Global 8000, the fastest passenger jet in the world, is expected to enter service in 2025.
Officially unveiled on Monday, the in-development aircraft by Canadian business jet manufacturer Bombardier is described as “the world’s fastest and longest-range purpose-built business jet.” It has a capacity of up to 19 passengers, a range of 8,000 nautical miles (14,800 kilometers), and a top speed of Mach 0.94.
“Today, Bombardier solidifies once more its position as the leader in business aviation with the newest member of the industry-leading Global family,” said Éric Martel, Bombardier’s President and Chief Executive Officer, in a statement. “The Global 8000 aircraft leverages the outstanding attributes of the Global 7500 aircraft, providing our customers with a flagship aircraft of a new era. We remain unmatched, which for an innovation-focused team like us, is great.”
Global 8000 capabilities and features
The aviation community was offered a peek at the notable performance capabilities of Global 8000 during a demonstration flight with a Global 7500 flight test vehicle last May.
Accompanied by a NASA F/A-18 chase plane, the test vehicle achieved speeds in excess of Mach 1.015, a key step in enabling a maximum Mach operating speed (MMO) of M0.94 for Global 8000, making the latter the fastest business jet in the world and the fastest in civil aviation since the Concorde retired in 2003.
Bombardier boasts that Global 8000 also features the healthiest cabin in the industry, with the lowest cabin altitude in its class of 2,900 feet when flying at 41,000 ft. The new passenger jet is also equipped with Bombardier’s Pũr Air and advanced HEPA filter technology for the cleanest cabin air and the fastest fresh air replacement.
To deliver ultimate comfort for passengers, Global 8000 has four personalized suites ergonomically designed to maximize space and freedom of movement. The jet also features Soleil circadian lighting system to help combat jet lag, and innovative Nuage seats with the first-ever zero gravity position to keep passengers revitalized and refreshed during the entire flight.
Global 8000 also includes a Principal Suite with a full-size bed and a stand-up shower in the En-suite. To provide an unrivaled cabin experience, the aircraft offers revolutionary cabin entertainment control and connectivity, featuring intuitive nice Touch CMS and OLED touch dial, Bombardier’s l’Opéra directional audio sound system, and 4K monitor.
In the cockpit, Global 8000 features the renowned Bombardier Vision flight deck with its next-generation fly-by-wire technology and blend of cutting-edge avionics with exceptional ergonomics and aesthetics for remarkable comfort and control.
Lastly, with Global 8000’s exceptional class-leading range and short-field performance, more exclusive city pairs are now achievable, including Dubai-Houston, Singapore-Los Angeles, London-Perth, and many others.
At the end of the press release, Bombardier noted Global 7500 operators will be able to retrofit their aircraft to experience the enhancements on Global 8000 when the latter enters into service in 2025.
The race to resume supersonic passenger flights
The introduction of Global 8000 is just one of the recent developments in the race to resume supersonic passenger flights after Concorde’s retirement.
As reported by CNN, United Airlines announced last year that it could be offering supersonic routes as early as 2029 after striking a deal to buy 15 supersonic jets.
Colorado-based airliner Boom Supersonic, meanwhile, is in the process of completing ground testing on X-B1, the prototype aircraft for its Overture jet that is designed to seat between 65 and 88 people. With Mach-2.2 speeds, Overture aims to fly on over 500 mainly transoceanic routes.
Unfortunately, aviation startup Aerion announced that it is shutting down due to financial challenges, months after revealing plans for a Mach 4+ commercial airliner called Aerion AS3 in 2021.