When you absolutely, positively have to fly halfway around the world overnight, there’s no substitute for the comfort and amenities of an ultra-long range private jet. These largest of purpose-designed business jets have become one of the fastest-growing segments in private aviation, with three leading airframers—Bombardier, Gulfstream, and Dassault Falcon—going mano a mano with new entries. The race is so tight that manufacturers point to cabin specifications that best their competitors by a mere inch or two.

Beyond the larger, more comfortable cabins in this latest generation, luxuries such as advanced air-filtration systems, low-altitude pressurization, and circadian-lighting systems make it easier than ever for owners and guests to hop time zones and arrive to remote destinations feeling more refreshed than just a few years ago. In addition, massaging seats, high-speed Wi-Fi, and media zones for conducting business at 50,000 feet are intended to make time on an ultra-long-range jet more like a flying boardroom.

Here are six of our favorite ultra-long-range jets, two historic, and the four that are the latest to market.

Grumman Gulfstream II

Though its 4,500-mile range pales in comparison to modern large cabin aircraft, those advanced jets wouldn’t be where they are today if it weren’t for the advances of pioneering early aircraft like the Grumman Gulfstream II. With its first flight taking place in 1966, the Gulfstream II essentially became the first large-cabin jet, paving the way for what has becoming very intense competition between Gulfstream, Bombardier, and Dassault. The fact that 93 percent of the original 256 Gulfstream IIs built are still flying testimony to its visionary engineering.

Bombardier Global Express

Long before the ultra-long-distance private jet wars we’re seeing these days, the Bombardier Global Express was the king of the skies. It took its first flight in 1996 and revolutionized the industry with its largest-in-class cabin and simplified construction, which yielded a remarkable 99.5 percent reliability rating. By becoming the first aircraft to connect any two points in the world with one refueling, the Global Express set the pace for private jets punching far above their weight. Click Here for Full Article.