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 US?
205 Challenger 650 and 31 Praetor 600 are on the US Part 135 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 FAA Part 135 list (2 September 2026).
| 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 US charter list | 205 aircraft (best) | 31 aircraft |
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
- 205 in the US
US operators: NetJets Aviation, Solairus Aviation, Executive Jet Management
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
- 31 in the US
US operators: Flexjet, Gold Aviation, Bimini Bay Air Leasing
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 US?+
205 Challenger 650 and 31 Praetor 600 are on the US Part 135 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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