In the June issue of Aerospace America, Richard Aboulafia reports on the state of the high-end business jet market. In the article “Business Jets: the Rich Get Richer” Aboulafia provides some key insights:

The new $60 million Gulfstream G650 will ship in 2012 and will have the largest traditional business jet cabin, the greatest range (7,000 n.mi.) of any business jet, and the fastest maximum speed of any civil aircraft flying today (Mach 0.925).

There are now more than 550 jetliners and business regional jets in private use. This fleet has more than doubled in size over the past seven years.

Between 1997 and 2008, the market for big business jets grew by a 15.5% CAGR (compound annual growth rate) the business jet market as a whole had a CAGR of 10% in the same period.

If manufacturers can offer an supersonic business jet priced at $80 to $90 million, they are likely to find a “respectable market response.”

The Wall Street Journal reports today that secondhand business jets are now more expensive than new ones, largely due to the long wait times associated with buying new planes.

“Moguls who have made their fortunes in a couple of years aren’t willing to sit around waiting five years or more for a brand-new Gulfstream 550 — made by a division of General Dynamics Corp. — or a Dassault Falcon 7X made by Dassault Falcon.

”