Summary
- The Gulfstream G650 has a slight edge over the Bombardier Global 6000 in terms of passenger capacity, range, speed, and airport capabilities.
- The Gulfstream G650 has a more comfortable cabin with additional features like a meeting and dining area, while the Bombardier Global 6000 offers a refined interior and ample room to move around.
- The Gulfstream G650 is more fuel efficient than the Bombardier Global 6000, but the latter is more cost-effective when it comes to buying or chartering.
When it comes to long-range private jets, the Gulfstream G650 Bombardier Global 6000 are industry leaders. But which one is better? Hopefully, this article will give you some answers. While both are fantastic choices, one of the two aircraft in the comparison is slightly better in a couple of ways.
How the two aircraft compare on paper
While the two aircraft are very similar in size, there are some small differences in their operational capabilities. The Global 6000 is, of course, a very capable business jet, it typically has a lower capacity for passengers due to its marginally smaller cabin space – those inches matter! Actual passenger capacity varies based on the individual configuration of the jet, but typical Gulfstream G650s tend to have more. Having said that, the sleeping capacity can sometimes be less on the G650, but again, it depends on the individual configuration.
|
Bombardier Global 6000 |
Gulfstream G650 |
|
|
Crew |
2 – 4 |
2 |
|
Passengers |
Up to 17 (sleeps 7) |
Up to 19 (sleeps 6) |
|
Length |
99 feet 5 inches (30.3 m) |
99 feet 9 inches (30.4 m) |
|
Wingspan |
99 feet (30.18 m) |
99 feet 7 inches (30.35 m) |
|
Height |
25 feet 6 inches (7.77 m) |
25 feet 8 inches (7.82 m) |
|
Cabin length |
43 feet 3 inches (13.18 m) |
46 feet 10 inches (14.27 m) |
|
Cabin width |
7 ft 11 inches (2.41 m) |
8 feet 2 inches (2.49 m) |
|
Cabin height |
6 feet 2 inches (1.88 m) |
6 feet 3 inches (1.9 m) |
|
MTOW |
99,000 lbs (44.906 kg) |
99,600 lbs (45,178 kg) |
|
Top speed |
Mach 0.89 |
Mach 0.925 |
|
Cruising speed |
Mach 0.85 |
Mach 0.85 |
|
Range |
6,000 NM |
7,000 NM |
|
Ceiling |
51,000 feet (15,550 m) |
51,000 feet (15,550 m) |
Because the newer Rolls-Royce engines on the Gulfstream provide 2,100lbs more thrust than the older Rolls-Royce engines on the Bombardier, the G650 can operate out of airports with shorter runways. The Bombardier 6000 needs 800 feet longer runways than the G650. The BR725 on the Gulfstream is also 4 dB quieter than its predecessor, the BR710, used on the Bombardier, and achieves a 4% improvement in fuel efficiency.
Winner: Gulfstream G650
Range
As you can see in the comparison numbers above, the Gulfstream G650 has a much longer range than the Bombardier 6000 and can fly a further 1,000 nautical miles. While the Bombardier 6000 can fly from Los Angeles to Auckland, New Zealand, the Gulfstream G650 can fly non-stop from Los Angeles to the Australian capital, Canberra.
Winner: Gulfstream G650
Cabin comforts
When it comes to private jets, it’s all about the cabin comforts. Both aircraft can have amazing cabins installed, depending on the operator, but there are some fundamental differences in the comfort levels offered by each that might sway the decision on which one is better.
Bombardier Global 6000
When you enter the Bombardier Global 6000 cabin, you are greeted with crisp, straight lines and a refined interior with ergonomically shaped seats hand-stitched like you would find in the world’s most expensive cars. The Bombardier 6000 cabin features best-in-class noise levels, low-altitude cabin pressurization, and an air management system that constantly refreshes the air. Because of how the cabin has been designed, there is ample room to move around freely even when the jet is at full capacity.
Photo: VistaJet
Gulfstream G650
The Gulfstream G650 features a best-in-class cabin that helps to mitigate fatigue on long international trips. Configured in four zones, the cabin has a meeting and dining area and a place to relax, including a 42-inch flat-screen television. With an eight-foot-two-inch width, the Gulfstream G650 is three inches wider than the Bombardier 6000 and has an inch more headroom at six feet three inches. Cabin air is fresh, with independent ventilation in the bathrooms, and the cabin is pressurized to the equivalent of 2,800 feet.
Photo: Gulfstream
Winner: Tie – both jets promise a comfortable and quiet journey
Fuel efficiency
According to Rolls-Royce, the Gulfstream G650’s BR725 engines have a 4% more efficient fuel burn than the Bombardier 6000. According to the world’s leading online aircraft marketplace, AVBuyer, the Gulfstream G650 burns 453 gallons of fuel per hour, while the Bombardier Global 6000 burns 461 gallons per hour, eight more per hour than the G650.
Winner: Gulfstream G650
Price
Regarding the price, a new Bombardier has a price tag of $62 million, while the Gulfstream G650 costs between $65 million and $68 million. Depending on the year it was built, second-hand Bombardier 6000s can be bought starting from $19 million, whereas a used Gulfstream G650 price starts at $25 million. When chartering the two aircraft, the Gulfstream G650 price starts at $15,000 per hour while the Bombardier begins at $12,000 per hour.
Winner: Bombardier 6000
Which plane is best?
When you compare the two aircraft side by side, it’s hard to choose between them as they are both long-range private jets. Price-wise, whether buying or chartering the Bombardier is less expensive, but the Gulfstream is more fuel efficient.
If money does not come into the equation, the fact that the Gulfstream’s cabin is a little wider and that there is an extra inch of headroom are big deals. On top of this, the Gulfstream is slightly faster, has a more extended range, and can operate out of airports that the Bombardier can’t. So, for the reason mentioned above, in our opinion, the Gulfstream G650 is the winner.
Sources: AVBuyer