Latitude Flies
The first of Cessna’s two new Citations, the mid-size, 2,700-nm-range Latitude made its initial flight in February, with deliveries to begin in 2015. Planned for 2017, the super-mid-size Longitude is getting a second look.
Credit: Cessna Aircraft
Credit: Cessna Aircraft
Textron Aviation Debuts
With completion of the acquisition of the Beechcraft and Hawker business in March, Textron Aviation was formed to combine them with Cessna and bring the three brands under common management.
Credit: Textron Aviation
Credit: Textron Aviation
Learjet 85 Flies
After a long delay, the all-composite Learjet 85 made its first flight in April—only for Bombardier to slow the program to focus its resources on CSeries and Global 7000/8000. No service-entry date is now given.
Credit: Bombardier
Credit: Bombardier
Challenger 350 Delivered
Fractional-ownership company NetJets received the first improved Challenger 350 from Bombardier in May. The revamped super-mid-size jet has uprated engines, enhanced cabin and updated avionics.
Credit: Bombardier
Credit: Bombardier
Falcon 8X Unveiled
In May Dassault launched its largest, longest-range business jet, the Falcon 8X, aiming for a first flight early in 2015 and service entry in mid-2016. The stretch of the Falcon 7X will fly 6,450 nm at Mach 0.8.
Credit: Dassault Aviation
Credit: Dassault Aviation
Citation X+ Certified
The fastest civil aircraft, at Mach 0.935, Cessna’s upgraded Citation X+ was certificated and delivered to initial customers in June. Winglets, uprated engines, longer cabin and new avionics mark the X+.
Credit: Cessna Aircraft
Credit: Cessna Aircraft
PC-24 Rolled Out
Following the success of its single-turboprop PC-12, Pilatus rolled out its first business jet, the PC-24, in August. Powered by Williams FJ44s, the light jet is expected to fly early in 2015, for delivery in 2017.
Credit: Pilatus Aircraft
Credit: Pilatus Aircraft
Legacy 500 Certified
With Brazilian certification in August and U.S. approval in October, Embraer began deliveries of the all-new mid-size Legacy 500 in 2014. The fly-by-wire jet is powered by Honeywell HTF7500Es.
Credit: Embraer
Credit: Embraer
Challenger 650 Launched
Bombardier’s long-running large-cabin jet is getting a makeover with the October launch of the Challenger 650, featuring engine, cabin and cockpit upgrades. First flight is in 2015, with deliveries to begin in 2016.
Credit: Bombardier
Credit: Bombardier
G500/G600 Launched
Gulfstream launched the all-new G500 and G600 large-cabin jets in October, with Pratt & Whitney Canada’s PW800 engine ousting long-time supplier Rolls-Royce. The G500 is to fly in 2015 and enter service in 2018, followed in 2019 by the longer-range, longer-cabin G600.
Credit: Gulfstream Aerospace
Credit: Gulfstream Aerospace
Latitude Flies
The first of Cessna’s two new Citations, the mid-size, 2,700-nm-range Latitude made its initial flight in February, with deliveries to begin in 2015. Planned for 2017, the super-mid-size Longitude is getting a second look.
Credit: Cessna Aircraft
Credit: Cessna Aircraft
Textron Aviation Debuts
With completion of the acquisition of the Beechcraft and Hawker business in March, Textron Aviation was formed to combine them with Cessna and bring the three brands under common management.
Credit: Textron Aviation
Credit: Textron Aviation
Learjet 85 Flies
After a long delay, the all-composite Learjet 85 made its first flight in April—only for Bombardier to slow the program to focus its resources on CSeries and Global 7000/8000. No service-entry date is now given.
Credit: Bombardier
Credit: Bombardier
Challenger 350 Delivered
Fractional-ownership company NetJets received the first improved Challenger 350 from Bombardier in May. The revamped super-mid-size jet has uprated engines, enhanced cabin and updated avionics.
Credit: Bombardier
Credit: Bombardier
Falcon 8X Unveiled
In May Dassault launched its largest, longest-range business jet, the Falcon 8X, aiming for a first flight early in 2015 and service entry in mid-2016. The stretch of the Falcon 7X will fly 6,450 nm at Mach 0.8.
Credit: Dassault Aviation
Credit: Dassault Aviation
Citation X+ Certified
The fastest civil aircraft, at Mach 0.935, Cessna’s upgraded Citation X+ was certificated and delivered to initial customers in June. Winglets, uprated engines, longer cabin and new avionics mark the X+.
Credit: Cessna Aircraft
Credit: Cessna Aircraft
PC-24 Rolled Out
Following the success of its single-turboprop PC-12, Pilatus rolled out its first business jet, the PC-24, in August. Powered by Williams FJ44s, the light jet is expected to fly early in 2015, for delivery in 2017.
Credit: Pilatus Aircraft
Credit: Pilatus Aircraft
Legacy 500 Certified
With Brazilian certification in August and U.S. approval in October, Embraer began deliveries of the all-new mid-size Legacy 500 in 2014. The fly-by-wire jet is powered by Honeywell HTF7500Es.
Credit: Embraer
Credit: Embraer
Challenger 650 Launched
Bombardier’s long-running large-cabin jet is getting a makeover with the October launch of the Challenger 650, featuring engine, cabin and cockpit upgrades. First flight is in 2015, with deliveries to begin in 2016.
Credit: Bombardier
Credit: Bombardier
G500/G600 Launched
Gulfstream launched the all-new G500 and G600 large-cabin jets in October, with Pratt & Whitney Canada’s PW800 engine ousting long-time supplier Rolls-Royce. The G500 is to fly in 2015 and enter service in 2018, followed in 2019 by the longer-range, longer-cabin G600.
Credit: Gulfstream Aerospace
Credit: Gulfstream Aerospace
Click to enlarge.
From Airbus assisting a supersonic business-jet developer to Gulfstream launching not one but two new large-cabin aircraft, here are some of the highlights of the business aviation market in 2014.
