Bombardier seems likely to announce whether it will go fly-by-wire on the super-long-range Global 7000 and 8000 - due to enter service in 2017 and 2018 - at the EBACE business aviation show in Geneva in May.
"I would be very surprised if we haven't made a decision by then," says Brad Nolan, Bombardier director of product strategy.
Images showing cockpit concepts of the aircraft have been released, which reveal control yokes for both pilots.
That configuration is familiar to crew of Bombardier business jets, which do not feature fly-by-wire technology. However, Nolan says Bombardier has yet to decide if the latest additions to the Global family will introduce fly-by-wire and, if so, whether the control yoke will be retained or ditched in favour of a sidestick.
Bombardier's CRJ1000 regional jet has a fly-by-wire rudder and the CSeries narrowbody, which is in development, will be all fly-by-wire.
 |
|---|
© BombardierBombardier Global 7000 |
The Global 7000 and 8000 were launched late last year and will sit at the top of the Bombardier product line above the super-large Global 5000 and long-range XRS models.
The Global 7000 will have a top cruise speed of M0.90 and a range of 7,300nm (13,500km) at M0.85 carrying 10 passengers.
The Global 8000 offers a maximum range of 7,900nm at M0.85, carrying eight passengers.
Both models feature an all-new, high-speed transonic wing and will be powered by 16,500lb-thrust (73kN) General Electric TechX engines.
The aircraft also have enlarged windows, with 80% more surface area than the existing Global models, Bombardier says.
Source: Flight International