Boeing BBJ 747-8: Buyer’s and Investor’s Guide
The Boeing 747-400, designed as a development of the Boeing 747-300, sees improvements in an increased wing span, more powerful engines and the latest in-flight entertainment systems. The B747-400, best known as the world’s fastest commercial jetliner, has the capability of carrying up to 660 passengers in a partial double deck configuration.
Boeing 747-400 Private Jet Charter
The Boeing 747-400, designed as a development of the Boeing 747-300, sees improvements in an increased wing span, more powerful engines and the latest in-flight entertainment systems. The B747-400, best known as the world’s fastest commercial jetliner, has the capability of carrying up to 660 passengers in a partial double deck configuration.
Aircraft category
Typical Seating
Price per hour
Nautical miles
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Boeing 747-400 Private Charter Flights and Prices
The Boeing 747-400, designed as a development of the Boeing 747-300, sees improvements in an increased wing span, more powerful engines and the latest in-flight entertainment systems. The B747-400, best known as the world’s fastest commercial jetliner, has the capability of carrying up to 660 passengers in a partial double deck configuration.
The average hourly rental rate of the Boeing 747-400 is around 30,950 USD per hour.
Aircraft Size
| Aircraft size | English | Metric |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 231.86 ft | 70.66 m |
| Wing Span | 211.42 ft | 64.44 m |
| Height | 54.16 ft | 16.52 m |
| Bag. Capacity | 850 ft³ | 24.06 m³ |
Cabin Size
| Cabin size | English | Metric |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 139.4 ft | 42.5 m |
| Width | 21.4 ft | 6.52 m |
| Height | 7.9 ft | 2.42 m |
| Area | 10000 ft³ | 885.9 m³ |
Aircraft Seats
| Layout | Seats |
|---|---|
| Max Seating | 660 |
| Typical Seating | 416 |
| Pilots | 2 |
Average Prices
| Costs | USD | EUR |
|---|---|---|
| Purchase New | – | – |
| Purchase Used | – | – |
| Hourly rate | 30,950 USD/hour | 30,950 EUR/hour |
Performance Specifications
| Performance | English | Metric |
|---|---|---|
| IFR Range | 7262 nm | 13449 km |
| Cruise Speed | 530 KTAS | 982 km/h |
| Certified Ceiling | 45100 ft | 13746 m |
| Rate of Climb | 2500 ft/m | 762 m/m |
| Takeoff Distance | 9951 ft | 3033 m |
| Landing Distance | 7152 ft | 2180 m |
| Max Takeoff Weight | 910002 lbs | 412770 kg |
| Max Landing Weight | 652006 lbs | 295745 kg |
| Useful Weight | 360226 lbs | 163396 kg |
| Payload with Full Fuel | 71395 lbs | 32384 kg |
More about the Boeing 747-400
The iconic Boeing 747 has been in production since 1968, and is one of the longest lasting wide body aircraft in existence. With 1,500 Boeing 747’s still in existence as of 2015, this wide body aircraft has become synonomus with the image of international travel. Since 1968 Boeing has expanded the 747 family line to include several variants with differing cabin sizes, performance, and features. They have also created a freight model, with a easy access nose door. Currently this aircraft is still in service with numerous governments, airlines, and is currently being used as Air Force One for the U.S. Government.
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Key Features of the Boeing 747-400
Twin decks, lounge areas, and piano bars. Those were the standard luxury amenities that served to differentiate one airline from another during the era where price was fixed, but service was not. The Boeing 747’s transformation over the years, has gone from customer focused amenities such as piano bars, smoking lounges, and onboard lounges, to high density seating where getting as many passengers onboard is the new priority for most airlines. Cabin features have morphed from the boxy designs of the 1960’s and 70’s to the sleek elegant interiors of the modern day, replete with accent lighting, expanded overhead bin space, and personal entertainment systems. Even though the Boeing 747 has morphed several times over the years, the aircraft is still synonymous with luxury, and exotic far away travel. The cabin can support, depending on the variant and configuration, between 412, and 605 passengers.
Capabilities of the Boeing 747-400
The Boeing 747 is one of the fastest airliners in the world with a maximum Mach speed of .92, or 614 miles per hour. The aircraft also has a massive maximum take off weight of 875,000 with the 747-400, and 987,000 lbs with the freighter variant. The range of the 747 is comparable to that of its younger sister the 777, with a maximum range between 6,100 to 9,200 depending on the variant of 747.
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Boeing BBJ 747-8: Buyer’s and Investor’s Guide
Pros
The BBJ 747-8 is the largest bizliner available and can fly between practically any two cities in the world. Owning a private jumbo jet is also a large status symbol and nothing will match a BBJ 747’s ramp presence.
Cons
The cost of owning and operating a 747 is enormous – but people who can afford one are not likely to be put off by the operating costs.
Flying
The BBJ 747-8 is capable of flying 100 passengers up to 8,875nm (16,437km) – far enough to pair almost any two cities in the world. The aircraft is capable of flying between Sydney and New York as well as between London and Adelaide without needing a refuelling stop.
The aircraft is also capable of cruising at Mach 0.84 (914 kph), making London to Los Angeles a 9 hour 30 minute journey.
One of the most-advertised benefits of business aviation is the ability to land closer to your final destination. This is not always the case for the BBJ 747-8. The weight of the aircraft and the amount of runway needed to operate from (minimum length of 7,500ft) rules out popular airports such as Teterboro and Van Nuys.
Travelling
If you can dream it (and afford it), almost anything can be put in a BBJ 747-8. The cabin has a total area of 5,179 sq.ft 3 – a huge amount of space that is configurable however the owner wishes. To put this in perspective, the cabin has a width of 20ft 1in -making it twice as wide as two G650 cabins combined.
Typical BBJ 747 cabins are split into a variety of sections including a boardroom, lounge, VIP bedrooms and a staff area. These configurations are mostly dictated by whether the aircraft will be used for government purposes or for UHNWIs.
Rendering of Greenpoint Technologies’ Boeing 747-8 main lounge (Image: Greenpoint Technologies).
Bizliners work differently to traditional jets when it comes to interiors. OEMs deliver a ‘green’ aircraft to a customer without an interior. The customer then takes the aircraft to one of 15 completion centres licensed by Boeing to design and install the interior. This means that there are no standard interior options or designs – allowing owners and designers to really get creative with the cabin.
Features can include showers, a lift from the airport apron to the aircraft, Majlis and spiral staircases between decks.
The Aerolift, designed by Greenpoint, provides VIP access from the runway to the upper-deck of the Boeing 747-8 (Image: Greenpoint Technlogies).
The interior options and combinations are endless and, as such, can vary wildly between different aircraft and an owner’s personal tastes – something to take note of if you are looking to buy a pre-owned BBJ 747. If you do not like the taste of the previous owner, it is always possible to get the cabin refurbished to your taste – at a cost.
Owning
As of January 2018, Boeing has delivered 11 BBJ 747-8, with 6 of them currently being in service. The Qatar Amiri Flight and the State of Kuwait both operate the aircraft.
The 747-8 has been selected as the replacement aircraft for the 89 th Airlift Wing of the United States Air Force – the aircraft America’s president uses – commonly known as Air Force One (although this is the call sign designated to an aircraft only when the president is on board).
Naturally, owning and operating a private jumbo jet is not cheap. List price for a new BBJ 747-8 is $367 million – but this cost is only for a ‘green’ aircraft – one without an interior fitted.
Getting an interior designed and fitted will typically add another $25-$50 million depending on what features are installed and how the interior is designed. The process to install an interior can take up to two years.
Operating a BBJ 747-8 will cost an estimated $23,000 an hour – but if you can afford to buy a your own 747, this cost is inconsequential.
Hard Facts
Maximum range: 10,213miles/ 16,437km /8,875nm
Maximum speed: 567mph/914kmh/Mach 0.84
Typical passengers: 25-100
Typical crew: 7
List price for new aircraft: $367 million
Pre-owned price: N/A