Summary
- Bombardier’s Global 8000 can break the sound barrier occasionally, showcasing immense speed potential.
- Capable of supersonic flight, the Global 8000 would be the first since Concorde.
- Featuring an impressive range and cabin amenities, the Global 8000 will surpass other business jets.
The world’s fastest civilian aircraft since the Concorde is expected to enter service in 2025. Although its normal cruise speed sits at Mach .94, the Bombardier Global 8000 is expected to be capable of breaking the sound barrier, per testing conducted in May 2021.
This incredibly speedy business jet will become Bombardier’s new flagship product, touting the fastest speed, longest range, and smoothest ride available from the manufacturer.
Breaking the sound barrier
The Global 8000 will not regularly fly at supersonic speeds, but it will be capable of such a feat. Bombardier demonstrated speeds of more than Mach 1.015 in May 2021, when a test crew piloting a modified Global 7500 – serving as a test platform for the upcoming Global 8000 – put the aircraft into a nose-down attitude during testing and proceeded to break the sound barrier.
Photo: Bombardier
Following the 2021 test flight, Bombardier Aerospace stated,
“On May 18, 2021 Bombardier’s FTV5, callsign “The Masterpiece”, became the first business jet to break the sound barrier when it went supersonic in repeated test flights with a NASA F-18 chase plane observing and recording this extraordinary feat. The tests were conducted by Bombardier’s Flight Test team as part of the development of the Global 8000 business jet, which is the fastest civil aircraft since the Concorde with a top speed of Mach 0.94.”
Assuming the fully-certified version is also capable of breaking the sound barrier, this will make the Global 8000 the first civil aircraft with such a capability since the Concorde was finally retired in 2003. This appears to be very likely the case because the G8000 is so similar to the modified G7500 that went supersonic that, per a service bulletin, Global 7500 owners will be able to convert their aircraft into Global 8000 models once the new aircraft enters service.
In addition to being the first civil aircraft produced since Concorde to break the sound barrier, and the fastest purpose-built business jet ever built, the Global 8000 will also be the first Transport Category aircraft powered by sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to fly at supersonic speeds.
Other specs
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Cockpit crew |
Two |
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Max. passengers |
19 |
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Length |
111 ft (34 m) |
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Wingspan |
104 ft (32 m) |
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Height |
27 ft (8.2 m) |
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Cabin length |
54 ft 5 in (16.59 m) |
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Cabin section |
8 ft (2.4 m) width 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) height |
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Engines |
General Electric Passport |
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Thrust |
18,920 lbf (84.2 kN) |
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MMo |
Mach 0.94 (622 kn; 1,150 km/h) |
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Cruise |
Mach 0.85 (562 kn; 1,040 km/h) Mach 0.92 (609 kn; 1,130 km/h) Max. |
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Range |
8,000 NM (15,000 km) |
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Takeoff |
5,760 ft (1,760 m) |
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Landing |
2,220 ft (680 m) |
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Ceiling |
51,000 ft (16,000 m) (Initial cruise: 43,000 ft (13,000 m)) |
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Besides its speed, the Global 8000 brings other impressive performance figures to the table. It will offer a range of 8,000 nautical miles, enabling it to carry passengers on ultra-long-range routes like Dubai to Houston or London to Perth. In addition, it is expected to be capable of carrying out flights on transcontinental routes at cruise speeds of up to Mach 0.92.
Photo: Bombardier
The President and Chief Executive Officer of Bombardier, Eric Martel, expressed his excitement about the anticipated positioning of the Global 8000 aircraft when it enters service, by commenting,
“Today, Bombardier solidifies once more its position as the leader in business aviation with the newest member of the industry-leading Global family. 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.”
The plane is powered by GE Passport engines that produce 18,920 lbf of thrust. It will be able to takeoff in 5,760 feet and land in 2,220 ft, enabling the aircraft to utilize many relatively small airports around the world. The Global 8000 will have a maximum operating altitude of 51,000 feet, with an initial cruise altitude of 43,000 feet.
The Global 8000 cabin
The Global 8000 will feature a four-zone cabin that boasts the industry’s lowest cabin pressure altitude at 2,900 feet. This will help the up to 19 individuals onboard feel like they are at a lower altitude than many other aircraft.
Photo: Bombardier
Bombardier also claims that its cabin filtration system will provide the cleanest cabin air on the market, capturing up to 99.99% of particles, including bacteria, viruses, and allergens. The cabin will also feature daylight simulation lighting to help adjust passengers’ circadian rhythm to combat jet lag.
The four-zone cabin can be configured to include a variety of amenities and features, including a conference room, entertainment suite, bedroom, and private lavatory with a stand-up shower.