Key facts
- Bombardier's Global 8000, the fastest civil aircraft since Concorde, costs at least $78 million.
- The Global 8000 achieved a record flight time from Los Angeles to Farnborough in 8 hours and 46 minutes.
- Bombardier CEO Éric Martel believes supersonic flight is a niche market with high certification costs.
- Chief engineer Stephen McCullough stated the Global 8000 offers sufficient speed without supersonic complications.
- The Global 8000 has a range of 8,000 nautical miles, allowing for 17-hour non-stop flights.
Bombardier's new Global 8000 private jet, capable of near-supersonic speeds, is not a precursor to the company entering the supersonic passenger jet market, according to CEO Éric Martel. Martel stated that supersonic flight would be "very expensive for certification" and cater to a "niche" market, suggesting it is not a worthwhile pursuit for the company.
The Global 8000, which entered service in December and made its debut at the Farnborough Airshow, has set speed records, including a flight from Los Angeles to Farnborough in 8 hours and 46 minutes. While its top speed is Mach 0.95, falling just short of the sound barrier, chief engineer Stephen McCullough explained that achieving supersonic speeds introduces significant engineering challenges, such as increased drag, friction, and heat, requiring substantial thrust and complex designs like Concorde's delta-wing and droop nose.
McCullough noted that the Global 8000 provides a speed advantage without these complications, offering a range of 8,000 nautical miles and 17 hours of non-stop flight. He also pointed out that while companies like Boom Supersonic are attempting to develop supersonic airliners, the economic feasibility and compromises involved in such speeds remain significant hurdles. Boom Supersonic, for instance, has faced challenges, including developing its own engines after manufacturers declined to assist, and its test aircraft recently broke the sound barrier without an audible sonic boom.