By Brent Bundy | May 24, 2022 Estimated reading time 3 minutes, 28 seconds.
Attendees to EBACE 2022 in Geneva, Switzerland, were treated to a surprise announcement by Bombardier, as president and CEO Éric Martel unveiled the Global 8000 jet via video to an excited, full-capacity crowd at the company’s booth. Martel stated, “Customers asked if we would pursue the Global 8000 given that the Global 7500 was performing so well. Today, we are happy to give you the answer!”
The Global 8000 was first envisioned over a decade ago, but was shelved in favor of the development of the 7,700-nautical-mile Global 7500. However, with Gulfstream upping the ante by announcing the G800 last fall, Bombardier clearly had to respond. Unlike the mostly-new G800, the Global 8000 is a performance-enhanced Global 7500. In fact, current 7500 owners will be able to retro fit their models to the 8000’s specs, once it is certified. At that time, the 7500 will be phased out, as well. With claims of an 8,000-nm range, a top speed of Mach 0.94, and a true four-zone cabin, the 8000 is set to lead the industry.
In addition to telling the crowd about the new aircraft and its impressive performance, Martel shared another first-seen video. Filmed in May 2021, a Global 7500 flight test vehicle became the first Transport Category airplane to exceed the speed of sound, recording Mach 1.015. The feat was confirmed by a NASA F/A-18 chase plane. That Maximum Mach Operating speed (MMO) of Mach 0.94 also makes the Global 8000 the fastest business jet in the world and the fastest in civil aviation since the Concorde.
Other notable particulars are the 2,900-foot cabin pressure altitude at 41,000 ft, Bombardier’s Pũr Air and HEPA filtration system, circadian lighting, Nuage “zero gravity” seats, and the renowned Vision flight deck.
“Today, Bombardier solidifies once more its position as the leader in business aviation with the newest member of the industry-leading Global family,” said Martel. “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.”
Bombardier expects to have the Global 8000 in the hands of customers in 2025 at a price of $78 million.
