Learjet 31

The two Learjet 31s share a 155 in cabin, 59 in of width, seven seats and 40 cu ft of baggage across four bags — the smallest hold in this category, a figure the pair hold jointly. Range is where they separate, and the original 31 is the one that goes further: 1,631 nm against the 31A's 1,290. For a charterer that difference is the whole decision, because on aircraft this closely matched nothing else moves far enough to matter. Top speed is 448 kt and takeoff 4,242 ft.

The cabin is 51.6 in high, the lowest of any light jet we charter, and that number sets expectations honestly: this is an aircraft entered rather than walked into, and seven seats in it is a full load rather than a comfortable one. Production ended a long time ago. What keeps the type in service is pace against cost of access — 448 kt is quicker than every Citation in this class except the CJ4 — and for a short sector where the clock matters and the party is small, that trade still reads sensibly. The 31A answers with a shorter runway and more speed; the 31 answers with distance.

The one that goes further