Bombardier’s Global 8000 completes inaugural flight

Bombardier’s first production Global 8000 aircraft has successfully completed its inaugural flight.

The aircraft took off last Friday (May 16th) from Bombardier’s Aircraft Assembly Centre in Mississauga, Ontario, piloted by Sandro Novelli with the assistance of co-pilot Charlie Honey and flight engineer Bhargav Bhavsar. 

All flight controls were used on the aircraft during the test, and the systems and aircraft performed as expected, according to the Canadian aircraft maker. Known as the Global 8000 flight test vehicle (FTV), the aircraft will soon travel to Bombardier’s Laurent Beaudoin Completion Centre in Montreal where interior completions will take place ahead of entry-into-service, forecasted for later this year. 

“This first production flight marks yet another successful milestone for Bombardier’s Global 8000 programme and we are very pleased with how the aircraft performed on its maiden journey,” said Stephen McCullough, senior vice president, Engineering and Product Development, Bombardier. 

The new Global 8000 business jet is the evolution of the Global 7500, which has amassed more than 250,000 flying hours since it entered service in 2018. The Global 8000 has the fastest speed of any civil aircraft since Concorde at Mach 0.94. It also boasts a first ever ultra-high cruise speed of Mach 0.92, and it can do that for 4,200nm. Alternatively it has a max range of 8,000nm at normal cruise speed. 

“This is a very special accomplishment for our Global 8000 aircraft, the latest highlight for this transformational business jet,” said David Murray, executive vice president, Manufacturing, IT and Bombardier Operational Excellence System. “This first flight is a reflection of the dedication and high skill level of our engineering, production and flight teams to follow through and execute with precision and mastery at all stages of the manufacturing and flight-testing process.”