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Bombardier Aviation's journey from snowmobiles to leading business jets

Bombardier Aviation's journey from snowmobiles to leading business jets
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Bombardier Aviation has established itself as a prominent player in the business jet manufacturing industry. The company, originally founded in 1942 as a snowmobile manufacturer, expanded its operations over the years to include public transport vehicles and trains. In the 1980s, Bombardier acquired Canadair, known for the Canadair Regional Jet (CRJ) and Challenger 600 series, which marked its entry into aviation.

In subsequent years, Bombardier also acquired Short Brothers and Learjet, further strengthening its position in private aviation. The company continued producing commercial aircraft like the Dash 8 Series 400 and ventured into new projects such as the CSeries regional jet, later taken over by Airbus and renamed A220.

The Global series of business jets is one of Bombardier's most notable achievements. After acquiring Canadair in 1986, Bombardier sought to expand its business jet offerings with larger aircraft capable of longer flights than the Challenger 600. This led to partnerships with engineering teams from Canadair, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, and BMW Rolls-Royce.

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The Global Express program was launched in the early 1990s using advanced design techniques like computer-aided design (CAD) software for kinematics and computational fluid dynamics for aerodynamics. Unveiled at the National Business Aviation Association convention in October 1991, it entered service as the Bombardier Global Express in July 1999 after receiving certifications from Canadian civil aviation authorities, FAA, and EASA.

The Global Express became a significant success with nearly 1,000 variants produced including upgrades like Global XRS and Global 6500. Building on this success, Bombardier announced the Global 7500 program in October 2010 aiming for an ultra-long-range business jet with a larger cabin. Initially named Global 7000, it faced delays due to redesign efforts but eventually entered service in December 2018.

The Global 7500 is renowned for being the largest purpose-built business jet globally until surpassed by Gulfstream G700's range certification in early 2024. Over 200 units have been produced since its introduction. The aircraft features a spacious cabin accommodating up to 19 passengers across four interior zones equipped with amenities like club suites or entertainment suites.

Its cockpit incorporates Bombardier Vision flight deck technology including fly-by-wire systems enhancing efficiency during flights while utilizing aluminum-lithium alloys reducing overall weight similar to CSeries airliners' construction methods ensuring optimal performance specifications such as Mach speeds reaching up to Mach .925 or cruising at Mach .85 along with maximum takeoff weights exceeding hundreds-of-thousands-pounds limits enabling ranges spanning thousands-of-miles distances reaching ceilings above fifty-thousand-feet heights powered by General Electric Passport turbofan engines delivering substantial thrust outputs each engine mounted rearward positions ensuring smooth operations throughout journeys undertaken aboard these luxurious jets favored among celebrities entrepreneurs executives alike some notable owners/operators being Kylie Jenner Beyoncé Jay-Z Jackie Chan John Travolta Chamath Palihapitiya alongside major charter companies NetJets VistaJet Comlux London Air Services AvWest collectively contributing towards maintaining prestige associated owning operating flying within fleet composed primarily models manufactured under banner representing legacy innovation embodied hallmark excellence synonymous name itself - "Bombadier."

Organizations Included in this History
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