In the last 15 years I have seen an anemic "Jungle Jet" as us Learjet and Citation loyalist called it, turn into the most capable, economical and hottest selling light jet of all time.

Embraer passed 1300 Phenoms a while back without much fanfare, and the vast majority are now Phenom 300's.

It all started back in 2010 with the Phenom 100, service options were limited, training options were limited and other than a large cabin cross section and a G1000 panel the airplane simply wasn't that impressive.

Then Embraer took that large cabin cross section and stretched it a little over six feet, mounted a couple of P&W PW535E's and the rest is aviation history.

In 2019 we demoed a new Phenom 300 for a client, price $9.6M

In 2022 we acquired a "new flip" Phenom 300E for a client, price $12.5M (we snagged it below market by $1M)

In 2025 a 2022 P300E fetches $13.8M and a new flip 2025 model will be $16M

Textron is about the same with respect to price increases, in my experience. I acquired a brand new CJ4 for a client in 2015 for a little over $8M.

A new CJ4 Gen 3 is close to $14M now from what I understand.

They are special in the same way the Lear 35s were special back in their day. It fits the mission many people want.

I have about 2500 hours in a 300;

1. straightforward systems
2. pretty simple to fly when everything is working (could be a handful when not)
3. simple to land
4. great brakes
5. fuel efficient (135 gph at 450)
6. reasonably fast with the E being .80
7. single Pilot (not sure how they got that done)
8. good in the hands of a proficient owner
9. good ride in the back unless you want many people/long legs
10. 5-6 pax with all the luggage they want and full fuel and 1500-1800 miles or 8-9 pax and with weekend bags and full fuel.
11. Basically an annual if less than 600 hours per year usage
12. One bad - the 10 year can be pricey

I recently did 5 pax, 2 crew, luggage for 14 days, Indiana to San Diego non stop and landed with 1100 pounds.

For a light jet what more could you ask for ?

Brad

Cheaper to buy and operate.

I pretty much have the same capability in my Citation V for a lot less. Similar range and payload, for a little bit less speed and a little bit more fuel, but overall, much cheaper to operate.

KEVV to KSAN, today, FL450, LRC, 4:43 flight time, land with 1500 lbs, 45 knot average headwind. I can cut 15 minutes at MCT at the cost of 300 lbs fuel. The P300 will do the trip in a little bit less time with less fuel. Other than those marginal benefits, it can't do anything I can't and there are definitely some things I can do that it can't (like land on an ice covered runway, which happens in Indiana).

Having phase inspections every 3 years is a great downtime and cost benefit. No gear overhaul.

Mike C.

Mike:

I don’t disagree with you or your comments, but the owners who buy a Phenom 300 aren’t the same owners that buy a Citation V - completely different market.

I know that this has been explained to you many times on this board, I thought I’d take my shot to see if it sinks in this time.



Brad

NOTE: ITRW a Citation 560 is not cheaper to operate than a Phenom 300E.

But, it is a fraction of the acquisition cost!

The Phenom 300E has what amounts to your phase V every 10 years.

When the Phenom 300 first came out, one of our local business owners was looking to upgrade from a CJ2+ and narrowed it down to the 300 or CJ4. The comments I heard after their demo flight was compared to the Citation series, the Phenom showed its Embraer lineage. In other words the fit and finish were not as refined as the Citation, and more akin to a mass produced airliner. I don't know if Embraer has taken that message to heart and improved the production since then.

He bought the new CJ4.

As far as new aircraft go there is not comparison as the 560 is no longer made and hasn't been for over a decade. The CJ4 is a better comparison with similar acquisition costs.

As far as new aircraft go there is not comparison as the 560 is no longer made and hasn't been for over a decade. The CJ4 is a better comparison with similar acquisition costs.

We have picked up 3 new 300’s (and 2 new Praetors) at the factory on behalf of our customers; 2 customers compared the CJ3/4 to the 300 and said it was no contest - the Phenom won out easily.

The CJ3 has balance concerns (full seats, load ballast), we operated one of those as well. Can’t do 9 in the CJ3, not sure about a 4. Airstair door vs. a drop down ladder, cabin size, etc. all won out.

The Phenom interior is spartan for sure; designed by the BMW team I am told, and I’d believe it as the seats feels like a 5 series. Not bad, but not cushy like a Cadillac for sure.

The CJ3 is a GREAT airplane, but I don’t think that it will do all the things the Phenom does well.

Different strokes for different folks, that’s why Embraer and Cessna (and all the other manufacturers exist), different people have different perspectives.

Brad

After speaking with Piaggio CEO this am, I think Phenom and CJ line will have some interesting competition in the near future.

I looked at a lot of aircraft recently and all of them were great. I ended up buying another Phenom 100 and love it even more than my first one. The build quality and passenger comfort are excellent. I would definitely buy a 300 but my mission just doesn’t support it most of the time. Maybe that will change in the future.