Bombardier Gives Global 7000 Longer Legs

Bombardier is boosting the range of its flagship Global 7000 jet by 300 nautical miles, positioning the four-zone business jet to claim the long-range title at 7,700 nautical miles. Bombardier (Chalet 18) announced the range increase April 15, as ABACE was prepping for kickoff, after completing several long-haul flights with the model to destinations that include Sydney, Dubai, and Hawaii.

The flight-test program has demonstrated the ability to reach the 7,700-nautical-mile mark at Mach 0.85, Bombardier said, adding that it is now the baseline for the 7000. The extension comes almost 18 months into the flight-test campaign. The model first flew in November 2016, and the five flight test vehicles now involved in the campaign have collectively amassed 1,800 hours.

Bombardier expects the aircraft to enter service during the second half of the year.

The new range will open up city pairs such as New York to Hong Kong and Singapore to San Francisco, and Bombardier boasts that the aircraft is the only purpose-built business jet able to operate those routes. The range pushes the Global 7000 past that of its chief competitor, the Gulfstream G650ER, which reaches 7,500 nautical miles at Mach 0.85.

The range also nudges closer to the performance expectations of what was to be the Global 7000 sibling, the Global 8000. Both models were unveiled in October 2010, with the 7000 to have the larger, four-zone cabin and the shorter 8000 to have the longer, 7,900-nautical mile range. Bombardier has focused first on the development of the Global 7000, and has not laid out a plan yet for the 8000.

In addition to proving out the longer-range capabilities, the flight-test program is demonstrating speed, last year skirting the sound barrier at Mach 0.995. The aircraft will be one of the speediest of the Bombardier business jets with a certified top speed of Mach 0.925, as well as its largest, with a nearly 55-foot-long cabin.