The demand for airline-sized private jets has boomed over the years and Boeing has stepped up with its fleet of luxury bizliners — see the 25-year history of Boeing Business Jets
Boeing Business Jets.
Boeing
Boeing Business Jets celebrated its 25-year anniversary in July, having dreamt up the first BBJ concept in 1996.
The program targeted a niche market of ultra-wealthy customers who wanted bigger, more comfortable bizjets.
Boeing has added many aircraft types to the BBJ line, like the 737 MAX, 787 Dreamliner, 777, and the 747-8.
2021 marks the 25-year anniversary of Boeing Business Jets, which launched in 1996. The company has a long history of manufacturing aircraft for both commercial and private use but eventually combined the two products into an official line of bizjets.
Boeing Business Jets
Boeing
Source: Boeing spokesperson
While the official BBJ brand launched in the 1990s, it was not the first private plane the company built for executive flying.
Jet Edge International's Boeing Business Jet 737.
Jet Edge International
Source: Boeing spokesperson
In 1930, Standard Oil of California, now known as Chevron, ordered a specially modified three-engine Model 80A, or Model 226, to fly its executives from city to city. The Model 80 was Boeing's first plane engineered for passenger operations.
Boeing Model 80A.
According to Boeing, the Model 80A was successful because it got its private passengers to their destinations quicker than by train without sacrificing comfort.
Boeing Model 80A.
National Library of France
Source: Boeing spokesperson
In 1943, Boeing's Model 314 aircraft played a significant role for the US government. The plane operated as a private service to shuttle President Franklin D. Roosevelt to meet with British Prime Minister Winston Churchill at the Casablanca conference.
Boeing Clipper 314 on takeoff.
Museum of Flight/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images
Source: Boeing spokesperson
The flight pre-dated the "Air Force One" call sign and was the first time a sitting president flew on an airplane.
Former President of the United States Franklin Delano Roosevelt celebrates his birthday on board a Boeing 314 flying boat.
Museum of Flight/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images
Source: Boeing spokesperson
President Eisenhower also had private planes manufactured by Boeing at his disposal. Specifically, he had three VC-137s, the Air Force derivative of the 707, and was the first to use the "Air Force One" call sign.
Air Force One taking off from Heathrow Airport, at the end of President Eisenhower's state visit to the United Kingdom, 2nd September 1959
Boeing also developed the VIP VC-137C, which was the first jet aircraft built for presidential use. The plane was a highly-modified 707-320B airliner and carried eight presidents, like John F. Kennedy and Jimmy Carter. The most famous was SAM 26000.
SAM 26000 VC-137C.
One of the most impressive converted Boeing private jets was the Qatari Royal Family's lavish Boeing 747-SP. It featured a dining room, a master bedroom and bathroom, a spiral staircase, business class seats, and an economy cabin.
Qatar Amiri Flight Boeing 747-8 BBJ.
According to Boeing, over the years, the company's private planes have been referred to as the "flying penthouse," the "apartment in the sky," and the "flying business offices."
Howard Hughes' Boeing 307 VIP plane known as the "Flying Penthouse."
Bettmann/Getty Images
Source: Boeing spokesperson
After nearly 70 years of converting airliners into business jets for companies, government departments, and private individuals, Boeing decided to create a series of large, customizable planes for the corporate market.
Boeing Business Jets
Boeing
Source: Boeing spokesperson
The first Boeing Business Jet concept was imagined in 1996 by Phil Condit, president of Boeing, and Jack Welch, chairman and CEO of General Electric as a joint venture project. Their first proposal was based on the Next-Generation 737-700 jet.
BBJ 737NG.
The plane could fly over 6,000 nautical miles nonstop, connecting cities like New York to Tokyo and London to Johannesburg, and offered ample cabin space.
BBJ 737NG.
According to Boeing, Condit was passionate about the idea because he saw a promising market for customers who may want a bigger, more comfortable private jet.
BBJ 737NG.
Boeing
Source: Boeing spokesperson
The program officially launched on July 2, 1996, and the first BBJ 737-700 aircraft rolled out of production on July 26, 1998.
BBJ 737NG.
The plane took its first flight on September 4, 1998, captained by Mike Hewett and Mike Carriker. The 737 took off at 9:12 a.m. from Renton, Washington.
Mike Hewett flying the first BBJ.
The plane was used as a demonstrator aircraft and was certified by the Federal Aviation Administration and Europe's Joint Aviation Authorities on October 30, 1998.
First BBJ flight.
Boeing
Source: Boeing spokesperson
The first two BBJ 737s were delivered the week of November 23, 1998, with one going to General Electric and the other going to an undisclosed buyer.
BBJ delivered to first owner.
From the beginning, BBJs have included integrated air stairs that allow the plane to access airfields that lack ground support equipment. Moreover, the 737 can operate at small airports with short runways.
BBJ air stairs.
Mehdi Photos/Shutterstock
Source: Boeing spokesperson
The original BBJ was based on the 737-700, but Boeing created more variants based on its later 737 planes.
A PrivatAir Boeing Business Jet 737.
The BBJ2, which is derived from the Boeing 737-800, was launched in 1999. It added 25% more cabin space and 100% more cargo capacity compared to the BBJ1. The first BBJ2 was delivered in March 2001.
Indonesian presidential BBJ2.
Nieto Azzam/Shutterstock
In November 2005, BBJ3 was revealed. The plane was based on the 737-900ER, offering 35% more cabin space than BBJ1 and 11% more cargo capacity than BBJ2.
State of Kuwait's BBJ3.
In 2014, Boeing launched the Boeing MAX bizjet family, which offered lower cabin altitude, advanced fuel-saving systems, and enhanced passenger comfort.
BBJ MAX Family.
The first delivery was a BBJ MAX 8, which operated its first "flyaway" in April 2018 and was delivered in October 2018. The plane is fitted with an external fuel tank, allowing it to fly over 7,600 miles.
First BBJ MAX 8 flyaway.
In addition to narrowbody planes, Boeing also created widebody bizjets, including The BBJ 777 and 777X that can connect virtually any two cities worldwide...
BBJ 777X.
The planes come with several unique interior options that are created in partnership with Boeing and design companies, which can be customized by the buyer. Some options include Mark Berryman's yacht concept for the BBJ MAX...
Boeing Business Jets 737 MAX Concept
Boeing has solidified 260 orders of its BBJs to date, having sold to a small market of deep-pocket individuals, royal families, as well as government entities worldwide.
BBJ 777.
These ultra-rich buyers are taking a new interest in BBJs as travel restrictions ease, with Boeing receiving a new order of its BBJ 737-800 this year.
Jet Edge International's Boeing Business Jet 737.
"Private aviation is attracting those who have previously flown first or business class," BBJ director of marketing Alex Fecteau told AOPA. "More than 30 percent of our new orders are from first-time buyers."
BBJ 747-8.
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