Bombardier has marked another major milestone in the development of its ultra-long-range Global 7000, following the debut flight on 4 March of its second flight-test vehicle.
FTV2 – serial number 70002, registration C-GBLB – lifted off from Bombardier’s Downsview, Toronto manufacturing facility at 10:50 local time.
During the 4h 28min flight, the prototype’s propulsion, electrical and mechanical systems were tested, as was its performance at high altitude – with FTV2 climbing to 43,000ft.
“We now have a flight-test vehicle dedicated to testing the aircraft’s systems,” says François Caza, Bombardier’s vice-president, product development and chief engineer. “Data from FTV2 will supplement the successful results we have already obtained from test rigs, including the integrated systems test and certification rig, and from the extensive flight testing of FTV1 to date.”
FTV1 made its maiden sortie in November and has since accumulated over 100h at Bombardier’s US flight-test centre in Wichita, Kansas, where it will be joined by its sister aircraft in the coming weeks. “We are on track with our test programme, and are very pleased with the progression and performance of our flight-test vehicles to date,” Caza says.
The GE Aviation Passport-powered aircraft will eventually be followed by three more FTVs, which are in various phases of construction in Downsview.
Bombardier
The Global 7000 is scheduled for certification and service entry in the second half of 2018.
The 7,400nm (13,700km)-range aircraft will be the largest and longest-legged business jet in Bombardier’s seven-strong line-up. It is designed to challenge Gulfstream’s eight-year dominance at the top end of the traditional business jet market, fitting neatly between the 7,000nm range of the G650 and the 7,500nm reach of the G650ER.
Bombardier has also proposed the Global 8000, which would have a market-leading 7,900nm range, but has yet to commit to its development. It says it will provide updates on the potential derivative later in the Global 7000’s flight-test campaign.
Source: Flight International
