Bombardier has performed the maiden sortie of the first production example of its ultra-long-range Global 8000 business jet, with the aircraft completing the milestone on 16 May from Toronto Pearson International airport.
The flight keeps the 8,000nm (14,800km)-range Global 8000 on track for service entry later this year. Maintaining that schedule will be critical to keep pace with rival Gulfstream, which achieved certification of its 8,200nm-range G800 in April.
“The aircraft executed a series of tests, part of the production flight-test procedures during the flight. All flight controls were exercised on the aircraft, and the systems and aircraft performed as expected,” Bombardier says.
The Global 8000 shares much in common with its sister ship, the 7,700nm-range Global 7500, which regulators certificated in 2018.
Bombardier revealed development of the Global 7500 – then called the 7000 – and Global 8000 in 2010, although little progress was made on the longer-range jet until development was launched in 2022.
However, rather than as originally planned being an entirely separate model with a shorter fuselage than the Global 7500, the revised Global 8000 shares the same fuselage and wing, with modifications to the fuel system enabling the range extension.
“This first production flight marks yet another successful milestone for Bombardier’s Global 8000 programme and we are very pleased with how the aircraft performed on its maiden journey,” says Bombardier senior vice-president of engineering and product development Stephen McCullough.
Powered by twin 18,920lb (84kN) GE Aerospace Passport engines, the 19-passenger Global 8000 will fly at speeds up to Mach 0.94 and at 51,000ft altitude.
“The first production aircraft will soon travel to Bombardier’s Laurent Beaudoin Completion Centre in Montreal where interior completions will take place ahead of its planned entry-into-service in the second half of 2025,” Bombardier says.
