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The Boeing Business Jet (BBJ) program, launched in 1998, remains a significant player in the private jet market. Based on the Boeing 737-700 commercial airframe, BBJs are modified to cater to private and corporate aviation needs. The first BBJ took flight on September 4, 1998. Since then, Boeing has delivered over 250 BBJs of various types and variants.
Phil Condit, then-president of Boeing, along with Jack Welch from General Electric, conceptualized a high-performance business jet derived from the narrowbody jet design. This led to the creation of the BBJ1 in 1996. Production began two years later with an initial price tag of $36 million.
The BBJ1 boasts modifications such as strengthened rear sections and additional fuel tanks that extend its range up to 6,141 nautical miles. Despite its enhanced fuel capacity reducing cargo space, this deficiency prompted Boeing to introduce longer versions like the BBJ2 and BBJ3 for increased cabin capacity.
