There are private jets and then there are Gulfstreams. In an opaque world filled with eight-figure price tags and anonymous clients, Gulfstream has managed to transcend the business-aviation industry and become a pop-culture icon. Companies such as Bombardier, Embraer, and Cessna all build world-class business jets, but none have become engrained in pop culture quite like Gulfstream and its G-series jets. After all, no other business-jet company has been the subject of a pop song that hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to sample the Gulfstream experience when the Savannah, Georgia-based airplane maker invited me and several other journalists to visit the company's headquarters. Our chariot for this trip was none other than a new Gulfstream G550 worth a cool $61.5 million. Business Insider provided financial compensation to Gulfstream for the trip.