Bombardier’s Global 8000 took another step toward certification last weekend after the first production aircraft completed its successful inaugural flight. The world’s fastest civilian aircraft since the Concorde, the new plane replaces the Global 7500. The first production 8000 took off from Bombardier’s Aircraft Assembly Centre in Mississauga, Ontario, executing a series of tests before landing. The final aircraft will have a top speed of Mach 0.94 (it crossed the supersonic threshold into Mach 1.105 during a controlled dive during the first tests in 2021) and an 8,000-nautical-mile range.

“Having this first production aircraft take to the skies is another important step in this journey that will redefine the business aviation landscape,” Stephen McCullough, Bombardier’s senior vice president of engineering and product development, said in a statement.

Bombardier says its new flagship should be certified and delivered to its first owner before the end of 2025. The next step is flying to the Laurent Beaudoin Completion Center in Montreal, where Bombardier is headquartered, to complete the interior.

Pilot Sandro Novelli, co-pilot Charlie Honey, and flight engineer Bhargav Bhavsar comprised the flight crew. The company said that all test controls were used and everything performed as expected.

The Global 7500, which entered service in 2018, has more than 250,000 total flying hours among 200 deliveries. It recently broke its 100^th speed record between San Luis Obispo, California, and London’s Biggin Hill airport. Possible city pairs for the Global 8000 include Dubai to Houston, Singapore to Los Angeles, and London to Perth. Bombardier says the Global 8000’s range at this ultra-high cruise speed of Mach 0.92 will be up to 4,200 nautical miles.

The Global 8000 is close to the 7500, but it also has modifications that include space in its wings where it can store more fuel reserves for increased range. Also, Bombardier’s engineers tweaked the engine software on the General Electric Passport engines to assist in the range targets and to also increase the top speed by 33 knots, or 38 mph. Its maximum cruising altitude will remain the same as the Global 7500 at 51,000 feet.

Bombardier claims the 8000 will have the lowest cabin pressurisation of any business jet, 2,900 feet at a 41,000-foot cruising altitude. The cabin also promises to be the largest in its class, with four customisable living zones that could include a rear master suite with a bed and a stand-up shower.

The Global 8000 is just one of the new ultra-long-range business jets that have either entered service or will be entering service in the next few years. Gulfstream had the first customer deliveries of its flagship G700 in April 2024, and the longer-range G800 could enter service in the next few weeks after receiving FAA and EASA approvals. The G800 will replace the G650. It claims to have business aviation’s longest range of 8,200 nautical miles. The Dassault Falcon 6X long-range jet entered service in 2024, while its larger sibling, 10X, should enter service in 2027 after supply-chain issues among its engine suppliers forced its delays for two years.

The entry of all these competitive new aircraft provides a boon for the growing ultra-long-range segment for the next five years.

Bombardier

This story was previously published on Robb Report USA.