PREVIEW

The world’s longest range business jet has made its inaugural flight.

The Bombardier Global 8000 aircraft took off from Bombadier’s Aircraft Assembly Centre in Mississauga, Ontario and performed a series of tests before returning safely to the runway.

Piloted by Sandro Novelli, with co-pilot Charlie Honey and flight engineer Bhargav Bhavsar on board, the aircraft operated as expected, with all flight control systems tested and verified.

The Global 8000 is the successor to the Global 7500 and has a maximum range of 8,000 nautical miles. It is capable of connecting virtually any two cities on Earth non-stop — including routes such as London to Perth, Dubai to Houston, and Singapore to Los Angeles.

Bombardier says the Global 8000 will also be the fastest civil aircraft in the skies since Concorde, with a top speed of Mach 0.94. In earlier testing, a prototype even briefly surpassed the speed of sound, reaching Mach 1.105 in a controlled dive.

“This first production flight marks yet another successful milestone for Bombardier’s Global 8000 programme,” said Stephen McCullough, the firm’s Senior Vice President of Engineering and Product Development. “This aircraft will redefine the business aviation landscape.”

The Global 8000 builds on the legacy of the Global 7500, which entered service in 2018 and has since notched over 250,000 flying hours across more than 200 aircraft delivered.

It has also racked up an impressive list of performance records, including a recent speed milestone between San Luis Obispo in California and London’s Biggin Hill Airport.

Though the Global 8000 shares many of the 7500’s design features, it includes important upgrades. Engineers have increased fuel capacity by reconfiguring the wing structure and enhanced the General Electric Passport engines with updated software, improving both range and top speed. The aircraft’s maximum cruising altitude remains 51,000 feet.

Following this initial flight, the aircraft will head to Bombardier’s Laurent Beaudoin Completion Centre in Montreal, where it will undergo interior outfitting before being delivered to its first customer. The jet will feature four spacious cabin zones, a dedicated crew rest area, and what Bombardier touts as the lowest cabin altitude and healthiest cabin environment in its class.

“This is a very special accomplishment,” said David Murray, Executive Vice President of Manufacturing at Bombardier. “It reflects the exceptional skill and commitment of our entire team.”

With its blend of range, speed, comfort and performance, the Global 8000 is positioning itself as a flagship for a new era of business aviation — one that may soon see corporate flyers travel farther, faster and in greater comfort than ever before.