Drake’s Private Jet: Technical Specs & Airframe History (N767CJ)
Most people and online sources claim Air Drake started as an old cargo freighter. Official flight records on Planespotters.net prove it never carried boxes. Boeing built the plane as a factory VIP passenger jet for Saudi Arabian royals and charter clients.
| Specification | Verified Data |
|---|---|
| Exact Model | Boeing 767-24Q(ER) Extended Range Widebody |
| Registration / Tail Number | N767CJ (Former: N767KS) |
| Serial / Line Number | MSN 28270 / Line Number 629 |
| First Flight & Build Site | September 20, 1996 (Boeing Everett Factory, WA) |
| Engines | 2x General Electric CF6-80C2B7F (60,030 lbf thrust each) |
| Dimensions | Length: 159.2 ft | Wingspan: 156.1 ft | Floor Area: approx. 1,500–2,000 sq ft (15,468 cu ft volume) |
| Range & Top Speed | 6,625 nautical miles (12,270 km) | Mach 0.80 (493 knots) |
| Service Ceiling | 43,100 feet |
| Capacity | 30 to 45 VIP passengers (Down from 290 commercial seats) |
Ownership & Operator Timeline
- 1996 to 2018: Delivered on October 4, 1996, to Jeddah-based Mid East Jet (1996 to 2011) and later operated by Jet Stream Aviation (2011 to 2018) under tail number N767KS.
- August 2018: Transferred to Elan Express (a US charter operator).
- April 2019: Acquired by Ontario-based Cargojet Airways, re-registered as N767CJ, and unveiled by Drake in May 2019.
- Legal Structure: Registered under Bank of Utah Trustee (required for US “N” tail numbers) and flown under the Elan Express (ELX) callsign.
- 2024 to 2025 Overhaul: Stored at Fort Lauderdale (FLL) and Hamilton (YHM) for cabin and maintenance upgrades before returning to active flight duty in June 2025.
Why Cargojet Gave Drake a Boeing 767 for Free
Drake paid $0 to buy the airframe. Aviation coverage from Simple Flying confirms that Cargojet CEO Ajay Virmani structured an unpaid barter deal: Cargojet supplied the plane and maintenance, while Drake served as a global brand ambassador.
- Real Airframe Cost vs. Media Hype: A 23-year-old Boeing 767-200ER cost Cargojet between $10 million and $20 million on the 2019 secondary market. The viral $185 million figure reflects the list price of a brand-new Boeing 767 off the factory floor, not a used 1996 hull.
- Publicity Return: Drake’s Instagram reveal generated over $50 million in earned media within 48 hours, boosting Cargojet’s stock and global recognition.
- Who Pays for Flights: Cargojet covers base hangar storage in Hamilton, safety inspections, and permanent flight crew. Drake pays direct operating costs, including jet fuel, catering, and international airport landing fees, whenever he flies.
Virgil Abloh Exterior & Cabin Layout
Air Drake features three unique exterior livery designs and houses a multi-room residential cabin.
Exterior Liveries & Underside Slogans
- 2019 Original Livery: Pale baby-blue belly, white upper fuselage, gold striping, the OVO (October’s Very Own) Owl near the nose, and Drake’s praying hands logo on the vertical tail fin.
- 2020 Virgil Abloh Redesign: Late Louis Vuitton creative director Virgil Abloh (“Abloh Engineering”) wrapped the entire plane in a sky-blue and white cumulus cloud pattern inspired by Drake’s Nothing Was the Same album cover. The underside of the fuselage reads: “IF YOU’RE READING THIS WE LEFT”.
- 2024 “Air Drake 2” Concept: As reported by Billboard, Drake previewed a dark overcast-and-lightning exterior redesign, also conceptualized by Abloh before his passing, featuring updated belly text that reads: “Chances are she’s on board”.
Inside the 1,500 to 2,000-Square-Foot Cabin
While the Boeing 767-200 holds 15,468 cubic feet of total pressurized interior volume, the usable floor area measures roughly 1,500 to 2,000 square feet. The windowless freighter rumor is false; the cabin retains full commercial windows lined with walnut wood panels, gold trim, and purple ambient LED lighting:
- 3 Private Bedrooms: Includes a master bedroom with a king-sized bed and an ensuite bathroom with a stand-up shower, plus two guest suites.
- 2 Living Rooms & Stake Lounge: Outfitted with beige leather armchairs, light-purple velvet sofas, striped custom carpets, and a dedicated card and Stake gambling lounge added during the 2024/2025 refit.
- Cinema & Business Zone: A private theater room with a giant flat-screen TV on the forward bulkhead and a 10-seat conference dining table.
Also Read: Kylie Jenner Private Jet
Real Operating Costs & 14-Minute Flight Controversy
Flying a twin-engine widebody airliner costs three times more per hour than a Gulfstream G650ER. The twin GE engines burn roughly 1,400 to 1,600 gallons of Jet-A fuel per hour, costing $6,000 to $10,000 per hour in fuel alone. A 10-hour transatlantic trip from Toronto to London or Milan costs $80,000 to $100,000+ once crew, landing, and ramp fees are added. Flying 300 to 400 hours per year puts yearly running expenses between $5 million and $15 million.
In July 2022, an environmental report in The Guardian revealed that Air Drake took 7-minute, 12-minute, and 14-minute flights between Toronto Pearson (YYZ) and Hamilton International Airport (YHM). The 14-minute hop burned 402 US gallons (1,522 liters / 426 reported gallons) of fuel and emitted 4 metric tons of CO2.
Drake confirmed on Instagram that zero passengers were onboard; pilots were ferrying the empty plane 38 miles west to Cargojet’s main maintenance hub in Hamilton for free overnight parking and servicing.
