Summary
- The Global 7500 was marketed as a luxurious, spacious, ultra-long-range business jet aimed at UHNWIs.
- Five prototypes were built for testing, leading to an increase in range and efficient new features.
- The Global 7500 set various records for range and speed, boasting exceptional performance.
The Global 7500 manufactured by Bombardier, is the largest ultra-long-range purpose built business jet to date. It was developed from the Global 6000, with a newly designed wing and stretched fuselage and four cabin zones. It also has the longest range of any other business jet and is lauded as the industry flagship. Let’s take a look at the Global 7500, in more detail.
Development stages
The Global 7500 was originally announced in October 2010 but production was delayed by two years, due to the new wing design. It first flew on November 4, 2016 and was renamed the Global 7500 instead of the Global 7000. It was certified by Transport Canada in September 2018 and by the FAA in November, and entered service in December. Up until February 2024, over 170 of the aircraft have been built.
The aircraft was marketed towards the UHNWIs and advertised as the largest business jet with the longest range with more room and was more luxurious than any business jet built. On March 29, 2021, the 50th Global 7500 was delivered.
Prototypes and testing
Bombardier built five prototype Global 7500 for the testing process:
- FTV1: to test flying qualities.
- FTV2 ‘The Powerhouse’: to test aircraft systems.
- FTV3 ‘The Navigator’: to test avionics and electrical systems.
- FTV4 ‘The Architect’: to test the cabin interior.
- FTV5 ‘The Masterpiece’: for entry into service.
Notably, FTV1 reached a Mach of 0.995 on March 29, 2017. By April 2018, flight tests were completed after 2,400 flying hours. The range of the Global 7500 was increased to 7,700 nautical miles or 14,260 kilometers, which was more than its nearest competitor at the time, the Gulfstream G650ER. The smaller Global 8000 was to have a slightly larger range of 7,900 nautical miles or 14,600 kilometers.
Photo: Bombardier
More details of the Global 7500
When the aircraft entered service in December 2018, Bombardier had 100 secured orders for the aircraft and the price of an equipped aircraft was $78 million. The aircraft is a stretched version of the Global 6000 with the new Transonic Smooth Flex wing, which is a lighter wing but larger and still keeps its aerodynamic shape. The wing improves lift to drag performance and with more efficient winglets, there is 30% better low speed lift. It also reduced the effects of turbulence.
The Global 7500 is powered by General Electric Passport 20 engines that provide 18,920 pounds of thrust. The engines decrease emissions and have 8% better fuel efficiency than the Global Express XRS. The aircraft cruises at Mach 0.90, although tests proved it could fly faster. It has a range of 7,700 nautical miles or 14,260 kilometers and a top speed of 0.925 Mach or 982 kilometers per hour.
The aircraft can easily fly from New York to Hong Kong or Singapore to San Francisco without the need to refuel. The aircraft is known for its exceptional short field performance and is the largest business jet to fly into London City Airport in the UK.
Aircraft specifications
(Data from Bombardier)
|
Model |
Global 7500 |
|
Cockpit crew |
Two |
|
Maximum passengers |
19 |
|
Length |
111 ft / 34 m |
|
Height |
27 ft / 8.2 m |
|
Wingspan |
104 ft / 32 m |
|
Cabin length |
54 ft 5″ / 16.59 m |
|
Cabin section |
8 ft / 2.4 m width 6 ft 2′ /1.88 m height |
|
Engines |
General Electric Passport |
|
Thrust |
18,920 ibf |
|
Cruise |
Mach 0.92 / 609knots / 1,130 km/h |
Photo: Bombardier
Features in the cabin
The cabin can seat up to 19 passengers and sleep eight and has 20% more cabin space and is longer than its competitors. The windows were made larger and every seat has a window. The Nuage seats were seven years in the making and are ergonomic, have zero gravity comfort and a deep recline. The cabin can be split into four distinctive areas:
- Club Suite with four Nuage seats and extendable tables
- Conference Suite for meetings or dining with large table
- Entertainment Suite with three-seat divan and large TV
- Private Suite with three-seat divan that turns into a full-sized bed.
Photo: Bombardier
The private suite has an en-suite washroom with vanity unit, lavatory, wardrobe, optional shower and access to the baggage compartment. There is a full-sized galley with convection oven, microwave, chiller unit and coffee maker. The galley was designed in consultation with cabin crew. An optional crew suite enables a pilot or cabin crew a private rest area and there is a forward lavatory and wardrobe.
There is a fresh air system, Pur Air, that renews air every 90 seconds through HEPA filters for the cleanest air. The Soleil lighting system is based on circadian rhythm and combats jet lag. A large 55-inch TV offers a theater-style experience and has Bombardier l’Opera immersive audio.
Photo: Bombardier
Flight deck
In the cockpit, there is the Bombardier Vision Flight Deck which uses the latest fly-by-wire technology and avionics. It is designed with esthetics and ergonomics in mind. There are four large displays and side stick controls. It has the Head-Up Display (HUD), Enhanced Vision System (EVS) and Synthetic Vision System (SVS). There is also a MultiScan weather radar, Performance Based Navigation (PBN) and Controller Pilot Data Link Communication (CPDLC).
Setting records
In March 2019, the Global 7500 set the record for the longest mission of a business jet, a flight of 16 hours, between Singapore and Tucson, Arizona at 8,152 nautical miles or 15,098 kilometers. The following month, the Gulfstream G650ER flew 8,379 nautical miles or 15,518 kilometers in 44 minutes less time.
A few months later, in October, the Global 7500 improved its longest mission to 8,225 nautical miles or 15,223 kilometers on a flight from Sydney to Detroit and claimed the record for the longest city pair flown by a business jet. It also gained a speed record for business jets, flying from Van Nuys to Teterboro in under four hours at Mach 0.925 cruise speed.
