These Are The Most Expensive Private Jets Owned By Ultra Rich Indians
While most of us scroll through bike and car catalogues, and dream of flying in our own private jet, to be able to skip the lines, fly on our own schedule, and enjoy all the amenities of home as we travel seems to most of us, the stuff of fantasy. But there are few elites that have taken toy shopping to the next level with their luxurious steel birds.
According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) 2019 report, the number of operators with the so-called Non-Scheduled Operator's Permit (NSOP) reached a peak of 147 in 2011-12 and then fell. It was 111 in 2017-18. The NSOP fleet in India comprises 356 aircraft, including helicopters.
Aside from swanky cars and luxurious homes, many rich Indians also enjoy travelling in rarefied bubbles between hearth and heaven. Here¡¯s a look at some of the most expensive private jets owned by Indians.
1. Mukesh Ambani
Aircraft: Boeing Business Jet 2
Cost: $73 million (approx.)
Mukesh Ambani owns the Boeing Business Jet 2 (BBJ2) which costs a whopping $73 million (approx.). It is only fair that the man who owns the world¡¯s most expensive home owns one of the world¡¯s most expensive private jets.
This luxury private jet boasts a lavish 95.2 square meter interior featuring an executive lounge capable of hosting full board meetings. Mr Ambani¡¯s custom Boeing Business Jet 2 also boasts a fully appointed master suite with both a private bedroom and bath.
At the price of $73 million, this private jet offers every comfort and convenience suited to both business and personal flights.
2. Ratan Tata
Aircraft: Dassault Falcon 2000
Cost: $22 million (approx.)
Ratan Naval Tata is a well-known personality who needs no introduction. Indian industrialist, philanthropist, and a former chairman of Tata Sons Ratan Tata reportedly owns one of the most expensive private jets Dassault Falcon 2000 which costs $22 million (approx.).
Dassault Falcon 2000 is a luxurious jet and Ratan Tata himself flies it. The Falcon 2000 is powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada PW308C turbofan engines and can achieve a maximum service ceiling of 51,000 feet while cruising at 851 km/h and sporting a 6,020 km range.
3. Anil Ambani
Aircraft: Bombardier Global Express XRS
Cost: $38 million (approx.)
Chairman of Reliance Group, Anil Dhirubhai Ambani leads a number of stocks listed corporations including Reliance Capital, Reliance Infrastructure, Reliance Power and Reliance Communications.
Anil Ambani reportedly owns the Bombardier Global Express XRS, priced at $38 million. Anil Ambani is also no less than an epitome of luxury. His jet has everything ranging from a noise and vibration control system, a 14.73-metre long cabin, to a conference table for boardroom meetings.
4. Atul Punj
Aircraft:?Gulfstream IV
Cost: $32.5 million (approx.)
Atul Punj is the chairman of one of the biggest engineering and construction groups of India, Punj Lyold, banks on Gulfstream IV for his travels.
Atul Punj reportedly owns Gulfstream IV, priced at $32.5 million (approx.). The Gulfstream IV and derivatives are a family of twinjet aircraft, mainly for private or business use. They were designed and built by Gulfstream Aerospace, a General Dynamics company based in Savannah, Georgia, United States, from 1985 until 2018.
The jet is powered by twin Rolls-Royce Tay 611-8 engines and can achieve a maximum service ceiling of 45,000 feet. It has a luxury living space.
5. Kumar Mangalam Birla
Aircraft: Gulfstream G100
Cost: $11 million (approx.)
Kumar Mangalam Birla is an Indian billionaire industrialist, philanthropist, and the chairman of the Aditya Birla Group, one of the largest global conglomerates in India.
Reportedly, Kumar Birla owns two jets. The first is a Cessna Citation and the second is a seven-seater Gulf Stream (G100). He spent an estimated $11 million on the seven-seater. Kumar Birla owns Cessna Citation, a private jet with utmost luxury. Citations are the world¡¯s most established, well-liked and most trusted fleet of business jets. The jet has a high-tech design of pilot-friendly flight decks and luxury cabin interiors.
6. Lakshmi Mittal
Aircraft: Gulfstream G550
Cost: $38 million
Lakshmi Niwas Mittal is an Indian steel magnate, based in the United Kingdom. He was ranked the sixth-richest person in the world by Forbes in 2011. Reportedly, a London-based billionaire, he owns the 262-feet-long yacht Amevi. This yacht has a swimming pool, a cinema, a gym, a massage room, a hairdressing salon as well as a unique, stabilised pool table.
Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal, reportedly owns a private jet Gulfstream G550 also worth? $38 million. The luxurious jet gets its power from twin Rolls-Royce BR710 turbofan engines. It also has a military-grade heads-up display.
7. Gautam Singhania
Aircraft:?Bombardier Challenger 600
Cost: $21 million
Indian billionaire and textile mogul Gautam Singhania is the chairman and managing director of the world¡¯s largest suit fabric brand Raymond Group. A man with a net worth of more than Rs 10,000 crore, Singhania is known for his luxurious lifestyle, be it the blue skies or the high seas.
Singhania, with Raymond Group¡¯s aviation division, reportedly owns the gorgeous Bombardier Challenger 600 business jet that was designed by international interior designer, Eric Roth and is a combination of beige and brown colours.
The Bombardier Challenger 600 is powered by two General Electric CF34-3A turbofan engines providing the aircraft with enough thrust to achieve a service ceiling of 41,000 feet, while cruising at a speed 529 mph.
8. Adar Poonawalla
Aircraft: Airbus A320
Cost: $1 million (approx.)
Adar Poonawalla, the CEO of the Serum Institute of India, and the man who is behind the creation of Covishield reportedly owns the Airbus A320. According to his company¡¯s website, the Poonawallas own a chartered flight service, Poonawalla Aviation Pvt. Ltd. (PAPL). It is a non-scheduled operator that provides bespoke chartered flight services.
The A320 helped push forward the adoption of fly-by-wire technology, side-stick controls, and cockpit commonality in commercial airliners. Since its first flight in 1987, the A320 family has become a short and medium-haul workhorse for airlines around the world.
9. Kushal Pal Singh
Aircraft: Gulfstream IV
Cost: $32.5 million
Kushal Pal Singh is an Indian billionaire real estate developer, and the chairman and CEO of real estate developer DLF Limited, founded by his father-in-law Chaudhary Raghvender Singh.
Despite being from a very small town in India, KP Singh has maintained a very lavish lifestyle. The businessman owns a private jet Gulfstream IV which is one of the most luxurious private jets in the world. The private jet is powered by twin Rolls-Royce Tay 611-8 engines and produces a massive 13,850-pound force of thrust and is thus able to attain a maximum altitude of 45,000 feet.
