A Guide To The Private Jets Operated By The Indianapolis Colts

The Indianapolis Colts are among the most storied teams in the National Football League (NFL). The team was first established over 70 years ago, in 1953. The team originally began as the Baltimore Colts in its inaugural season. The Baltimore Colts would go on to win one Super Bowl Championship in 1970, the fifth overall Super Bowl.

However, the team infamously moved to Indianapolis in 1983, seemingly packing up the entire franchise and moving cities overnight. Since the team moved to Indianapolis, the team has seen mixed success. The Colts went on a run in the 2000s when the team won seven AFC South championships. This includes a Super Bowl victory in Super Bowl XLI in 2006.

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How Did Boeing Business Jets Begin?

Boeing currently produces both the narrowbody and widebody BBJs.

Due to the many moving parts that are involved in running an NFL franchise, many teams in the league utilize business jets of some sort. This involves chartering the General Manager and other executives across the country to facilitate deals with free agents or trades with other teams. It also includes chartering the team from game to game, as the NFL schedule now includes 17 total games that can stretch from the west coast to the east coast of the United States.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the business jets that are registered with the Indianapolis Colts franchise, as well as some of the history of these jets.

Ultra-long-range business jet

The Colts’ newest business jet is a Gulfstream G550, per JetSpy. This aircraft was originally manufactured in 2015 and is registered as N931FL. The Colts acquired this aircraft through a separate company registered as Bopper Airways LLC in February 2023.

The Gulfstream G550 is one of Gulfstream’s first ultra-long-range aircraft. Gulfstream produced the aircraft for nearly twenty years, commencing production in 2003 and ceasing its production in 2021. Over 600 total aircraft were produced during this time.

A Gulfstream G550 just after taking off.

Photo : Kevin Porter | Shutterstock

This aircraft was an upgrade from one of its other successful planes, the Gulfstream V. Gulfstream introduced several design upgrades that increased the aircraft’s range, maximum takeoff weight, and passenger capacity. A Gulfstream G550 has the following specifications:

Capacity

19 passengers

Length

96 feet five inches

Height

25 feet ten inches

Wingspan

93 feet six inches

Maximum takeoff weight (MTOW)

75,300 pounds

Range

6,750 nautical miles (7,770 miles)

Cruise speed

Mach 0.80 (614 miles per hour)

Maximum speed

Mach 0.885 (680 miles per hour)

Flight ceiling

51,000 feet

The aircraft utilizes two Rolls-Royce BR710 turbofan engines. These each provide the large business jet with over 15,000 pounds of force in thrust. The Gulfstream G550 also utilizes the Honeywell Primus Epic avionics suite. This includes a head-up guidance system provided by Rockwell Collins, an enhanced vision system, and cursor control devices.

Other heavy business jets

Besides the team’s newer Gulfstream G550, the Colts also operate two Gulfstream IVs, per JetSpy. These two aircraft are registered as N106TD and N107TD. N106TD was originally produced in 2001 before being purchased by Bopper Airways LLC in 2015, per FlightAware. N107TD is a slightly older aircraft and was originally manufactured in 1998. Bopper Airways LLC purchased this aircraft in 2013, per FlightAware.

NOAA Gulfstream IV-SP taking off from Lakeland Linder Regional Airport in August 2017_NOAA photo by LT Kevin Doremus

Photo: NOAA

The Gulfstream IV is one of the Georgia-based manufacturers’ most popular business jets. This aircraft was built from 1985 to 2018, with almost 900 aircraft in use. The Gulfstream IV was eventually replaced by the Gulfstream G500.

Gulfstream introduced the IV as an upgrade to the Gulfstream III. This new business jet included a redesigned wing to reduce weight and added aerodynamic improvements to the aircraft’s flight controls. It also stretched the fuselage and featured more powerful and more efficient engines.

The Gulfstream IV has the following specifications:

Capacity

19 passengers

Length

88 feet four inches

Height

24 feet five inches

Wingspan

77 feet ten inches

Maximum takeoff weight (MTOW)

73,200 pounds

Range

4,220 nautical miles (4,856 miles)

Cruise speed

Mach 0.80 (614 miles per hour)

Maximum speed

Mach 0.88 (675 miles per hour)

Flight ceiling

45,000 feet

The Gulfstream IV is powered by two Rolls-Royce Tay 611-8 engines. These provide the aircraft with nearly 14,000 pounds of force in thrust. In addition to brand-new engines and a redesigned wing, the Gulfstream IV was the first business jet with a glass cockpit.

Several government organizations and militaries used the Gulfstream IV, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which used it to fly near and monitor tropical cyclones. The military variant of the Gulfstream IV was designated as C-20F. The United States Department of Defense used this aircraft as executive transport.

Narrowbody aircraft

The Colts’ largest jet, per JetSpy, is a Boeing 737. This large aircraft has a registered tail number of N101TD. This Boeing 737-700 was originally manufactured in 1999. For the majority of its life, Prestige Aircraft Inc. owned it. However, in 2020, Bopper Airways LLC purchased the aircraft. Specifically, N101TD utilizes two CFM turbofan engines and can seat approximately 149 passengers, per FlightAware.

A Boeing BBJ 737 parked at an airport.

Photo: Mehdi Photos | Shutterstock

The Boeing 737 is one of the most famous narrowbody aircraft in the world. Specifically, the 737-700 was first introduced in November 1993. It was the first variant of the next-generation Boeing 737s.

The 737-700 has the following specifications:

Capacity

148 maximum passengers (commercial configuration)

Length

110 feet four inches

Height

41 feet three inches

Wingspan

117 feet five inches

Maximum takeoff weight (MTOW)

154,500 pounds

Range

3,010 nautical miles (3,460 miles)

Cruise speed

Mach 0.785 (521 miles per hour)

Flight ceiling

41,000 feet

Boeing Business Jets (BBJ) are modified commercial aircraft that serve as business jets. The Colts’ Boeing 737 is one of these BBJs.

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