Few aircraft projects raise as much expectation as the Bombardier Global 8000 because what will be the fastest civil aircraft in the world since the Concorde has some characteristics that leave people open-mouthed and others, such as the promise of ending jet lag, that arouse some skepticism.
And furthermore, it is rigorously complying with its roadmap to go from becoming an ambitious prototype in testing to being a certified commercial reality: a few days ago it completed its international certification process and can now operate without restrictions in the European sky.
He Bombardier Global 8000 breaks records. In its test flights, one of its aircraft reached a speed of Mach 0.941, even exceeding Mach 1.0 (Mach. 1.015) in a dive, making it the first aircraft within its commercial people transportation category to break the sound barrier in a controlled and sustainable manner. And also, in the fastest civil jet in active service. However, its certified maximum operational cruising speed is Mach 0.95, exceeding its own expectations and leaving behind others such as the Gulfstream G700 or the Dassault Falcon 10X.
This is possible thanks to its GE Passport engines and its aerodynamics. Its propulsion system is optimized for a high bypass ratio and thermal efficiency, enabling long flights. Its wings have a critical Smooth Flĕx Wing design: it is a variable profile structure that optimizes lift both when flying at low speed and at cruising speed. This minimizes resistance and improves stability against turbulence.
With intercontinental capacity. Precisely its surname 8000 comes from its autonomy: it is capable of flying 8,000 nautical miles, about 15,000 kilometers. Again, its engines and design are largely to blame. If we take into account its range and speed, in practice it means that it is practically capable of linking two cities in the world without the need for stopovers. It is no longer that it can connect New York with Hong Kong, it is that compared to the traditional commercial flight it could save almost two hours.
Goodbye to damn jet lag? As if flying from one end of the planet to another non-stop and in less time was not enough, the Bombardier Global 8000 promises to minimize jet lag through pressurization and systems engineering. Let’s get one thing straight: jet lag is not only lack of sleep and jet lag, it is also an effect of air pressure.
While a standard commercial airliner maintains cabin pressure equivalent to 6,000 – 8,000 feet, the Global 8000 maintains it at only 2,900 feet (about 880 meters) even when flying 41,000 feet. This means more oxygen in the blood of people traveling, so fatigue is reduced. Likewise, it integrates the Soleil System of circadian LED lighting based on the dynamic position of the sun depending on the destination.
A most exclusive aircraft. This aircraft does not skimp on details to optimize flight or comfort. Thus, it has a HEPA filtration system that renews the cabin air in less than 90 seconds, it has the a priori very comfortable Nuage seats patented by Bombardier with zero gravity position, four private suites with king-size beds and there is no shortage of shower on board.
Beyond its innovations and luxuries, it has something essential from a practicality point of view: its design allows it to operate in small airports and even on wet and bad runways, so it can land or take off in up to 2,050 airports. According to Bombardier, this marks the difference with the competition.
The interior of one of its exclusive suites
ready to fly. As we mentioned in the intro, the Bombardier Global 8000 already has everything to fly. After the envelope validation phase that took place between 2021 and 2023 where the company verified that elements such as the wing and the stabilizers supported transonic shock waves without losing structural integrity, they moved on to the testing and certification phase.
First Transport Canada, then the American FAA and a couple of weeks ago, the European one, which opens the doors to accepting deliveries in the United States and Europe. However, the first customers of the launch have already begun to receive their units from 2025. By the way, those who own the previous model, the Global 7500, can upgrade it to the new Global 8000.
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Cover and images | Bombardier
