Bombardier beats drum for Mach 0.95 Global 8000

Bombardier claims the Global 8000 is the fastest business jet in history. (Photocredit: Bombardier).

You could hear the ominous African drumming from the Bombardier press conference at NBAA-BACE before you walked in the room.

Once inside you were met with not one, not three, but four dancing zebras that Bombardier had borrowed from Cirque du Soleil (just to be clear these were dancers wearing zebra catsuits). After a while, the drumming became quite hypnotic. But these were professionals. Occasionally there would be a little cymbal or an African rainstick to make sure that the suited audience was not drifting off. 

Gradually the dazzle of zebras (that is the correct collective noun) moved to the stage. One balanced impressively by one hand on a block on a stick. The drum beat got louder. Faster. Everyone raised their mobile phones. The audience clapped and a lectern was added to the stage. 

Éric Martel, president and CEO of Bombardier leapt onto the stage to thank Cirque du Soleil (pronouncing it perfectly) before saying: “I genuinely believe, today marks a turning point in how we travel the world.” He also thanked GE for certifying the Passport engine for the Global 8000.

Martel’s big announcement was that the new maximum operating speed for the Global 8000 is Mach 0.95. Up from Mach 0.94. Bombardier says that this makes it the fastest business jet in history.

While few aircraft will fly at full speed, Bombardier says that the extra speed means that it can now achieve a long-range cruise at Mach 0.92. Flying from New York to London in a Global 8000 would be about 7% faster than in a Global 7500. 

“The Global 8000 is the full package, you get the range, the speed, the cabin with no compromise,” said Martel. 

There was then a quick question and answer session involving Stephen McCullough, senior vice president, Engineering and Product Development and Mark Masluch, head of Communications. Going up Mach 0.1 may not sound like a lot but McCullough’s team has been working hard on it. He said they went back into wind tunnel testing two years ago. To get this approval, they have to demonstrate that the aircraft could theoretically operate above Mach 1. McCullough said that the Global 8000 is on track to be certified in 2025.

Bombardier has a big announcement at the static later today. Cirque du Soleil will be there again, but this time with trampolines and stilt-walkers. You would not want to miss that.