EBACE: Bombardier launches new Challenger jet at show

"The Challenger 350 jet will take our existing Challenger family to new heights," said Steve Ridolfi, president of Bombardier Business Aircraft.
 

"This aircraft further enhances our leading business aircraft portfolio and will provide our customers with redefined design standards. Passengers will experience new comfort levels as they relax in the completely new cabin, enjoy a purpose-built and intuitive cabin management system and increase their efficiency with superior performance, and all at best-in-class operating costs. There is simply no substitute for a Challenger jet."
 

"Designed to meet the ever growing needs of our customers, this new aircraft reflects the feedback received from our existing Challenger customers. Based on our owners and operators' needs, we have taken the world's bestselling super midsize jet and further increased its capability to better meet the growing requirements of our ever expanding Challenger customer base worldwide," Ridolfi said.
 

The 10-seat business jet will be produced alongside the ten-year old Challenger 300 - the best selling super midsize type on the market with deliveries fast approaching 400. Like its established stablemate the Challenger 350 will be pitched against Dassault’s recently certificated Falcon 2000S, Gulfstream’s G280 and the under development Cessna Citation Longitude when it enters service in 2014.
 

Jordan Hansell, NetJets chairman and chief executive had driven the changes to this upgraded version of the -300. Speaking at EBACE today, he said: "The inflight experience is exceptional and unlike any other. The aircraft has an exceptionally quiet cabin, allowing both serenity and conversation, soft, hand-crafted leathers, meticulously designed wood finishes, an in-flight entertainment system offering choices for every taste, and a single-service beverage maker, all designed specifically by NetJets."

The Berkshire Hathaway-owned company placed a firm order in June last year for 75 of the twin jets as part of a $7.3 billion order for up to 275 “Challenger series” aircraft which will be customised in its 'Signature Series' design.
 

"The cabin's design was all in an effort to allow our customers to relax and enjoy their flight whether for work or family. This state-of-the-art jet's cabin, designed in partnership with Bombardier Aerospace, will provide our discerning customers the best flight experience, along with the safety and reliability they expect from the worldwide leader in private aviation," Hansell said.
 

The new Challenger will offer increased performance from the new twin Honeywell HTF7350 engines, each producing 7,323 lbf (32.57 kN) of thrust and reduced emissions(i), increased aerodynamic efficiency with its new canted winglets and will fly eight passengers 3,200 nm (5,926 km)(i). The Challenger 350 jet boasts an impressive direct climb to 43,000 ft (13,106 m)(i).
 

This is the latest engine in Honeywell’s successful HTF7000 series which has now passed more than 1.5 million flight hours. Honeywell is also supplying the 36-150 APU as well as avionics including the enhanced ground proximity warning system (EGPWS).
 

The Challenger 350 aircraft's cockpit will feature Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 Advanced. Features of the new avionics include, among others, synthetic vision, dual inertial reference systems, a completely paperless cockpit and Multiscan Weather Radar. The new avionics will provide pilots with increased situational awareness and reduced pilot workload.
 

The interior of the new Challenger also demonstrates improvements. With a flat floor and the widest cabin in its class, the Challenger 350 jet features an entirely new interior, that lets even more natural light into the cabin with larger windows. It will also feature Lufthansa Technik's next generation ‘Nice’ HD cabin management system, complemented by contemporary seat design, a new modular galley and a novel sideledge featuring an authentic metal trim - a first in business aviation cabin interior design.

Bombardier said that Challenger 350 aircraft customers will be able to count on a full range of 24/7 support around the world. In preparation for a smooth entry-into-service, it is also reconfiguring a flight training device and Level D full-flight simulator at its aircraft training centre in Dallas, Texas.