Canadian planemaker Bombardier is one step closer to bringing its new flagship private jet to market.
Source: Bombardier
On Tuesday, the company revealed private aircraft operator NetJets will be the fleet launch customer of the Global 8000, which will be the world's new fastest business plane.
Source: Bombardier
Expected to enter service in 2025, the jet will steal the speed crown from the 12-seater Cessna Citation X+, which can fly up to Mach 0.935.
Source: Textron Aviation, AIN Online
NetJets has placed a firm order for four Global 8000 aircraft, valued at $312 million. According to Bombardier, each jet is priced at $78 million — $3 million more than the Global 7500.
Source: Bombardier, Reuters
Patrick Gallagher, NetJets' president of sales, marketing, and service, told Insider that demand is up 35-40% and inventory for fractional ownership of its aircraft, which allows several people to share the cost of owning and chartering a NetJets plane, is sold out through 2023.
Source: NetJets
"There's a huge amount of people who weren't flying private before, but have the means to," he said. "But the pandemic unlocked a large portion of that demand and we've seen a record number of people inquiring to become a NetJets customer."
The charter company plans to eventually have 24 Global 8000s, which includes converting its eight future Global 7500 deliveries to the new flagship plane and retrofitting its in-service 7500s to 8000s, Gallagher told Insider.
Source: Bombardier
According to its website, the operator also has the Global 5500 and the Global 6000 in addition to the Global 7500.
Source: NetJets
In total, NetJets operates over 850 aircraft worldwide, including the Embraer Phenom, as well as Cessna Citation and Bombardier Challenger variants.
Source: Bombardier
But, the new Global 8000 will be its crown jewel — take a look at the luxurious jet.
Source: Bombardier
Reaching near supersonic speeds, the new flagship plane can cruise up to Mach 0.94…
Source: Bombardier
…and fly up to 8,000 nautical miles (9,206 miles), which could connect cities like New York and Hong Kong and Los Angeles and Singapore.
Source: Bombardier
According to Boeing specs, the jet will fly further than the planemaker's 787 Dreamliner family.
Source: Boeing
The Global 8000 has already begun flight testing with one Global 7500 testbed breaking the sound barrier during a flight in May 2021, repeatedly reaching Mach 1.015.
Source: Bombardier
The new plane will compete with the Gulfstream G800, which will match Bombardier's flagship jet in terms of range but still lag behind in terms of speed at Mach 0.925.
Source: Gulfstream, Aerotime Hub
The rival jet is expected to enter service in 2023, which is two years before the Global 8000 is set to hit the market.
Source: Aerotime Hub
In addition to record-breaking performance, the Global 8000 will also boast the lowest cabin altitude in its class at 2,900 feet, which Bombardier equates to walking through Yosemite National Park.
Source: Bombardier
Moreover, the jet's innovative Soleil lighting system helps battle jet lag after long-haul flights.
Source: Bombardier
Gallagher told Insider that the interior of the company's future Global 8000 will mirror NetJets' current Global 7500 configuration to maintain consistency across the fleet.
Source: Bombardier
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