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The Lounge
2 mins
Private jet travel has gotten a bad rap of late, with Kylie Jenner and Taylor Swift’s environmentally irresponsible travel habits making headlines. However, this has not proved to be a deterrent to Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk who has recently placed an order on a new toy worth nearly US$80 million, approximately A$115 million.
The Gulfstream G700 private jet ordered by Musk is said to be similar to the Gulfstream G650 it is replacing. Both aircraft have a 7,500 nautical mile range and a top speed of Mach 0.925, marking them as some of the fastest jets on the market. This means the G700 and G650 can fly from New York to Tokyo non-stop in around 12 hours.
The main difference between the two jets is cabin size, with the G700 offering around an additional 10 feet of living space compared to a Gulfstream G650 measuring at a total of 57 feet.
The new jet reportedly hosts adaptive LED lighting which simulates sunrise and sunset light conditions to accustom guests to their new time zone. The G700 can also accommodate up to five living areas with flexible configuration options and features 20 panoramic oval windows, the largest in the business aviation industry, to capture incredible views while in-flight.
However, it’s not quite in Musk’s hands just yet, with the delivery of the G700 expected early next year. With that said, it’s currently unknown if this new jet will replace one of the two other jets currently in the billionaire’s hanger – a Gulfstream G550 and a Gulfstream G650 ER.
So, as one of the richest people in the world, why would Musk not go bigger than a G700? Put it this way; you don’t have that high of an IQ and make the wrong decision on what jet to buy.
It’s understood the reason he didn’t buy something bigger is that a larger jet would mean a lower speed and difficulty landing on shorter runways. So, until 2025 when Bombardier unveils its new Global 8000 business jet that can achieve Mach 0.94, the G700 will have to do.
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