To understand why Bombardier’s new business jet, the Global 8000 aircraft, is so game-changing, one must journey back to the triumphs of its predecessor, business aviation’s pioneering flagship, the Global 7500 aircraft. Since its inaugural flight in 2016, the Global 7500 jet has been rewriting the playbook of business aviation. It not only pushed its range to an astounding 7,700 nautical miles (nm) but also reshaped safety and performance standards by reducing takeoff and landing distances. The Global 7500 aircraft also hinted at the potential for a faster, longer-range successor without compromising cabin space and comfort. Enter the Global 8000 aircraft, unveiled with an industry-leading range of 8,000 nm and a spacious, lavish cabin with four separate living areas. Bombardier set an audacious goal for the aircraft – to achieve a maximum speed of Mach 0.94 (1,000 km/h), making it the fastest business jet ever conceived. But reaching this speed required breaking barriers; in the certification process, Bombardier needed to breach at least Mach 1.01 in flight testing. In essence, breaking the sound barrier.
Project Sunrise
In May 2021, Bombardier’s quest for supersonic flight, codenamed ‘Project Sunrise,’ unfolded in utmost secrecy in Santa Maria, California. Accompanied by a NASA-operated Boeing F-18 fighter plane, the Global 8000 flight test vehicle repeatedly exceeded the sound barrier, achieving speeds in excess of Mach 1.015, making it the fastest non-military plane since Concorde. Bombardier test pilots Jeff Karnes and Ed Grabman became the fastest men in business aviation. In another feat, it also became the first Transport Category aeroplane to fly supersonic with sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), a revolutionary innovation for the industry. However, staying ahead of the competition meant that Project Sunrise wasn’t shared with the world until the Global 8000 business jet was officially launched almost exactly a year later.
Set for initial deliveries in 2025, the Global 8000 aircraft’s unprecedented range unlocks the potential for record city pairings like Dubai to Houston, London to Perth, and Singapore to Los Angeles, ushering in a new era for business jets. With its best-in-class short-field performance, the Global 8000 aircraft is also poised to conquer even the most challenging airports, including London City and Gstaad’s Saanen airfield.
Smooth Flĕx Wing
While pushing boundaries in speed and range is paramount, the pursuit of going further and faster doesn’t compromise the ride. Benefitting from the revolutionary Smooth Flĕx Wing engineered exclusively for Bombardier’s Global line of business jets, the Global 8000 aircraft provides the smoothest flight in business aviation and alleviates the stress of turbulence.
In fact, with a sleek, streamlined design, the flexible Smooth Flĕx Wing offers a high wing loading, resulting in significantly reduced cabin vibration. The engineering marvel has already helped break records, covering routes like Los Angeles to New York in under 4 hours on the Global 7500 aircraft, proving that Bombardier’s Global jets are the epitome of speed, range and adaptability in conquering diverse conditions.
As Bombardier’s Global 8000 aircraft spearheads a revolution in business travel, it stands as a testament to the unyielding spirit of innovation within the company. The journey from the first groundbreaking Global 7500 aircraft unveiled in 2018 to the audacious Global 8000 flagship mirrors Bombardier’s perpetual quest for pushing boundaries, reaching new speeds and exploring unprecedented possibilities – a passion shared by the people who develop these impressive aircraft and those who fly them.