Bombardier Challenger 604 / 605 / 650 vs Embraer Praetor 600 / Legacy 500
The Praetor 600 flies further: 4,018 nm against 4,000 nm for the Challenger 650. The Challenger 650 has the bigger cabin: 1,146 cu ft against 840 cu ft for the Praetor 600. The Challenger 650 is faster at high-speed cruise: 470 kts against 466 kts for the Praetor 600.
Challenger 650 or Praetor 600?
Which flies further, the Challenger 650 or the Praetor 600?
The Praetor 600 flies further: 4,018 nm against 4,000 nm for the Challenger 650.
Which has the bigger cabin, the Challenger 650 or the Praetor 600?
The Challenger 650 has the bigger cabin: 1,146 cu ft against 840 cu ft for the Praetor 600.
Which is faster, the Challenger 650 or the Praetor 600?
The Challenger 650 is faster at high-speed cruise: 470 kts against 466 kts for the Praetor 600.
Which seats more passengers?
The Challenger 650 seats more in a typical charter layout: up to 10 against up to 8 for the Praetor 600.
Which costs more to buy, the Challenger 650 or the Praetor 600?
Pre-owned, the Challenger 650 sells for about $19.0 million to $25.0 million (October 2026) and the Praetor 600 for about $18 million to $29 million (October 2025). New, they listed at $32.4 million (2024) and $24.0 million (2025).
Which is easier to charter in the UK?
3 Challenger 650 and 8 Praetor 600 are on the UK CAA charter list today. Both charter at super-midsize jet rates; availability on your dates decides the price.
Challenger 650 vs Praetor 600 specifications
Verified figures, checked October 2026. Fleet counts from the CAA AOC holders list (5 October 2026) and operators' published fleets.
| Specification | Challenger 650 Bombardier | Praetor 600 Embraer |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ||
| Range | 4,000 nm (7,408 km) | 4,018 nm (7,441 km) (best) |
| High-speed cruise | 470 kts (Mach 0.82) (best) | 466 kts |
| Long-range cruise | 424 kts | 433 kts (best) |
| Maximum speed | Mach 0.85 (best) | Mach 0.83 |
| Maximum altitude | 41,000 ft | 45,000 ft (best) |
| Take-off distance | 5,640 ft | 4,717 ft (best) |
| Landing distance | 2,402 ft | 2,165 ft (best) |
| Cabin | ||
| Typical charter seats | 10 (best) | 8 |
| Maximum seats | 12 | 12 |
| Beds (typical layout) | 6 (best) | 4 |
| Cabin zones | 2 | 2 |
| Cabin length | 25 ft 7 in (7.80 m) | 27 ft 6 in (8.38 m) (best) |
| Cabin width | 7 ft 11 in (2.41 m) (best) | 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) |
| Cabin height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
| Cabin volume | 1,146 cu ft (best) | 840 cu ft |
| Baggage | 115 cu ft, reachable in flight | 155 cu ft, reachable in flight (best) |
| Cabin altitude | Not published | 5,800 ft at 45,000 ft |
| Engines and weights | ||
| Engines | 2 × GE CF34-3B | 2 × Honeywell HTF7500E |
| Thrust per engine | 9,220 lbf | 7,528 lbf |
| Maximum take-off weight | 48,200 lb | 42,857 lb |
| Fuel capacity | 19,852 lb | 16,137 lb |
| Price and ownership | ||
| First delivered | 1996 | 2019 |
| In production | Yes | Yes |
| New price | $32.4M (2024) | $24.0M (2025) |
| Pre-owned price | $19.0M to $25.0M | $18M to $29M |
| Operating cost per hour | $11,815 | $8,673 |
| Charter fleet | ||
| On the UK charter list | 3 aircraft | 8 aircraft (best) |
Gold marks the best figure in each row. Take-off distance: At maximum take-off weight, sea level. Cabin length: Manufacturers measure cabin length differently; volume is the fairer comparison. Operating cost per hour: As reported; some sources quote variable cost only, others include fixed costs. See the basis under each aircraft.
Both aircraft at a glance
Bombardier Challenger 604 / 605 / 650
- Seats
- 10 (max 12)
- Range
- 4,000 nm
- Cabin
- 1,146 cu ft
- In production
- Yes
- Charter fleet
- 3 in the UK
UK operators: Jet Concierge Club, Gama Aviation, Luxaviation United Kingdom
Challenger 650 specs, interior and price →
Embraer Praetor 600 / Legacy 500
- Seats
- 8 (max 12)
- Range
- 4,018 nm
- Cabin
- 840 cu ft
- In production
- Yes
- Charter fleet
- 8 in the UK
UK operators: Flexjet UK, Luxaviation United Kingdom, Air Charter Scotland
Praetor 600 specs, interior and price →Compare with other super-midsize jets
Questions, answered
Still deciding? A charter specialist will talk you through aircraft, airports and price, with no obligation.
Ask a specialistWhich flies further, the Challenger 650 or the Praetor 600?+
The Praetor 600 flies further: 4,018 nm against 4,000 nm for the Challenger 650.
Which has the bigger cabin, the Challenger 650 or the Praetor 600?+
The Challenger 650 has the bigger cabin: 1,146 cu ft against 840 cu ft for the Praetor 600.
Which is faster, the Challenger 650 or the Praetor 600?+
The Challenger 650 is faster at high-speed cruise: 470 kts against 466 kts for the Praetor 600.
Which seats more passengers?+
The Challenger 650 seats more in a typical charter layout: up to 10 against up to 8 for the Praetor 600.
Which costs more to buy, the Challenger 650 or the Praetor 600?+
Pre-owned, the Challenger 650 sells for about $19.0 million to $25.0 million (October 2026) and the Praetor 600 for about $18 million to $29 million (October 2025). New, they listed at $32.4 million (2024) and $24.0 million (2025).
Which is easier to charter in the UK?+
3 Challenger 650 and 8 Praetor 600 are on the UK CAA charter list today. Both charter at super-midsize jet rates; availability on your dates decides the price.
Where these numbers come from
- Aviation Safety Network: Bombardier CL-600-2B16 Challenger 604 TC-TRB, 11 March 2018, and the Canadair CL-600 Challenger type database
- Bombardier: Challenger 350 factsheet (Apr 2024): 3,200 nm at Mach 0.80 with 8 passengers and NBAA IFR reserves, cabin 25 ft 2 in by 7 ft 2 in by 6 ft 0 in, up to 10 passengers, Honeywell HTF7350 7,323 lbf, 45,000 ft, takeoff 4,835 ft
- Jetcraft: Challenger 604 overview, 1995 to 2006 (Jan 2020): longer-range derivative of the 601-3R with more fuel and upgraded engines, CF34-3B, Pro Line 4, 4,024 nm, 365 built
- Jetcraft: Bombardier Challenger 650, 2014 to present (Sep 2024): cabin volume 1,146 cu ft, typical 9 passenger and 2 crew seats, up to 12 passengers, 158 built
- Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand: Bombardier CL600 Challenger series type acceptance report (Mar 2020): Transport Canada TC A-131; 604 is S/N 5301 to 5699, 605 S/N 5701 to 5990 with Pro Line 21, 650 S/N 6050 on with cockpit and cabin upgrades
- Guardian Jet: Bombardier CL 650 brochure (Oct 2026): 4 for sale, asks $18,995,000 to $24,995,000, model years 2016 to 2020
- Federal Register via Justia: Special conditions, Pro Star Aviation, Bombardier Model CL-600-2B16 airplanes (Aug 2021): CL-600 series approved under Type Certificate No. A21EA
- AIN: Bombardier launches Challenger 650 (Nov 2014): improved CF34-3B engines with more takeoff thrust for hot and high airports, redesigned cockpit and cabin, NetJets launch customer, 4,000 nm with six passengers
- CRAFT: Bombardier Challenger 650 ownership and operating costs (updated Oct 2026): $11,815 per flight hour at 200 hours a year, annual total $2,363,067
- Solairus Aviation: ISP based Challenger 650 charter sheet (Nov 2024): seats 10, sleeps 6, 115 cu ft baggage, full forward galley, aft lavatory
- Bombardier: Challenger 650 factsheet (Apr 2024): high-speed cruise Mach 0.82
- EASA: Type Certificate Data Sheet EASA.IM.A.023, Issue 19 (Aug 2026): CL-600-2B16 604 variant; 605 is S/N 5701 to 5990 and 650 is S/N 6050 onward; TCCA approval 20 September 1995
- GlobalAir: Challenger 650 specifications (Oct 2026): 2024 list price $32,400,000
- Aviation Week: Challenger 650 deliveries by year end (Nov 2015): Transport Canada certifies the Challenger 650, deliveries before year end
- GlobalAir: 2019 Challenger 650 S/N 6136 listing by Bombardier Pre-owned (2026): 12 seats, four club seats forward, full berthing four-place divan opposite four-place conference group aft, forward RH galley, aft lavatory, Gogo L5 Avance and Ka-band
- Guardian Jet: 2012 Challenger 605 N605VG S/N 5905 specifications (Apr 2025): in-flight accessible baggage bay
- Bombardier Pre-owned: 2009 Challenger 605 N899ST S/N 5791 factsheet (Jan 2021): 11 places, four club seats, three-place divan opposite four-place conference group, forward galley with oven, microwave and espresso maker
- GlobalAir: 2016 Challenger 650 S/N 6084 listing by Donath Aircraft Services (2026): 10 passengers plus jump seat, four-place club forward, four-place divan opposite two-place club aft, forward galley, extended aft lavatory, Starlink and Ka-band
- Global Jet: 2020 Challenger 650 S/N 6151 for sale (2026): four-place club forward, four-place conference group opposite four-place divan aft, forward full galley, aft lavatory, Inmarsat SBB
- Guardian Jet: Bombardier CL 604 brochure (Oct 2026): 29 for sale, asks $3,500,000 to $7,995,000, model years 1996 to 2006, fleet 345
- Guardian Jet: Bombardier CL 605 brochure (Oct 2026): 19 for sale, asks $10,900,000 to $14,995,000, model years 2007 to 2015, fleet 287
- Solairus Aviation: TEB based Challenger 605 charter sheet (Dec 2023): seats 12, sleeps 6, 115 cu ft baggage, Gogo Wi-Fi
- Aerossurance: BFU report on Challenger 604 D-AMSC wake vortex accident over the Arabian Sea, 17 January 2017 (May 2017)
- GlobalAir: NTSB releases preliminary report on Challenger 650 crash in Maine (Mar 2026): N10KJ, Bangor, 25 January 2026, six killed, takeoff after deicing in snow
- Wikipedia: 2018 Iran Bombardier Challenger crash, Challenger 604 TC-TRB, 11 March 2018; Iran AAIB final report of March 2020
- Wikipedia: Hop-A-Jet Flight 823, Challenger 604 N823KD, Naples, 9 February 2024; NTSB final report 23 April 2026 cites corrosion of both engines' variable geometry components
- Wikipedia: Bombardier Challenger 600 series: Challenger 604 built from 1996 through 2006, over 360 delivered; 605 first flight January 2006; 1,000th 600 series, a 650, delivered to NetJets in December 2015
- Jetcraft: Bombardier Challenger 605 overview, 2006 to 2015 (Sep 2021): 288 built, last delivery 2015, larger and higher cabin windows and a rounded tailcone over the 604
- AVweb: FAA issues emergency AD for Embraer Praetor, Legacy jets (Apr 2026)
- Aviation Safety Network: Embraer EMB-550 Legacy 500 and Praetor 600 occurrences
- Luxaviation ONE: Embraer Praetor 600 fact sheet (Jul 2025)
- EASA: Type-Certificate Data Sheet EASA.IM.A.526, Embraer EMB-545 and EMB-550, Issue 12 (Sep 2026)
- AeroMorning: Next-generation Praetor 600E earns triple certification from ANAC, FAA and EASA (Apr 2026)
- Controller.com: 2022 Praetor 600 S/N 55020160 listing (Oct 2026)
- Aviation Week: Aircraft Overview, Embraer's Praetor 500 and Praetor 600 (2026)
- CRAFT: Embraer Praetor 600 ownership and operating costs (Oct 2026)
- SHK Sweden: Final report SHK 2025:19e, serious incident to Embraer EMB-550 Praetor 600 9H-MFX at Stockholm Bromma (Dec 2025)
- Jetcraft: Embraer Praetor 600 overview, 2018 to present (Jun 2025)
- Embraer: Praetor 600 brochure and specifications (Jun 2020)
- BEA: Rapport d'enquete, accident de l'Embraer EMB-550 Legacy 500 RA-02788, Paris Le Bourget, BEA2017-0674 (Jun 2020)
- GlobalAir.com: Embraer Praetor 600 specifications and operating cost (Oct 2026)
- Aircraft.com: 2016 Legacy 500 S/N 55000060, N1Y, listing (Oct 2026)
- Guardian Jet: 2019 Praetor 600 S/N 55020104 spec sheet (Mar 2024)
- AircraftExchange: 2022 Praetor 600 S/N 55020162 listing (Oct 2026)
- GlobalAir.com: 2019 Praetor 600 S/N 55020114, OE-HPL, listing (Oct 2026)
- AircraftExchange: 2020 Praetor 600 S/N 55020136, N550LC, listing (Oct 2026)
- Jetcraft: Embraer Legacy 500 overview, 2014 to 2020 (Feb 2022)
- CRAFT: Embraer Praetor 500 ownership and operating costs (Oct 2026)
- Aviation Week: 20/Twenty, preowned Embraer Praetor 600s hard to find and hold value, Mark Huber (Oct 2025)
- Aviation Week: Aircraft Overview, Embraer Praetor 500 and 600 (read Oct 2026)
- AIN: Embraer's Q2 deliveries strongest in 16 years, Curt Epstein (Jul 2026)
- AIN: Legacy 500 cleared for service entry (Sep 2014)
- jetAVIVA: Strong demand, limited supply, the Praetor 600 market pulse (Oct 2025)
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