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Bombardier Aviation, a major player in the private jet industry, has expanded its influence through strategic acquisitions and innovative aircraft development. Established as a business segment in 1989 after acquiring Canadair and Short Brothers, Bombardier further solidified its presence by acquiring Learjet and de Havilland Aircraft of Canada. This foundation paved the way for Bombardier's growth in the private aviation sector.
The company's acquisition of Canadair was pivotal, as it inherited the production of the Challenger 600 series. This popular heavy business jet, designed with Bill Lear, became one of the most successful jets in its class. However, Bombardier sought to create a larger jet capable of longer flights than the Challenger 600, leading to the development of the Bombardier Global Express series.
The first model in this series, introduced in 1999, marked Bombardier's entry into the ultra-long-range business jet market. "The Global Express was a unique business jet that was meant to compete with other ultra-long-range business jets manufactured by Gulfstream and later Dassault Aviation." The aircraft features a supercritical wing design and powerful BMW-Rolls-Royce BR710 engines.
