For high-paying execs and their business associates, jetting from one city to another can really waste valuable time.
But the length of private trips around the world could soon be slashed, thanks to a new ‘near-supersonic’ liner in the works.
Canadian company Bombardier Aviation has revealed its Global 8000, a swanky private plane that flies at Mach 0.94 (720mph).
The luxury jet features a full-size kitchen, cinema, beds, showers, high-speed internet and an anti-jet lag lighting system.
According to the firm, Global 8000 has enough range to do long distance trips such as Dubai to Houston, Singapore to Los Angeles and London to Perth non-stop.
If cleared for commercial travel, the $80 million craft could complete the 3,459-mile trip from London to New York in less than four hours.
It would be the fastest civil aircraft since Concorde, the world’s only successful supersonic passenger airplane.
Jean-Christophe Gallagher, head of aircraft sales at Bombardier, said Global 8000 passengers will be able to ‘reach destinations farther and faster than ever before’.
Described as ‘the ultimate business aircraft’, Global 8000 will transport passengers at top speeds of Mach 0.94 (720mph)
The swanky jet features a full-size kitchen, cinema, beds, showers, high-speed internet and an anti-jet lag lighting system
There’s a dining area with full table service and even a kitchen for when travellers want to help themselves to a drink or a snack from the fridge
‘Our customers will soon be able to step aboard an aircraft that sets the standard as the fastest and longest-range purpose-built business aircraft in history,’ he said.
‘Global 8000 will boast the best-in-class cabin altitude and offer Bombardier’s signature smooth ride.’
According to the company, Global 8000 passengers will enjoy their journey in ‘greater comfort than anything else in business aviation’.
With a length of over 50 feet, the spacious cabin ‘designed for wellness’ has adjustable seats for up to 17 passengers with ample legroom.
There’s a dining area with full table service and even a kitchen for when travellers want to help themselves to a drink or a snack from the fridge.
There’s also a separate enclave of seating in front of a 55-inch 4K TV, which lets passengers replicate the cinema experience at 50,000 feet.
High-speed internet also lets passengers stream films, take video calls or share documents with colleagues from the comfort of their own seat.
But for extra privacy there’s also ‘four spacious suites’ each with a full-size double bed, a sofa and a stand-up shower.
The jet has a wingspan of 100 feet and an overall length of 111 feet – making it more compact that a traditional plane transporting hundreds of passengers
Lighting stimulates or suppresses the production of melatonin to help synchronize a traveler’s circadian rhythm to the time at their destination
For extra privacy there’s also ‘four spacious suites’ each with a full-size double bed, a sofa and a stand-up shower
Other features include wardrobes, power outlets and a furnished toilet with a window, vanity and sink.
Meanwhile, a dynamic lighting system automatically adjusts the cabin lighting to prevent jetlag when the passenger’s alights the plane.
The lighting stimulates or suppresses the production of melatonin to help synchronize a traveler’s circadian rhythm to the time at their destination.
‘Connectivity, comfort and arriving refreshed are just as important today than speed and range,’ Mr Gallagher added.
From the exterior, the jet has a wingspan of 100 feet and an overall length of 111 feet – so more compact that a traditional plane transporting hundreds of passengers.
Construction is already underway on the first units at Bombardier’s sites in Saint-Laurent (Quebec), Red Oak (Texas) and Querétaro (Mexico).
If the company keeps to schedule, Global 8000 could enter into service in late 2025 – although it’s unclear how much passengers will be paying for a trip in the private jet.
In the aviation industry, the race is on to build a passenger jet that can reach or even exceed the speeds of Concorde.
According to the company, Global 8000 passengers will enjoy their journey in ‘greater comfort than anything else in business aviation’
Concorde was the first supersonic airliner and operated for 27 years, but it was grounded in October 2003. Pictured is British Airways Concorde G-BOAB taking off over the Cotswolds
A Beijing firm called Space Transportation is working on a jet that reached Mach 4 or 3,045mph – four times the speed of sound – at altitudes of more than 65,600 feet, reports the South China Morning Post.
This is twice as fast as the defunct Concorde’s max speeds (Mach 2 or 1,338mph) and three times that of ‘Son of Concorde’, the unofficial name for a rival being developed by NASA (937mph).
Concorde flew at Mach 2 or 1,338mph, mostly delivering passengers from London or Paris to New York and back.
The Anglo-Franco creation had its first commercial flights in 1976, but it was grounded in October 2003 in the aftermath of the catastrophic Air France Flight 4590 crash.
Other reasons for the demise of Concorde were high fuel costs, concern over its noise and a preference for lower fares over speed.
THE HISTORY OF CONCORDE
Concorde was a turbojet-powered supersonic passenger jet that was operated from 1976 until 2003.
It had a maximum speed over twice the speed of sound at Mach 2.04 (1,354mph or 2,180k per hour at cruise altitude) and could seat 92 to 128 passengers.
It was first flown in 1969, but needed further tests to establish it as viable as a commercial aircraft. Concorde entered service in 1976.
Concorde was the world’s first supersonic airliner and operated for 27 years, but it was grounded in October 2003. Pictured is British Airways Concorde G-BOAB taking off with its landing gear still extended over the Cotswolds town of Fairford, Gloucestershire on July 20, 1996, during the annual RAF Fairford airshow
It is one of only two supersonic transports to have been operated commercially. The other is the Soviet-built Tupolev Tu-144, which ran as a passenger aircraft only for a few years in the 1970s due to safety issues.
Concorde was jointly developed and manufactured by Aérospatiale and the British Aircraft Corporation (BAC) under an Anglo-French treaty. Concorde’s name, meaning harmony or union, reflected the cooperation on the project between the UK and France.
Concorde was retired in 2003 due to a general downturn in the commercial aviation industry after its only crash in 2000, the September 11 attacks in 2001, and a decision by Airbus, the successor to Aérospatiale and BAC, to discontinue maintenance support.
