Bombardier unveiled the Global 5500 and its sibling, the Global 6500, at the EBACE conference in Geneva in May 2018. The large-cabin, long-range jets, variants of the legacy Global family, offered 500 nm and 600 nm of additional range, respectively, over the Global 5000 and 6000, plus a fuel burn advantage of up to 13%, the manufacturer said.

The Global 5500/6500 build on their predecessors’ foundations with a newly optimized wing, a redesigned cabin and purpose-built Rolls-Royce Pearl 15 engines.

Transport Canada awarded type certification to the Global 5500/6500 in August 2019, followed within months by EASA and the FAA. The Global 5500 officially entered service with an undisclosed operator in June 2020. In July that year, Bombardier announced the first delivery of a U.S.-based Global 5500 to Unicorp National Developments of Orlando.

The 2022 factory-new list price of a Global 5500 is $46 million, according to the Aircraft Bluebook. The Aviation Week Fleet Discovery Database counted 11 delivered Global 5500s, with five based in North America.

Bombardier Vision

Powered by the Pearl 15 turbofans, each producing 15,125 lb. of thrust, the Global 5500 has maximum range of 5,900 nm at Mach 0.85 cruise speed with eight passengers, three crew and NBAA IFR reserves, according to Bombardier. It requires a takeoff distance of 5,340 ft. at maximum takeoff weight (92,500 lb.) in ISA sea level conditions.

The 5500/6500 are fitted with the Collins Aerospace Pro Line Fusion-based Bombardier Vision flight deck with four 15-in. LCD displays and a combined vision system that merges enhanced and synthetic images in a single view.

“Powerful and luxurious, the Global 5500 handles transatlantic trips with timesaving ease,” says fractional fleet operator NetJets. “And with superior short-field performance, it completes flights that others in its category cannot.”

Three Living Spaces

The Global 5500 cabin spans three living spaces—club, conference room and private suites—and seats up to 16 passengers. The cabin height is 6 ft., 2 in.; width 7 ft., 11 in.; and length excluding baggage compartment 40 ft., 9 in. There are 195 cu. ft. of baggage space.

“Signature features include a full-service forward galley and a private stateroom for optimal solitude,” says NetJets. “Owners enjoy noticeably generous room and comfort, with an extremely large ‘living room’ cabin, forward and aft lavatories, tons of natural light and an extra-wide aisle.”

The Globals come with the patented Nuage seat, which Bombardier touts as the first new seating architecture in business aviation in more than 30 years. The 5500/6500 debuted the Nuage chaise, a lounge chair that converts into a flat surface for sleeping or for banquet-style dining around a table.

A proprietary air purification system with HEPA filter captures up to 99.99% of allergens, bacteria and viruses, Bombardier says.

Wichita Base

Montreal-based Bombardier announced on April 19 that its facility at Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport, Kansas, will be its new U.S. headquarters as well as home to the renamed Bombardier Defense, which builds on its specialized aircraft division. The manufacturer’s Wichita Service Center provides maintenance for Learjet, Challenger and Global models.

In 2020, Wichita-based Spirit AeroSystems acquired the assets of Bombardier’s Short Brothers operation in Belfast, Northern Ireland, which builds the forward fuselage, engine nacelles and horizontal stabilizer of the Global 5500/6500.

BCA welcomes comment and insight from aircraft dealers and brokers for its monthly 20/Twenty pre-owned aircraft market feature. The focus aircraft for May 2022 is the Daher TBM 910; the focus aircraft for June 2022 is the Nextant 400XT. To participate, contact [email protected].