GENEVA—Bombardier took to a large stage at its exhibit on the convention floor at EBACE to announce that it is moving forward with the long-awaited Global 8000, touted as the fastest and longest-range purpose-built business jet in the industry with the capabilities to fly 8,000 nm and a top speed of Mach 0.94.
An upgrade on the Global 7500, the Global 8000 will use the same fuselage as its predecessor, which it will eventually come to replace, according to Bombardier president and CEO Eric Martel.
The $71.5 million Global 8000 will be the fastest in its class, officials say, with entry-into-service in 2025. The upgrades will be available to Global 7500 customers beginning in 2025 at Bombardier service centers. Customers will receive more information on the program soon.
“The Global 7500 has done everything we promised and much more, and we’re not stopping here,” Martel told a large crowd that gathered at its exhibit for the announcement.
The city of Geneva is the perfect place to make the announcement, according to the CEO.
“This is the watch capital of the world,” Martel said. “They say that the city tells time in 1,000 different ways…. Our business jet helps people save time in thousands of ways, maybe even 8,000 ways.”
Flight testing is being performed with a Global 7500 flight test aircraft, FTV5, with the call sign “the Masterpiece.” The program is developing as planned, the company says.
In a demonstration and test flight to take the aircraft beyond its limits for certification, test pilots repeatedly broke the sound barrier with speeds of more than Mach 1.015, key to enabling the aircraft to reach its maximum Mach operating speed, the company says. The flights took place May 18, 2021, in Santa Maria, California. The aircraft was accompanied by a NASA F/A chase aircraft confirming the performance.
The supersonic flight was flown using sustainable aviation fuel, a first for a Transport Category aircraft, the company says.
“The Global 8000 will be the fastest civil airplane since the Concorde,” the company says. Flight testing is being performed at Bombardier’s flight test center in Wichita.
The Global 8000 will compete with Dassault’s Falcon 10X and Gulfstream’s G800. The Falcon 10X has a 7,500-nm range and a top speed of Mach 0.925, while Gulfstream’s G8000 has an 8,000-nm range at Mach 0.85 and a top speed of Mach 0.925.
The company announced the Global 8000 ultra-long-range jet at the same time as the Global 7500 but Bombardier officials said at the time that the OEM would wait until after the Global 7500 was in service to move forward with the Global 8000. The Global 7500 entered service in 2018 and has more than 100 deliveries to date, and Martel said he is often receiving inquiries about the Global 8000.
“Today, Bombardier solidifies once more its position as the leader in business aviation with the newest member of the industry-leading Global family,” Martel said. “The Global 8000 aircraft leverages the outstanding attributes of the Global 7500 aircraft, providing our customers with a flagship aircraft of a new era. We remain unmatched, which for an innovation-focused team like us is great.”
The aircraft will be able to fly nonstop from Dubai to Houston, Singapore to Los Angeles, London to Perth, Australia, and other destinations.
The Global 8000 will have a low cabin altitude of 2,900 ft. when flying at 41,000 ft. It also will be equipped with Bombardier’s Pur Air and advanced HEPA filter technology.
The aircraft will feature a four-zone cabin with personalized suites and incorporate features found in the Global 7500, including Soleil circadian lighting to help combat jet lag, Nuage seats with zero gravity positions, and, in the En Suite, a full-size bed and stand-up shower.
The cockpit will be equipped with the Bombardier Vision flight deck with fly-by-wire technology and a blend of avionics with “exceptional ergonomics and aesthetics for remarkable comfort and control.”
The introduction of the Global 8000 has been a carefully planned investment that strengthens Bombardier’s portfolio of business jets, the company says. Development costs have been included in previously disclosed figures. Further development costs will be included in Bombardier’s capital expenditures going forward, which are in line with its 2025 objectives, it says.
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