Bombardier Challenger 3500 vs Cessna Citation Cj3 vs Embraer Phenom 300e vs Embraer Praetor 500 vs Gulfstream G280
The Cessna Citation CJ3+ and Embraer Phenom 300E are typically positioned as light jets, optimized for efficient short-to-medium missions with smaller cabins. The CJ3+ generally offers seating for about 6–9 passengers with roughly 2,000 nautical miles of range, while the Phenom 300E is commonly configured for about 6–10 passengers and around 2,000–2,100 nautical miles, often emphasizing speed and cabin refinement within the light-jet class. The Bombardier Challenger 3500 is a super-midsize jet, providing a notably larger cabin and higher comfort for longer sectors, typically seating about 8–10 passengers with approximately 3,200–3,400 nautical miles of range. The Embraer Praetor 500 also sits in the super-midsize category, usually accommodating around 8–9 passengers with about 3,300 nautical miles of range, often noted for strong runway performance and a long-range cabin experience. The Gulfstream G280 is a super-midsize jet leaning toward large-cabin capability, commonly seating about 8–10 passengers with roughly 3,600 nautical miles of range, emphasizing transcontinental reach and high cruise performance.
| Spec | Bombardier Challenger 3500 | Cessna Citation CJ3+ | Embraer Phenom 300E | Embraer Praetor 500 | Gulfstream G280 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | |||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 6.71 | $ 4.05 | $ 3.88 | $ 6.02 | $ 6.57 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Total Seats | 10 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 10 |
| Manufacturer | Bombardier | Cessna Citation | Embraer | Embraer | Gulfstream |
| Aircraft Name | Challenger 3500 | CJ3+ | Phenom 300E | Praetor 500 | G280 |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 3400 | 1898 | 2,010 | 3340 | 3600 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.84 | $ 0.58 | $ 0.55 | $ 0.86 | $ 0.82 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 10 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 10 |
| OEM Verification | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 15950 | 5530 | 6914 | — | 15550 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 8 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 3,152 | $ 1,680 | $ 1,758 | $ 2,779 | $ 3,168 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 Advanced | Garmin G3000 | Prodigy Touch (G3000) | Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion | Gulfstream PlaneView (Pro Line Fusion) |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 533 | 415 | 464 | 466 | 481 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $26,950,000 | $9,915,000 | $9,650,000 | $16,995,000 | $24,900,000 |
| Cabin | |||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Lavatory | 1 Enclosed Flushing | 1 Enclosed Belted Flushing | 1 Enclosed Flushing | 1 Enclosed Belted Flushing | 1 Enclosed Belted Flushing |
| Min Crew | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Crew Rest | No | No | No | No | No |
| Jump Seat | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Total Seats | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 |
| Galley Location | FWD | FWD | FWD | FWD | FWD |
| Max Cabin Seats | 10 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 10 |
| Lavatory Location | AFT | AFT | AFT | AFT | AFT |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | 8.8 | 8.9 | 9.4 | 9.7 | 9.2 |
| Galley / Refreshment | Galley | Galley | Galley | Galley | Galley |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | 23338 | 23586 | 25560 | 27110 | 25000 |
| Connectivity | — | — | — | Gogo AVANCE L5 | — |
| Max Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | — | — | 5800 | 5800 |
| Engine | |||||
| FADEC | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Model | HTF73500 | FJ44-3A | Canada PW535E1 | HTF7500E | HTF7250G |
| TBO (hrs) | On-Condition | 5000 | 5000 | On-Condition | On-Condition |
| Flat Rating | ISA + 15 | ISA + 11 | ISA + 15 | ISA + 18 | ISA + 17 |
| Thrust (lbs) | 7323 | 2820 | 3360 | 6540 | 7624 |
| No. of Engines | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Fuel Burn (lbph) | — | 624 | 757 | — | — |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | — | 703 | — | — | — |
| Dimensions | |||||
| Length (ft) | 68.7 | 51.2 | 51.2 | 64.6 | 66.9 |
| Wingspan (ft) | 69 | 53 | 52.16 | 70.5 | 63 |
| Aisle Step (ft) | Flat Floor | 0.4 | 0.3 | Flat Floor | 0.3 |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 7.2 | 4.8 | 5.1 | 6.9 | 6.9 |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 6 | 4.8 | 4.9 | 6 | 6.3 |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 25.2 | 15.7 | 17.2 | 20.6 | 25.9 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 20 | 15.2 | 16.75 | 21.1 | 21.4 |
| Cabin Width - Floor (ft) | 5.1 | 3.1 | 3.6 | 4.7 | 5.4 |
| Cabin Length - Seating (ft) | 16.6 | 12.2 | 14.8 | 17.4 | 17.7 |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | 106 | — | 10 | 40 | 154 |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | — | 65 | 74 | 110 | — |