Top footballers are not only known for their skills on the pitch, but often for their very lavish lifestyles. With the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi having their own private jets, it might not be a surprise for others to follow. It seems that David Beckham might not be an exception to the rule and has invested in a private jet or is it as it seems?
The retired footballer and his wife, fashion designer and ex-spice girl, Victoria and their four children regularly post their luxury travels and are no stranger to the luxury of private jets. They have been seen on the Gulfstream 550 and 650 and the Global Express.
He has also traveled on a wide range of Challengers, Cessnas and Learjets. This year, they were seen on a luxury European vacation traveling by private jet and yacht. But now the power couple are said to have invested in their very own private jet.
Photo: Bombardier
The rumor is…
Media reports suggest that Beckham has invested $26.6 million in a Bombardier Challenger 350 that is said to be in storage in California. The business jet is produced by renowned Canadian aircraft manufacturer Bombardier and is part of the Challenger family of business jets, which also includes the Challenger 300, Challenger 604/605 and the Challenger 850.
Popular in its category
The Challenger 350 is known for its performance, capability and sophistication and has always been a strong seller. Indeed, in 2018, 60 units of the aircraft were delivered and Bombardier had 58% of the market share in the super mid-size jet category. It was developed from the earlier Challenger 300, with an upgraded, more luxurious cabin and updated cockpit design.
Photo: Airshare
About the aircraft
Although the newer Challenger 350 is almost identical in appearance to the 300, it has a strengthened wing with canted winglets and more wingspan, allowing for more fuel payload. FADEC push was added to the Honeywell HTF7350 engines, which gave more take-off thrust at 7323 pounds with the same durability and reliability of the previous HTF7000 engines. It can fly up to a ceiling of 41,000 feet.
The aircraft first flew in March 2013 and was certified in July the following year. The aircraft has a maximum range of 3,200 nautical miles or 5,926 kilometers, which would be ideal for the Beckham’s short hops across Europe or even traveling from London to Dubai. It can also fly from the east coast to the west coast of the USA. The Challenger 350 has a top cruise speed of Mach 0.80 or 459 knots (528 miles per hour or 850 kilometers per hour).
Challenger 350 – Specifications
|
NBAA 4 Pax IFR Range |
3,250 nm |
|
Max Cruise Speed (ktas) |
470 |
|
Long Range Cruise (ktas) |
460 |
|
Max Payload (lbs) |
3,400 |
|
Takeoff Distance (SL, ISA, MTOW) |
4,835 ft |
|
Service Ceiling (ft) |
45,000 |
|
Powerplant |
HTF7350 x2 |
|
Thrust per engine (lbf) |
7,323 |
|
Avionics |
Pro Line 21 |
|
Est Cost Per Hour |
$3,152 |
|
Passengers + Crew |
10+2 |
Challenger 350 – Dimensions
|
Cabin Length (excluding baggage) |
25 ft 2 in |
|
Cabin Width |
7 ft 2 in |
|
Cabin Height |
6 ft |
|
Aircraft Length |
68 ft 8 in |
|
Wingspan |
69 ft |
|
Internal Baggage |
106 cu ft |
(Data from Altivation)
Photo: Bombardier
Inside the cabin The Bombardier Challenger 350 can seat up to 12 passengers depending on the configuration, although most are configured with eight to ten seats. The berthable seats can be made into beds and some cabins have a three-seat divan seat instead. The belted lavatory can also be used as an extra seat if necessary. The cabin is spacious with a small equipped galley and an enclosed washroom/lavatory.
There is a large baggage compartment at the rear of the aircraft. The in-flight entertainment system and cabin management system are by Lufthansa Technik and the aircraft has Wi-Fi connectivity. The cabin has extra cabin soundproofing and a pocket door for privacy between the galley and cabin.
Photo: Bombardier
Cockpit technology
The aircraft has an advanced state-of-the-art flight deck with four large format displays. The avionics suite is the Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 with a synthetic vision system (SVS) for enhanced situational awareness. The avionics suite incorporates an enhanced navigation system, real-time weather and traffic information and a fully integrated autothrottle, which helps the aircraft to maintain a consistent speed and reduces pilot workload.
Other enhancements can include the Collins Aerospace Head-Up Display (HUD) and the enhanced vision system (EVS). There is also the Engine Indicating Crew Alerting System (EICAS), a maintenance diagnostic computer, the Ground Proximity Warning System (GPWS), the Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) and an Emergency Locater Transmitter (ELT).
Improvements on the original
By 2020, over 350 Challenger 350 had been built and in 2021, Bombardier launched the new Challenger 3500, an improved version of the Challenger 350. Improvements included an upgraded cabin and an improved autothrottle. The new aircraft’s price was $27.2 million. A pre-owned Challenger 350 can be bought from $11.5 million to $19 million, depending on the year of the model.
There is no doubt that David Beckham and family love to travel by private jet, but reports that he has bought a private jet have not been confirmed. He and his family have traveled on many types of private jets in the last few years, most of which have been chartered.