Wal-Mart Jet Sets Again

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. recently registered another Learjet, bringing their total fleet size up to 27. The newest plane is a 2000 Learjet 45 model that retails for about $7 million and can travel up to 2,000 nautical miles before refueling. A plane broker who verified the price range of the jets said the tag for Lear 45s varies only for different power and seating configurations that might cause a $400,000 difference.

Of the 27 planes Wal-Mart has registered, only two of them are not jets; a King Air and a Turbo Commander, which are both turbo-prop engines. Two Learjet 35 models are registered with Wal-Mart Canada Inc. The rest of the Wal-Mart fleet includes:

• Another Lear 45 and 14 Learjet 31 models which retail for $2.5-$3.5 million each and have a 2,200-nautical mile range.

• Four Learjet 35s ($1 million-$3.5 million) which have a 1,250-nautical mile range.

• One Challenger 601 3R ($12 million-$14 million) which has a 3,400-nautical mile range and seats six to eight passengers.

But the behemoth of them all is the 2000 Global Express BD 700, which retails for about $37 million and can travel up to 6,400 nautical miles. The jet seats up to 15, has an average cruise speed of 485 knots and can climb at a rate of 3,450 feet per minute. The commercial Boeing 747 has a nautical range of 7,200 miles and travels at the same rate as the Global Express.

Tyson Foods Inc. acquired a Global Express in 2003. The 2001 model retails for about the same as the Wal-Mart jet.