 4.83 | 17.33 | 314.0 |
| Cessna Citation Ultra | 16,300 | 4.80 | 4.83 | 17.33 | 310.0 |
| Cessna Citation V | 15,900 | 4.80 | 4.83 | 17.33 | 310.0 |
| Beechcraft Hawker 400XPR | 16,300 | 4.75 | 4.92 | 15.50 | 305.0 |
| Beechcraft Beechjet 400A | 16,100 | 4.80 | 4.90 | 15.60 | 305.0 |
| Beechcraft Hawker 400XP | 16,300 | 4.75 | 4.92 | 15.50 | 305.0 |
| Nextant Aerospace 400XTi | 16,300 | 4.75 | 4.92 | 15.50 | 305.0 |
| Nextant Aerospace 400XT | 16,300 | 4.75 | 4.92 | 15.50 | 305.0 |
| Sabreliner Sabre 40A | 19,612 | 4.60 | 5.25 | 15.80 | 294.0 |
| Beechcraft Beechjet 400 | 15,780 | 4.80 | 4.90 | 14.40 | 293.0 |
| Cessna Citation CJ4 | 17,110 | 4.75 | 4.83 | 17.30 | 293.0 |
| Beechcraft Diamond 1A | 14,630 | 4.80 | 4.90 | 15.00 | 293.0 |
| Sierra Industries FJ44 Super SII S550 | 15,100 | 4.70 | 4.80 | 15.75 | 292.0 |
| Sierra Industries FJ44 Super II 550 | 14,100 | 4.70 | 4.80 | 15.75 | 292.0 |
| Cessna Citation Bravo | 14,800 | 4.70 | 4.80 | 15.75 | 292.0 |
| Cessna Citation II/IISP | 14,100 | 4.70 | 4.80 | 15.75 | 292.0 |
| Cessna Citation S/II | 15,100 | 4.70 | 4.80 | 15.75 | 292.0 |
| Bombardier Learjet 35A | 18,300 | 4.30 | 4.90 | 12.90 | 289.0 |
| Cessna Citation CJ3 | 13,870 | 4.75 | 4.83 | 15.67 | 286.0 |
| Cessna Citation CJ3+ | 13,870 | 4.75 | 4.83 | 15.67 | 286.0 |
| Beechcraft Premier I | 12,500 | 5.40 | 5.50 | 13.60 | 285.0 |
| Beechcraft Premier IA | 12,500 | 5.40 | 5.50 | 13.60 | 285.0 |
| Bombardier Learjet 31A | 17,200 | 4.35 | 4.95 | 12.90 | 281.0 |
| Bombardier Learjet 31ER | 16,500 | 4.35 | 4.95 | 12.90 | 281.0 |
| Bombardier Learjet 31A/ER | 17,700 | 4.35 | 4.95 | 12.90 | 281.0 |
| Bombardier Learjet 31 | 15,500 | 4.35 | 4.95 | 12.90 | 281.0 |
| Bombardier Learjet 25D | 15,000 | 4.30 | 4.90 | 12.00 | 258.0 |
| Cessna Citation CJ2+ | 12,500 | 4.75 | 4.83 | 13.58 | 248.0 |
| Cessna Citation CJ2 | 12,375 | 4.75 | 4.83 | 13.58 | 248.0 |
| Sierra Industries FJ44 Eagle II 501SP | 12,500 | 4.30 | 4.90 | 12.70 | 230.0 |
| Sierra Industries FJ44 Stallion 501SP | 12,500 | 4.30 | 4.90 | 12.70 | 230.0 |
| Cessna Citation I/ISP | 11,850 | 4.30 | 4.90 | 12.70 | 230.0 |
| Cessna Citation 500 | 11,500 | 4.30 | 4.90 | 12.70 | 230.0 |
| Bombardier Learjet 36A | 18,300 | 4.30 | 4.90 | 10.50 | 228.0 |
| Dassault Falcon 10 | 18,740 | 4.90 | 4.80 | 12.70 | 224.0 |
| Dassault Falcon 100 | 18,740 | 4.90 | 4.80 | 12.70 | 224.0 |
| Honda Aircraft HA-420 HondaJet | 10,600 | 4.80 | 5.00 | 12.10 | 222.0 |
| Bombardier Learjet 24D | 13,500 | 4.30 | 4.90 | 9.00 | 220.0 |
| Bombardier Learjet 24E | 13,500 | 4.30 | 4.90 | 9.00 | 220.0 |
| Embraer Phenom 100E | 10,582 | 4.94 | 5.08 | 11.00 | 212.0 |
| Embraer Phenom 100 | 10,472 | 4.92 | 5.08 | 11.00 | 212.0 |
| Embraer Phenom 100EV | 10,582 | 4.94 | 5.08 | 11.00 | 212.0 |
| SyberJet SJ30 | 13,950 | 4.30 | 4.70 | 12.50 | 210.0 |
| Cessna Citation Jet | 10,400 | 4.80 | 4.83 | 11.00 | 205.0 |
| Cessna Citation M2 | 10,700 | 4.75 | 4.83 | 11.00 | 201.0 |
| Cessna Citation CJ1 | 10,600 | 4.75 | 4.83 | 11.00 | 201.0 |
| Cessna Citation CJ1+ | 10,700 | 4.75 | 4.83 | 11.00 | 201.0 |
| Cirrus Vision SF50 | 6,000 | 4.07 | 5.08 | 11.48 | 170.0 |
| Cessna Citation Mustang | 8,645 | 4.50 | 4.58 | 9.80 | 163.0 |
| One Aviation Eclipse 500 | 6,000 | 4.16 | 4.66 | 7.60 | 109.0 |
| One Aviation Eclipse 550 | 6,000 | 4.16 | 4.66 | 7.60 | 109.0 |
| One Aviation Total Eclipse 500 | 6,000 | 4.16 | 4.66 | 7.60 | 109.0 |
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About Conklin & de Decker
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 cost, 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.