Bombardiers Global 7500 reaching completion
Bombardier has announced that Global 7500 aircraft started arriving at the companys Montreal facilities last month, where high-precision completion work is now being carried out.
Skilled workers at Bombardier’s Centre of Excellence in Dorval, Quebec, have been building and assembling complete interior sets including kitchens, state room beds, dining furniture and Nuage seats for multiple customer aircraft since the centre’s inauguration in 2017.
“As the Global 7500 jet continues to progress towards its entry-into-service, we couldn’t be happier to welcome the first production aircraft in our Montreal facilities,” said David Coleal, President, Bombardier Business Aircraft. “The Global 7500 interior completion work requires fine craftsmanship and cutting-edge technology. Bombardier Business Aircraft is taking its world-class expertise a step further through a new modular completion process leveraging advanced test rigs that ensure all customer aircraft surpass expectations at every level.”
As part of the development programme, interiors are validated on the ground in a one-of-a-kind Bombardier-designed test rig that replicates the conditions of flight related to airframe motions and flight loads using a production fuselage mounted on a pneumatic bed. This process allowed for the validation of the interior’s fit and finish well in advance of its actual installation on the Architect, the fourth flight test vehicle. Bombardier is now using this unique tool for the interiors installation process of its production aircraft to ensure enhanced operational efficiency and an uncompromised experience for customers.
“The Global 7500 aircraft’s production process, specifically the interior completion work, results from years of thoughtful planning to maximize efficiency while ensuring the utmost quality for customers,” said Paul Sislian, Chief Operating Officer, Bombardier Business Aircraft. “Our cutting-edge interior test rig allows our teams to conduct all major fit and finish adjustments at our Centre of Excellence, in advance of installation in the aircraft. This process significantly reduces our completions cycle time and will ensure a smooth entry-into-service and an exceptional product right from the start.”
The Global 7500 aircraft is the largest and longest range business jet ever built, with a recently announced increased range of 7,700 nautical miles. Thanks to its sophisticated wing design, the Global 7500 aircraft has also exceeded takeoff and landing performance commitments, leading to a new published takeoff distance of 5,800 feet at full fuel in standard operating conditions. This improved takeoff performance distance is almost 500 feet shorter than the closest, and much smaller, competitor aircraft and enables the Global 7500 aircraft to access airports with shorter runways. The programme’s five flight test vehicles are currently active and have completed over 2,300 flight test hours, demonstrating the high level of maturity and reliability of the aircraft.
In May, Bombardier announced that full-scale structural testing of the aircraft on the Complete Airframe Static Test (CAST) was successfully completed. Full-scale fatigue testing is also executing per plan, and Bombardier has successfully completed one lifetime of simulated flights, which exceeds the requirements at time of certification.