What Is a Heavy Jet? Get the Facts


Do you know what a heavy jet is? There are different ways to classify airplanes. Commercial airliners, for instance, are often classified according to the number of aisles they have. Narrow-body airliners have a single aisle of seats, whereas wide-body airliners have two aisles of seats. In addition to narrow-body and wide-body, though, there are heavy jets.

Heavy Jets Explained

A heavy jet is a large private jet that’s typically used for long-distance flights. They have spacious cabins that accommodate nine to 16 passengers on average. Some heavy jets have more seats than others, but they are all larger than other types of private jets.

Heavy jets have a long range. Most jets, of course, have a longer range than propeller-driven airplanes. They boast faster, more efficient engines than their propeller-driven counterparts. But heavy jets are known for their long range. Some of them are capable of intercontinental flights that span over 12 hours long.

Common types of heavy jets include the following:

  • Gulfstream G650/Gulfstream G700
  • Bombardier Global Express series
  • Dassault Falcon 7X/8X
  • Embraer Lineage 1000

Heavy Jets vs Wide-Body Jets

Heavy jets aren’t the same as wide-body jets. As previously mentioned, the term “wide body” refers to a commercial airliner or airplane that features two aisles of seats. While heavy jets are characterized by their large size, they typically only have a single aisle of seats.

Wide-body jets are used for commercial flights. Heavy jets, on the other hand, are typically used for private flights. Individuals and groups of individuals may charter an entire heavy jet. This is a common practice for companies and organizations. By chartering a heavy jet, companies and organizations can essentially rent it for all of their team members.

Common Amenities

With their large size, heavy jets offer some attractive amenities, one of which is plenty of legspace. They don’t have crammed seats with little or no legspace. Rather, heavy jets have spacious seats that allow passengers to stretch their legs.

Other common amenities offered by heavy jets include onboard entertainment systems, conference rooms and even sleeping quarters. All of these amenities make them an attractive choice by companies and organizations looking for a private charter.

In Conclusion

Heavy jets aren’t characterized by their weight. While they are, in fact, heavy, they are distinguished from other types of jets by being private and large. Heavy jets are large, jet engine-powered airplanes that are used for private flights, such as chartering businesses and organizations.

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