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The past year will be remembered for bright program announcements and the beginning of historic deliveries of the latest business jets. Many manufacturers call the year 2018 the year of a revolutionary breakthrough and the opening of new pages in their history. The past year will certainly be remembered for the bright announcements of programs and the beginning of historical deliveries of the latest business jets. Many manufacturers call the year 2018 the year of a revolutionary breakthrough and opening new pages in their history. It is doubly gratifying that this can be attributed to all companies that operate in the business aircraft market. Today we would like to present the top of the most important events that, in our opinion, have occurred over the past twelve months. So let's go.
The beginning of the year was marked by the first delivery of the newest business jet Pilatus PC-24 Super Versatile Jet. The RS-24 aircraft was designed from the very beginning as an “air off-road vehicle”. Its unrivaled performance, allowing it to operate from short, even unpaved runways, offers incredible mobility prospects. The only aircraft to combine the size of a mid-range jet passenger cabin with the performance characteristics of light jets. That's why a new category had to be created for it: the Super Versatile Jet. Pilatus has invested over CHF 500 million of its own in the PC-24 development program. Another 150 million francs went to buildings and modern manufacturing equipment in Stans to expand production capacity for the PC-24. Pilatus currently has eight PC-24s on the assembly line in Stans, with 23 deliveries to customers around the world planned for 2018.
Bombardier Business Aircraft has introduced two new modifications to its Global 5500 and 6500 family of business jets, which will have a range of 5700 and 6600 nautical miles, respectively, and a top speed of Mach 0.9. The Global 5500 and Global 6500 will join the Global 5000, Global 6000 and Global 7500. The new aircraft are based on the Global 5000 and Global 6000 designs and will receive an additional range of 500 and 600 nautical miles, respectively, combined with a 13% reduction in fuel consumption. Improved flight performance of the Global 5500/6500 is achieved through the use of new Rolls-Royce Pearl engines and a redesigned wing. The new Global 5500 and Global 6500 business jets will also be able to add up to 1,300 nautical miles when operating in high temperature and high altitude conditions, thanks to increased thrust and improved fuel efficiency. These aircraft will also be able to fly to airports with short runways and steep glide paths. Global 5500 can connect Sao Paulo and Paris, Moscow and Los Angeles, and Global 6500 – Hong Kong or Singapore with London, Toluca or Madrid. The passenger cabins of the new aircraft have also been redesigned. They will receive interior elements and seating from the flagship Global 7500. The Bombardier Vision cockpit instrumentation is the first true combined vision system (CVS) in business aviation – the only system to fully integrate enhanced and synthetic imagery into a single view.
And on December 21, Bombardier celebrated the commissioning of its new flagship business jet, the Global 7500. A special event was held at the newly renamed Laurent Baudouin Procurement Center in the presence of select customers, suppliers and industry representatives. Throughout its flight test program, the Global 7500 has demonstrated its ability to push the boundaries of business travel beyond its original specifications. In addition to an unrivaled range of 7,700 nautical miles, the business jet exceeded its take-off and landing performance – a take-off distance of 5,800 feet, almost 500 feet less than its closest competitor. The aircraft also reached a speed of Mach 0.995, another achievement in the flight test program. Bombardier expects to deliver up to 20 newest Global 7500s to customers next year. In 2020, this figure will be 35-40 vehicles. According to David Colil, president of Bombardier Business Aircraft, the next slot for the delivery of a new business jet is in the second half of 2022. Bombardier delivered the first production aircraft last week. The flagship is owned by Jetcraft and Stonebriar Commercial Finance. The aircraft, hull number C-FXAI, will be leased by Bombardier for a demonstration tour starting in early 2019. Moscow will be among the many cities where the Global 7500 is planned to be presented.
On May 28, at the European Business Aviation Exhibition EVACE 2018, Honda Aircraft Company presented a modernized version of the light aircraft, which was named HondaJet Elite. The HondaJet Elite has a 17% increased range (+396 km) and is equipped with a newly developed noise-dampening air intake, which significantly reduces the frequency noise of the engines, improving noise insulation in the cabin. In addition, the new aircraft's advanced avionics system includes additional performance management features for optimal flight planning, as well as automatic stabilization and protection features to enhance flight safety. Mr. Fujino personally introduced the aircraft at the event. “The HondaJet Elite represents Honda Aircraft's continued commitment to performance, efficiency and the environment, creating new value in business aviation. As a result of innovation, design and engineering, our new aircraft features several performance and comfort improvements that once again set a new standard in aviation. We are delighted to share with the world Honda Aircraft's latest technology approach. ”
The HondaJet Elite inherits the aviation breakthroughs developed by Honda Aircraft, including natural laminar flow (NLF) technology and composite fuselage. The aircraft continues to be the most efficient, quietest, fastest and longest flight in its category.
In the same place, at EBACE 2018, the Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer Executive Jets presented a new Praetor family, which includes two models, the Praetor 500 and Praetor 600. The 500 is positioned as a mid-range business jet with a range of 6,019 km (with 4 passengers), “ six hundred ”flies up to 7223 km with the same number of passengers and belongs to the so-called super-middle class. The new aircraft will sit between the Legacy 500 and Legacy 650 in the Embraer lineup. The Praetor 600 is expected to be certified and operational in the second quarter of 2019 and the Praetor 500 in the third quarter of 2019. Two Praetor 600 prototypes have already passed flight tests. The cost of the cars will be $ 20.995 million (Praetor 600) and $ 16.995 (Praetor 500). Owners of Legacy 450 aircraft can also upgrade their aircraft to the Praetor 500 version for $ 500,000. Many analysts already claim a very competent and timely upgrade, albeit “well charged”, but Embraer does not agree with them. According to the manufacturer, they managed to get very stylish cars that will revolutionize their classes. “The Praetor will be the 'technologically advanced aircraft' that will be appreciated by many of Embraer's current business jet owners,” the company said. The new family will receive Rockwell Collins ProLine Fusion avionics, as well as Embraer Enhanced Vision System, HUD, EVS, IRS and SVGS. The passenger compartment uses the DNA Desig concept, which provides a more spacious cabin with additional settings and ease of maintenance. Starting with new seats designed and manufactured by Embraer, the aircraft offers unrivaled comfort and personalization in its class. The seat size, with an enlarged headrest, a retractable armrest, as well as a new table, a side wall and a patterned canopy, a wider aisle and increased space in the cab optimize passenger mobility.
Four years after the announcement of the new G500 business jet program, at the end of September, Gulfstream Aerospace solemnly handed over the first production aircraft. The jet was owned by a private client from North America. Recall that at the end of July, Gulfstream Aerospace received an FAA (US Federal Aviation Administration) type certificate for its newest business jet, the G500. The company also announced the approval of the aircraft's production line. As previously planned, deliveries of the new machine began this year. During flight tests, five flight prototypes spent a total of over 5000 flight hours in the air. The G500 is optimized for comfortable and efficient flight with low noise levels, 100% fresh air and one of the highest cabin heights in the industry. The cockpit features the industry's first active side stick controls. The Symmetry Flight Deck features 10 touchscreen displays, a third-generation Gulfstream Advanced Vision System, Head-Up Display II, and Synthetic Vision-Primary Flight Display. The aircraft has a range of 5,200 nautical miles / 9,630 km at Mach 0.85, giving operators even more flexibility over the original 5,000 miles / 9,260 km. At Mach 0.90, the G500 has a range of 4,400 nautical miles / 8149 km, which is 600 miles / 1,111 km beyond its design range.
“The interior of the G500 has been developed in close collaboration with our customers. It provides unrivaled and industry-leading passenger convenience, ”says Mark Burns. “Since the introduction of the redesigned G600 cabin, we have received a lot of feedback. We took this feedback and additional information from customers into account when designing the interior of the G500 to make it as customer-friendly as possible. ” The newly designed seating is one piece that has been developed largely thanks to customer feedback. These seats utilize innovative design methods and ergonomic enhancements to improve comfort and reduce fatigue. ”
On February 28, Dassault Aviation unveiled the new Falcon 6X business jet, which the company says is the most spacious, advanced and versatile twin-engine aircraft in business aviation. The new 5,500 nautical mile aircraft will make its maiden flight in early 2021 with deliveries scheduled for 2022. Pratt & Whitney Canada PW800 engines were selected for the new jet. The Falcon 6X will have the largest, quietest and most comfortable passenger cabin of any aircraft in its class and the largest cabin volume of any other Falcon business jet. It will be equipped with the industry's most advanced digital flight and cabin management systems.
The 6X is heavily based on the aerodynamics and performance of the Falcon 5X, which were confirmed during the preliminary 5X test program. But it is optimized for the new engine, offering greater range and a longer cabin. The Falcon 6X's cabin is 6 feet 6 “(1.98 m) high and 8 feet 6” (2.58 m) wide – the tallest and widest cross-section in a purpose-built business jet – and is nearly 40 feet 8 inches long. (12.3 m). It can accommodate 16 passengers in three separate lounge areas, providing space for multiple configurations, including a large entrance and crew rest area and a spacious rear lounge. Every element of the cabin's style and design has been completely reimagined as the result of an extensive review of customer preferences and materials from Dassault Aviation's in-house design studio. There is also a significant amount of natural light in the cabin, thanks to 29 very large windows, including a unique ceiling in the galley – the first in business aviation designed to provide additional lighting in an area usually without natural light.
Airbus Corporate Jet has begun deliveries of the latest Neo business jets. The new Neo business jet family includes two popular models based on the popular A320 family: ACJ319 and ACJ320, which have been redesignated Neo. With new Sharklets wingtips and more fuel efficient engines from CFM International or Pratt & Whitney, the ACJ320neo family has already proven its popularity and high interest from potential customers. Undoubtedly, customers particularly appreciate the extended range of this family of aircraft, which provides flexibility and added value. Thus, the ACJ319 with eight passengers on board can fly at a distance of up to 12,500 km, while the ACJ320 will be able to carry 25 passengers at a distance of up to 11,100 km, and the “longest” ACJ321 covers distances of 8,900 km with eight passengers. And now about the useful space. ACJ319 offers 83 sq.m. for the owner's flight of imagination. Clients themselves can choose any interior for the future aircraft and “useful squares” are simply a necessity for owners, who, as a rule, combine the capabilities of an “air office” and a comfortable means of transportation in a new aircraft. Further more: ACJ320 – 94 sq.m., and ACJ321 – 118 sq.m. New cabin concepts that the company recently unveiled, such as the Airbus Corporate Jets Melody or the Infinito interior designed in collaboration with Pagani Automobili's, have been enthusiastically received in the market and have undoubtedly generated interest from potential customers. These projects have added new, fresh notes to the interior design of business jets, offering customers alternative design options. The interior of Melody is characterized by active use of rounded lines, while the Infinito interior is a harmonious combination of artificial and noble materials.
The American manufacturer Boeing Business Jets (BBJ) (a division of Boeing) also delivered the first BBJ MAX8 to a customer this year. The plane went to the customization center to install the interior. Meanwhile, Boeing Business Jets currently has 20 firm orders for BBJ MAX aircraft. Boeing launched the BBJ MAX program in 2014. The manufacturer was the first to present the BBJ MAX8 to the general public. This aircraft is based on the latest 737 MAX. The new liner is the first in the BBJ MAX family to take full advantage of CFM International's new, more efficient LEAP-1B engines and Boeing's twin feather tips. The new engines and tips have reduced fuel consumption by 13% and 1.5%, respectively. In practice, these characteristics will achieve a range of 6325 nautical miles (11,713 km), more than 14% more than the most advanced BBJ2 models available today. The new line is based on a model based on the Boeing 737-800 (MAX8). In 2019, the Boeing 737-900 (MAX9) model will enter the market, and only a year later, an analogue of the 700th model, which is currently the most popular among customers, will appear. According to Boeing, direct operating costs for the BBJ MAX8 will be $ 3,190, the MAX9 – $ 3,380, and for the G7 – at $ 3,071 per hour.
“We continue to see strong customer engagement with the Boeing business jets family, resulting in new orders and a growing order book,” said Greg Laxton, Chief Executive Officer, Boeing Business Jets. “Customers are favoring aircraft with more spacious cabins and long range, which is driving significant growth in this segment. The performance benefits of the BBJ MAX are significant sales boosters. The aircraft is ideal for even the most discerning customers who want to fly long distances without stopping. “
This is not a complete list of all the new products of 2018. The newest Gulfstream G600 and Cessna Citation Londitude are coming soon. But our story is about this already in the coming year.
