The Top 5 Most Expensive Planes in the World

What are the most expensive planes being manufactured today? Every one of them costs hundreds of millions of dollars. Can you fly one? Maybe, if you get your commercial pilot’s license and work your way up the ranks you might find yourself behind the wheel of a flying machine that’s worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Let’s take a look at the top 5 most expensive airplanes in the world.

Boeing 747 – $153 million

The Boeing 747-8 is one of the company’s most successful planes. One private client bought a Boeing 747-8 and customized it with fully equipped bathrooms, private living room, a master suite, guest rooms, and a private office. He also added big-screen TVs, sofas, a dining room for 14 guests, and a large meeting room. When it was all said and done he had spent $200 million. You probably won’t fly that Boeing, but if you become a commercial pilot you will likely find yourself in the cockpit of a Boeing 747.

Airbus A380 Superjumbo Jet – $500 million

The Airbus A380 is a double-deck, wide-body plane with four massive engines. The Saudi prince uses one which includes a prayer room that rotates so that it always faces Mecca. The plane also has storage bays for his horses, camels, and cars. The plan is the world’s largest commercial aircraft. The plane has a total capacity of 525 people in a three-class setup or 850 in a single class set up.

Airbus A340-300 – $600 million

The A340-300 can hold 295 passengers and cover up to 7,400 nautical miles during a single flight. It first entered into service with Air France and Lufthansa in 1993. Lufthansa is the largest buyer of this model and operates a fleet of 30. As of 2017, there were 104 Airbus A340-300s in operation around the world.

Air Force One  – $660 million

Air Force One is a triple-decker aircraft with 4,000 square feet of space. The plane reaches speeds of 650 miles per hour. In the case of medical emergencies, there is a mini-hospital on board with specialist doctors and an operation theater. The aircraft is designed to survive meteor strikes and nuclear war. If it’s ever attacked it can deploy flares to counter heat-seeking missiles, and also has radar jamming technology. Needless to say, Air Force One is the safest aircraft on planet Earth.

B-2 Spirit – $737 million

The B-2 Spirit was first launched in 1989. The fighter plane was built by Northrop. The highlight design is the “continuous curvature” which deflects radar. Its radar cross-section is just 1.1 square feet. The bomber saw its first action in the Kosovo War in 1989. The B-2 costs around $135,000 per hour to operate. The B-2 tops out at 1,010 km/hour.

Ready to Start a Career in Aviation?

Thinking about getting a pilot certificate or starting a career in aviation? The demand for pilots is high, and the rewards are big. Book your discovery flight today and find out how CTI can get you started in aviation.

2 Comments

  1. Zakk on November 6, 2021 at 5:49 pm

    The Boeing YAL-1 Is the 2nd most expensive at $700 million

  2. Will Lawrence on January 3, 2022 at 6:11 pm

    The Boeing 747-8 hasn’t been that successful, at least in passenger service compared the the -400. Additionally, it’s over $400 Million, not $153 million.

Leave a Comment