This history of humans in the sky starts in the 1700s when people started flying in balloons. The very first account of this strange new mode of transportation occurred in November 1783 when two brothers launched their brand new hot air balloon. The successful flight was groundbreaking and turned “ballooning” into a popular pastime.
In the 1800s, early gliders joined the scene and made it easier to steer aircraft. Then came the famous Wright Flyer of 1903 — the first successful gasoline-powered airplane ever made.
Aircraft have evolved over the years, and newer inventions like unmanned drones have completely changed how we understand flying machines. However, one thing has remained pretty constant in the world of aircraft: the most expensive flying machines are usually airplanes with room for passengers.
As you might expect, building an aircraft with space for people can be tricky. Whether you need just a couple seats of several hundred, getting humans up in the air takes some careful engineering and a lot of expensive materials.
So just how expensive can aircraft be? Find out with this top eight list.
- Gulfstream IV
- Boeing 737 Max 7
- Donald Trump’s Personal Plane
- The F-22 Raptor
- The Boeing C-17 Globemaster III
- The Boeing Business Jet 747-8
- The Airbus A380
- The B-2 Stealth Bomber
Maker: Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation
Origin: Savannah, Georgia
Unique Feature: All-glass cockpit
photo source: commons.wikimedia.org
photo source: commons.wikimedia.org
Kicking off this list is the iconic Gulfstream IV, sometimes called the GIV. The famous jet was made by Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation of Savannah, Georgia from 1985 to 1992. The aircraft was a very popular choice for business air travel during those years, partially because of its more compact size and ultra-fast speed. The interior of these jets was also completely customizable, so wealthy businesspeople often used them as personal transportation.
The Gulfstream IV line was discontinued in 1992, but the aircraft stayed popular — the jet can be found in the skies even today.
When this aircraft joined the market, Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation gave it a base price of $28 million, making it the eighth-most expensive aircraft ever built.
Did you know?
This aircraft has an impressive range of more than 4,500 miles. That means the Gulfstream IV is capable of making transatlantic journeys. The jet also goes very fast, about 509 miles per hour, so zipping from the Americas to Europe is no problem.
Maker: Boeing
Origin: Washington state
Unique Feature: Higher thrust system
photo source: flightglobal.com
The Boeing 737 Max 7 is a commercial passenger jet that seats about 140 people. The large airplane is made in Washington state at Boeing’s Renton factory. The factory is one of two Boeing manufacturing locations in Washington, with Everett serving as the second. Boeing also has a factory in China, but the Max 7 is exclusively made in the U.S.
The Max 7 itself is a pretty standard commercial airliner, but it upgraded systems for longer flights. Reports say the aircraft is also equipped with new systems to maintain range even in harsh environments, meaning the Max 7 can fly for a long time without getting bogged down by things like high temperatures and intense elevations.
Initial reports of the Max 7 come from around 2016, but the first official flight from this line was in March 2018. The early Max 7 took off from Boeing’s Renton factory and flew over Washington for about three hours.
Did you know?
Although the Max 7 has a list price of nearly $100 million, industry experts say commercial jets often sell for less than 50% of their original value thanks to discounts from suppliers.
Maker: Boeing
Origin: Washington state
Unique Feature: 24-carat gold interior details
photo source: lifebeyondsportmedia.com
photo source: lifebeyondsportmedia.com
Donald Trump has made quite a few luxury purchases in his lifetime. From several expensive properties to his pricey car collection, the former president is pretty familiar with owning ultra-expensive objects.
Beyond all those houses and cars, Trump owns a $100 million private jet. The large airplane is a Boeing 757, an expensive aircraft made at Boeing’s Renton factory in Washington state.
People who buy private jets often get them customized, and Trump is no exception. The billionaire decided to coat the interior of his plane with 24-carat gold details, then redesign the seating chart so more space could be dedicated to things like conference tables. The finishing touch was adding the Trump name to the plane’s exterior.
Did you know?
During their production, Boeing created over 1,000 757s. The aircraft was discontinued in 2004 due to low demand and increasingly expensive production costs.
Maker: Lockheed Martin
Origin: The United States
Unique Feature: Supersonic speed
photo source:lockheedmartin.com
photo source: businessinsider.com
The F-22 Raptor is probably the most elusive aircraft on this list. The ultra-powerful military machine was commissioned by the U.S. government for use in the Air Force. As with any machine built for combat, the F-22 has to be exceptionally capable — life and death are on the line. That’s why speed was a big focus during the aircraft’s development. Traveling more than two times the speed of sound, these fighters can outrun enemy attacks and quickly complete missions. They’re also extremely stealth, which is ideal for covert operations.
Beyond a few broadly reported features, most of the F-22’s capabilities are highly classified. Even simple pictures of the cockpit are considered restricted material. It’s that serious.
When it comes to the price tag, the F-22’s array of high-tech features makes it a costly product. Estimates say each F-22 costs about $125 million — but that doesn’t account for the expensive process of training people to fly these machines.
Did you know?
This aircraft was specifically made for the U.S. military. Even American allies can’t buy F-22s because of worries among the federal government that the aircraft’s deadly tech could get in the wrong hands.
Maker: Boeing
Origin: Long Beach, California
Unique Feature: Support for 170,900 pounds of cargo
photo source:commons.wikimedia.org
photo source: sacprogram.org
The Boeing C-17 Globemaster III is all about military transportation. The large aircraft supports up to 170,900 pounds of cargo, which means everything from helicopters to hundreds of troops can be packed inside and flown across the globe. The aircraft has even been used to fly refugees to safety during international crises.
The C-17 is a massive plane — and it has a massive price tag. A single edition of this military plane goes for $340 million, that’s more than three times the cost of the Boeing 737 Max 7.
Did you know?
This aircraft is known as a cargo jet. The term is typically reserved for aircraft that don’t transport people, but it is more generally applied to planes that don’t have seats. The C-17 can be adapted to transport people and cargo, but the title of cargo jet still applies since the plane’s main purpose is transporting large quantities of military equipment.
Maker: Boeing
Origin: Washington state
Unique Feature: Dual-level design
photo source:businessinsider.com
photo source: businessinsider.com
The Boeing Business Jet 747-8 is mostly owned by airlines and governments, but some wealthy individuals privately hold their very own edition. The line comes with a base price tag of $367 million — but that doesn’t account for changes to the interior. Add a few customizations as this businessman did and you’re potentially looking at a $400 million aircraft.
One of the most stand-out features of the 747-8 is the dual-level design. Yes, this is basically a two-story airplane. All that space offers enough room for standard seating, but why not add couches and a TV? You’ve got enough space.
Did you know?
Like other 747s, these aircraft are made at Boeing’s Everett factory in Washington state.
Maker: Airbus
Origin: Airbus
Unique Feature: Support for 575 tonnes of take-off weight
photo source:businessinsider.com
Airbus is a European aircraft maker. In 2005, the company’s ambitiously big A380 airliner took its maiden flight — marking the start of a complex saga involving too-expensive designs and uninterested customers.
Put simply, the A380 was a flop.
Most of the trouble came from the huge engineering struggles facing the A380. Although Airbus successfully made the plane fly, the massive aircraft was extremely inefficient due to its sheer size.
Despite all the problems facing the A380, Airbus managed to sell 251 editions of the plane — including this one which sold to Emirates for $445.6 million. The huge plane was one of several A380s purchased by Emirates, but this one stood out as the last one ever made by the Airbus company.
Overall, the A380 wasn’t a super successful aircraft, but it does have the distinct title of world’s largest passenger plane.
Did you know?
This plane can support a take-off weight of 575 tonnes — that’s the equivalent of around five blue whales!
Maker: Northrop Grumman
Origin: The United States
Unique Feature: Radar-evading technology
photo source:commons.wikimedia.org
The B-2 Stealth Bomber is the most expensive aircraft ever built.
With an estimated value of $2 billion, this ultra-stealth bomber is easily the most expensive aircraft ever created. The design was helmed by Northrop Grumman for the United States Air Force. Designed for maximum discretion, the B-2 evades radar detection while transporting bombs to enemy targets.
Details about the B-2 are limited since it was made for the military. However, reports say the only known B-2 base in the world is located in Missouri.
Did you know?
Despite its stealth capabilities, a B-2 Stealth Bomber was reportedly caught by Google Earth’s cameras as it flew over Missouri.
