Long legs and haute style define the Boeing Business Jet 3, perched near the pinnacle of private aviation with a cruise range of 4,900 nautical miles and built for comfort. Boeing is showing off an unsold model with seating for 38 passengers and a crew of eight at the European Business Aviation Conference and Exhibition (EBACE) in Geneva, the company announced May 20. Awaiting a custom livery, the BBJ 3 is designed to impress with an interior incorporating hand-crafted woodwork (high-gloss sycamore) and other touches completed by Jet Aviation of Basel, Switzerland, which has been customizing Boeing jets for private ownership since 1978.
Boeing has already delivered four customized BBJ 3s, each based on the B-737-900ER. Another three are being finished for customers. (Boeing is also happy to produce custom versions of its other models, including the 747 and 777 if the BBJ 3 is a bit tight for the mission—the cargo hold can fit 230 pieces of luggage, the company noted.)
Got deep pockets? Expect to pay $100 million or more, possibly much more, depending on custom features requested in your BBJ 3. Along with a sky’s-the-limit range of options, customers will arrive feeling better rested, thanks to a cabin altitude of 6,500 feet, lower than the 8,000-foot cabin altitude of standard B-737. Interior layouts can include sleeping quarters, conference rooms, advanced communications capabilities, and just about any creature comfort.
If you’re on a tighter budget, one website lists a used (2003) model for just $55 million.
Jim Moore
Related Articles
