2 to 5 seats · 1 to 2 hours
Very Light Jets
The smallest jets we charter: twin-engine aircraft certified for single-pilot operation, with published ranges of 1,125 to 1,223 NM and seats for four to seven passengers depending on the model and the layout.
Reviewed by Kevin Singh, Founder · Specifications checked against manufacturer and type certificate data · Last updated 14 September 2026
The class at a glance
Very Light Jets in figures
Spans across the model guides below, from manufacturer and type certificate data. Individual aircraft vary with configuration, load and conditions.
Who it suits
Built for short sectors and small parties
The three very light jets in our guides, the Eclipse 500, the HondaJet HA-420 and the Embraer Phenom 100, publish ranges of 1,125 NM, 1,223 NM and 1,178 NM. Each figure is quoted with four people aboard, the pilot included, on IFR reserves, so the headline is close to what a party of three actually gets. That suits regional sectors rather than long cross-country legs.
None of the three has a stand-up cabin. Heights run from 4 feet 2 inches in the Eclipse 500 to 4 feet 10 inches in the HondaJet and 4 feet 11 inches in the Phenom 100EX, so passengers board stooped and stay seated. Seating runs from five passengers in the Eclipse 500 (many owners removed the middle row, leaving four seats) to six in the original HondaJet and up to seven in the Phenom 100EX, whose typical layout is four in club seating plus a side-facing seat and a belted lavatory.
Baggage is where the three differ most: 16 cubic feet in the Eclipse 500 against 64 cubic feet of total baggage and stowage in the Phenom 100EX and 66 cubic feet in the original HondaJet, split between a nose and an aft compartment. Published takeoff distances run from 2,394 feet for the Eclipse 500 at maximum weight to 3,190 feet for the Phenom 100EX and 4,000 feet over a 50 foot obstacle for the HondaJet, so the runway at each end is part of the choice.
Certified for a single pilot
All three types are certified for single-pilot operation, the Eclipse 500 and HondaJet with a minimum flight crew of one. Whether a second pilot flies is the operator's decision for the trip, and the desk tells you the crew arrangement for the aircraft it offers.
The shortest runway figures we publish
The Eclipse 500 publishes a takeoff distance of 2,394 feet at maximum weight, sea level, shorter than any jet in our larger classes, and the Phenom 100EX 3,190 feet. Elevation, temperature and weight change the answer on the day, so the desk checks the actual airport for the specific aircraft.
Sized for two to four people
Because every published range assumes four occupants including the pilot, a party of three travels on the published numbers rather than a reduced version of them. Fill every seat and add bags and the desk re-runs range and baggage before it offers an aircraft.
The models
Very Light Jets guides
Our guide to each very light jet, with the verified range, cabin, baggage and runway figures and the variant every figure applies to.
Compare the class
Every very light jet guide side by side
How the three models line up on the numbers that decide a trip. The HondaJet flies furthest and fastest, the Phenom 100EX offers the most seats, and the Eclipse 500 uses the least runway.
| Aircraft | Passengers | Range | Cruise | Cabin height | Baggage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eclipse 500 | Up to 5 | 1,125 NM | 370 kts | 4 ft 2 in | 16 cu ft |
| Embraer Phenom 100 | 4 to 7 | 1,178 NM | 406 kts | 4 ft 11 in | 64 cu ft |
| HondaJet HA-420 | 5 to 6 | 1,223 NM | 422 kts | 4 ft 10 in | 66 cu ft |
Moving between classes
When a very light jet is not the answer
Questions
Very Light Jets questions the desk gets
How far can a very light jet fly nonstop?
The models we cover publish 1,125 NM (Eclipse 500), 1,178 NM (Phenom 100EX) and 1,223 NM (original HondaJet). Each figure assumes four people aboard including the pilot, on NBAA IFR reserves. Winds, weight and a full cabin all reduce it, so the desk plans every leg against the real load rather than the headline.
How many passengers fit in a very light jet?
The Eclipse 500 seats up to five passengers with one pilot, although many owners removed the middle row to leave four seats. The original HondaJet takes up to six, typically five, and the Phenom 100EX allows up to seven with a typical layout of four in club seating. Every published range figure assumes fewer people than the maximum.
Can you stand up in the cabin?
No. Cabin heights are 4 feet 2 inches in the Eclipse 500, 4 feet 10 inches in the HondaJet and 4 feet 11 inches in the Phenom 100EX, so passengers stoop to board and move about seated. If standing room matters, the Citation XLS in our light class has a 5 foot 8 inch cabin.
How much luggage fits?
The Eclipse 500 carries 16 cubic feet, the Phenom 100EX 64 cubic feet of total baggage and stowage, and the original HondaJet 66 cubic feet across a nose and an aft compartment. The Phenom's external compartments are not reachable in flight. Tell the desk about golf bags, skis or camera cases when you enquire, because in this class the bags can decide the aircraft.
Is there a lavatory on board?
The original HondaJet has an enclosed aft lavatory, and the Phenom 100EX has a belted aft lavatory that also counts as a seat. A lavatory on the Eclipse 500 is not confirmed by a primary source, so the desk checks the specific aircraft before it quotes.
How much runway does a very light jet need?
Published takeoff distances are 2,394 feet for the Eclipse 500 at maximum weight, 3,190 feet for the Phenom 100EX at maximum weight, and 4,000 feet over a 50 foot obstacle for the original HondaJet. Field elevation, temperature and weight all change the real figure, so the desk checks airport suitability for the specific aircraft before a quote goes out.
Do these jets fly with one pilot or two?
All three are certified for single-pilot operation. In charter service the operator decides whether a second pilot flies, based on its own procedures and the trip. The desk confirms the crew arrangement with the operator, and the operator is named on the quote.
How fast are they, and how high do they fly?
Published cruise speeds are 370 knots for the Eclipse 500 at 33,000 feet, 406 knots for the Phenom 100EX at high-speed cruise and 422 knots for the HondaJet at 30,000 feet. Ceilings are 41,000 feet for the Eclipse 500 and the Phenom and 43,000 feet for the HondaJet.
When is a very light jet the right choice?
When the party is four or fewer, the bags are modest and the sector sits comfortably inside 1,125 to 1,223 NM. If any of those stretch, a light jet is the better tool: the Phenom 300E publishes 2,010 NM with five occupants, 84 cubic feet of stowage and up to ten seats.
How does the desk choose between the three?
It starts with the headcount and the bags, then the runways at both ends, then the distance on your real load. The Eclipse 500 suits the shortest runways and the lightest loads, the Phenom 100EX the larger party, and the HondaJet the longer sector with more baggage. Where the nearest suitable aircraft is based usually settles the rest.
Other classes
The rest of the Aircraft Guides
Get your number
Charter a very light jet
Send the route, the dates and the passengers. The desk matches the aircraft to the trip, checks range and baggage first, and comes back with an itemised quote.
Prefer to talk? Call +1 888 277 7203. The desk is staffed 24/7.
Comparing aircraft? Browse the Aircraft Guides in the Aviation Library, 600+ guides on chartering and operations.