The Evolution of Private Jets

(Photo : shutterstock)

When it comes to travel, the world is separated into those of us who travel according to convenience and cost, and those of us who choose to travel in style.

Stylish travel is a concept that has evolved over time, focussing increasingly on comfort and appearance at the same time as becoming ever more exclusive - ranging from the upper-class system of commercial travel, through to the evolution of private jets. Yet it is the latter which continues to elude most of the world's population, creating a buzz we often associate with the top end of society.

So where did private jets come from, how did they evolve, and when did we first start to see them becoming popular?

One could say that the journey of evolution for the private jet started out when aircraft transport really was a private affair; with only a pilot and a passenger or two able to fit into any one plane. Encapsulating the epitome of private travel, the earliest aircrafts were private by size rather than wealth, meaning that ever since, the aim has been to build bigger, stronger, and more powerful planes. The 1950's marked the era when flying became popular with passengers, promising an efficiency that no other travel means could provide.

And yet, the concept of the private jet was not truly revered until the 1960's, when the Learjet took off from Kansas and took its maiden voyage, leading to a further three private jet designs taking hold before the end of the 1960's.

So, who was flying these jets?

While we most commonly associate private jets with the stars of Hollywood and the rich and famous, they are just as popular - if not more so - with business travellers; keen to reach meetings on time without spending vast amounts of their time in airports and queues. Private jet travel promises a convenience that can little be matched by any other mode of transport, and it is this which influenced their rise in popularity after the 1960's - resulting, in 1980, in an entire airport in France being dedicated to the take off and landing of private planes.

A monumental moment in the evolution of private air travel, this marked a recognition across Europe that private jets really were the epitome of travelling in style, and so the following decade saw a real boom in growth of the market for private jets, with China creating their own model - a model which has been developed since, with the current model running as the fastest private jet in the world.

As time went on, priorities changed, and soon private jets began to become more comfortable; sleeker in design, and able to cover more miles in one journey. In 2008 a private jet set a new record, covering the distance around the globe in just 41 hours and 7 minutes, while that French airport we mentioned before is now the busiest private airport in the world.

So, why do you so many people choose to spend their money on private air travel?

The evolution of private jets would not have been possible without demand, and ever since they were first designed around 70 years ago, private jets have continued to deliver.

One of the primary reasons that those with money opt for private air travel, is status. There is no denying the status and grandeur that comes with travelling in your own private jet, not to mention the promise of comfort, your own dedicated bathroom, and a fridge full of your chosen drinks and snacks.

Air shows have become a popular attraction for flight enthusiasts and families alike, and no doubt at any given show, you will find crowds flocking to look at the spectacle of the latest design in private jet - taking in the interiors which resemble the most luxurious of living areas, and the outer body of the aircrafts which are sleek, stylish and impressive to look at.

But what's next for the evolution of private jets? Will we see all-electric private jets filling the skies soon; combating environmental impact while still taking the wealthier among us from A to B? Will private airplanes soon be so small that they are almost affordable for the masses, or will private jets always act as somewhat of a symbol of status and wealth?

Evolution cannot be predicted, it can only be tracked in hindsight, and so who knows what the future really holds for the private jet industry.