The history of private aviation

The beginnings: aircraft in the service of business (1930s-1950s)

Before the jet, business aviation relied on propeller aircraft. As early as 1937, the Beechcraft 18 was conceived as a light executive transport. After the Second World War, many war-surplus Douglas DC-3s and Beech 18s were converted for corporate travel, and "executive transport" became a category in its own right. Aviation's pioneers — from the Wright brothers (first powered flight, 1903) to industrialists such as Howard Hughes — had paved the way.

The first business jets (1954-1962)

One aircraft or another is often presented as "the first private jet," but the reality is more nuanced:

• Morane-Saulnier MS.760 Paris (first flight 1954): the first civil jet aircraft, French-designed, but a four-seater that remained a commercial failure.
• Lockheed JetStar (first flight 4 September 1957): widely credited as the first purpose-built business jet to enter service, and the first with a true centre-aisle cabin.
• North American Sabreliner (1958) and the de Havilland DH.125 (1962, the future "Hawker") completed this first generation.

Dassault and the Falcon 20 (1963)

On 4 May 1963, Dassault flew the Mystère 20, renamed the Falcon 20. Pan American World Airways ordered 40 (with an option on 120) as early as August 1963 and distributed it in the United States as the "Fan Jet Falcon" — Charles Lindbergh having inspected the prototype on the airline's behalf. In 1973, FedEx even launched its express-freight business with modified Falcon 20s. It was the founding act of the Falcon line, from which today's Falcon 7X and 8X descend.

The Learjet 23 and democratisation (1963-1964)

That same year, on 7 October 1963, the industrialist Bill Lear flew the Learjet 23 in Wichita. The first mass-produced business jet, delivered from 1964, it made the private jet accessible to a wider audience: the name "Learjet" would become synonymous with the business jet. (Contrary to a common misconception, the first business jet is therefore not a 1955 or 1960 aircraft: the category took shape between 1954 and 1964.)

From ownership to charter

As demand grew, the access model evolved. In the mid-1980s, fractional ownership appeared, allowing one to own a share of an aircraft rather than a whole one. The 2000s saw the rise of the jet card — a number of pre-paid flying hours — midway between charter and fractional. Then the most flexible model took hold: on-demand charter and broking, where, with no purchase and no capital tied up, the client chooses the aircraft best suited to each mission.

The modern era: ultra-long-range

From the 1990s, the race for range redefined business aviation. The Gulfstream GV (1995) ushered in the ultra-long-range class, followed by the Bombardier Global Express (first flight 1996). In 2005, Dassault's Falcon 7X became the first business jet with digital fly-by-wire flight controls (in service in 2007). The Gulfstream G650 (2012) and then the Global 7500 took range to unprecedented levels. To go further, read our Falcon 7X and Falcon 8X comparison.

Business aviation today

The evolution of business aviation mirrors that of society: time saved, flexibility, access to thousands of airports. The sector keeps innovating, from range to sustainable fuels. IBC Aviation brings deep market knowledge and operational expertise to help you charter your private jet and choose, from our fleet, the aircraft suited to your journey. Our teams are available 24/7:

• France: +33 1 41 69 88 88
• Switzerland: +41 22 880 28 88
• Email: contact@ibc-aviation.com

Frequently asked questions

What was the first business jet in history?

There is no single answer. The Morane-Saulnier MS.760 Paris (1954) was the first civil jet aircraft; the Lockheed JetStar (1957) was the first purpose-built business jet to enter service; and the Learjet 23 (1963) was the one that democratised the category.

When was business aviation born?

Business transport emerged in the 1930s-1950s with propeller aircraft such as the Beechcraft 18 and the Douglas DC-3, before the first jets arrived between 1954 and 1957.

What is the Learjet 23?

It is the first mass-produced business jet, with a first flight on 7 October 1963 and first deliveries in 1964. It made the private jet accessible and turned the name Learjet into a byword for the business jet.

When did fractional ownership appear?

In the mid-1980s: a model allowing one to hold a share of an aircraft rather than a whole one, sharing the operating costs.

Why charter a private jet rather than buy one?

Charter avoids the costs of purchase, maintenance, depreciation and resale, while offering the flexibility to choose, on each flight, the aircraft suited to the itinerary and the number of passengers.