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News & Media Bombardier notes Global 5500, 6500 flight test progress

Bombardier notes Global 5500, 6500 flight test progress

October 15, 2018 By Thomas A. Horne

Bombardier said that its Global 5500 and Global 6500 flight test program is 70 percent complete. The company expects these airplanes to enter service at the end of 2019.

Image courtesy of Bombardier Inc.

The jets have newly optimized wing designs, according to Bombardier.

The Global 5500 uses the 15,125-pounds-thrust Rolls-Royce Pearl engines and a 0.90 Mach maximum speed, a 5,700-nautical-mile maximum range, and newly designed “Nuage” cabin seats that have floating bases, tilting headrests, and a “tilt link” system for use as a recliner. The Global 6500 also uses the Pearl engines and has a 6,600-nm maximum range.

The Global 5500 and 6500 are follow-on designs to the earlier Global 5000 and 6000 large-cabin, ultra-long-range jets, and were a surprise introduction to the public only this past May at the European Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition.

Thomas A. Horne
Thomas A. Horne
Contributor
Tom Horne worked at AOPA from the early 1980s until he retired from his role as AOPA Pilot editor at large and Turbine Pilot editor in 2023. He began flying in 1975 and has an airline transport pilot and flight instructor certificates. He’s flown everything from ultralights to Gulfstreams and ferried numerous piston airplanes across the Atlantic.
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Topics: Jet, National Business Aviation Association

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