Photos: Bombardier's Learjet Site in Wichita Busy with Flight Testing, Other Activities

Molly McMillin

Tonya Sudduth and David Douglas of Bombardier Wichita

Molly McMillin

Tonya Sudduth, general manager of Learjet programs and Bombardier’s Wichita site leader, and David Douglas, director of customer account management and production flight test pilots, stand by a Learjet 75 before a demonstration flight on a recent afternoon. Bombardier is committed to Learjet products, Sudduth said.

Discussing Learjet 75 pocket doors

Molly McMillin

David Douglas, director of customer account management and production flight test pilots, shows off some of the features inside the Learjet 75, including new pocket doors, which increase privacy and reduce noise.

Bombardier Wichita pilots Jeff Triphahn and Randy Cox

Molly McMillin

Pilots Jeff Triphahn and Randy Cox demonstrate the features of the Learjet 75 on a recent afternoon.

Steep turn in a Learjet 75

Molly McMillin

Pilots of a Learjet 75 demonstrate a steep turn over the Kansas countryside.

Tom Bisges, Bombardier Flight Test Center vice president of flight test

Molly McMillin

Tom Bisges, Bombardier Flight Test Center vice president of flight test. The Wichita flight test center tests all Bombardier aircraft. The Global 7000 is expected to arrive later this year for testing.

Bombardier C Series 100

Molly McMillin

In June, a Swiss airline flight of a C Series 100 prototype took the first passenger flight from Dublin to Zurich with about 100 passengers on board, including airline CEOs. The Swiss airline’s first CS100 commercial flight with paying customers is scheduled for July 15. In the meantime, the aircraft is at the Bombardier Flight Test Center in Wichita.

Swiss C Series 100

Molly McMillin

A Swiss airline CS100 for the Swiss airlines inside a hangar at Wichita’s Bombardier Flight Test Center.

Bombardier C Series windows

Molly McMillin

A C Series airliner inside a Bombardier hangar in Wichita. The windows of C Series aircraft are larger than those on Boeing 737 or the Airbus A320, officials said.

Wichita’s Learjet facility may best be known for assembly of Learjet products. What many may not realize is that the site, which includes 1.3 million sq. ft. of space, incorporates a busy Bombardier Flight Test Center, special missions group and a recently expanded service center. Activity is brisk. Here’s a look inside.

Read the related article: Wichita's Learjet Site Busy with Flight Testing, Other Activities.

Molly McMillin

Molly McMillin, a 25-year aviation journalist, is editor-in-chief of The Weekly of Business Aviation, a market intelligence report of the Aviation Week Intelligence Network.

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