- The Bombardier Global 8000 is poised to become the world's new fastest private jet come 2025.
- For now, the two speediest purpose-built private planes in service rocket at over 700 mph.
- Manufacturers are battling to build faster business jets as the demand for private aviation booms.
The fastest commercial airliner still in service today is the 50-year-old Boeing 747, which can reach speeds of up to Mach 0.92, or 706 mph at sea level.
Meanwhile, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner is the world's fastest twin-engine widebody jet and can journey at Mach 0.90, or 690 mph.
Some of the fastest aircraft in the sky, however, are purpose-built private jets.
And, they're getting even faster as manufacturers battle to attract deep-pocket customers who prefer the privacy and convenience of private flying over commercial airlines.
Here are some of the fastest private jets in the world — with one actually exceeding Mach 1 during a test flight.
Dassault Falcon 7X/8X: Mach 0.90 (690 mph)
The tri-engine Dassault Falcon 8X is the successor to the Falcon 7X with a longer range, better engines, and new avionics. Both can reach up to Mach 0.90, or about 690 mph at sea level.
Pop sensation Taylor Swift famously owns a Dassault 7X, which has followed her along her colossal Eras Tour this year.
Bombardier Global 7500: Mach 0.925 (710 mph)
The $75 million Bombardier Global 7500 is currently the world's largest and longest-ranged purpose-built private jet, trekking more than 8,880 miles nonstop.
It's one of the speediest, too. According to the Canadian manufacturer, the plane can fly at Mach 0.925, which translates to about 710 mph.
A Global 7500 test plane, which was modified with the systems of its upcoming Global 8000 successor, even exceeded the speed of sound in May 2021.
It reached Mach 1.015 (about 779 mph), according to Bombardier.
Gulfstream G500/G600/G650/G650ER/G800: Mach 0.925 (710 mph)
Like the competing Global 7500, most of Gulfstream's lineup of multi-million dollar private jets — including the G500, G600, G650ER, and G800 variants — can reach Mach 0.925.
The G800 is slated to enter the market in 2024.
The G280 and G400 siblings have a maximum operating speed of Mach 0.85 and 0.90, respectively — making the latter also one of the world's fastest private jets.
Dassault Falcon 10X: Mach 0.925 (710 mph)
A competitor to both Bombardier and Gulfstream, the French-made Dassault Falcon 10X twin-engine plane also can reach speeds up to Mach 0.925.
But, it is still under development and is not expected to hit the market until 2025.
Gulfstream G700: Mach 0.935 (717 mph)
Gulfstream recently increased the speed of its flagship G700 plane to 0.935 Mach from 0.925 Mach, making it the company's fastest business plane.
G700 launch customer Qatar Airways Executive — the airline's private charter arm dedicated to flying its most elite customers — unveiled its first Q700 business jet at the Paris Air Show in June.
Cessna Citation X+: Mach 0.935 (717 mph)
With the G700's recent speed increase, it now matches that of the Cessna Citation X+ — the American-built aircraft that previously held the title of the world's fastest private jet in service.
The Citation X+ is the upgraded version of the original Citation X, which entered the market in 1996. The "rocket in the sky" has been owned by the ultra-rich.
Only 29 Citation X+s were delivered between 2014 and 2018 when production of the type ceased completely, FlightGlobal reported.
Bombardier Global 8000: Mach 0.94 (721 mph)
The upcoming $78 million Bombardier Global 8000 private jet is poised to become the world's new fastest civil aircraft since the Concord when it enters service in 2025, boasting a top speed of Mach 0.94, or 721 mph.
Aside from going to the edge of space on Virgin Galactic's Mach 3 commercial craft, the near-supersonic Global 8000 private jet is about the closest travelers can get to breaking the sound barrier on a passenger plane.