Bombardier could use the existing CSeries wing without major changes if it were to develop an additional large model within the family.
Commercial aircraft president Fred Cromer tells FlightGlobal that such a variant – often referred to as the CS500 – would "not necessarily" require a larger wing than that of the current CS100 and larger CS300. "We can use the same wing," he says.
The existing wing has got "a lot of potential", argues Cromer. When it conducted dynamic stress tests to assess design limits, Bombardier went far beyond its targets and was unable to reach a point of structural failure, he notes.
Cromer confirms that the Canadian airframer is studying "future variants" of the regional jet family. But "most conversations" with potential customers revolve around the CS100 and CS300, he adds.
The priority now, he says, is to support the current family's sales and production ramp-up.
Colin Bole, senior vice-president of commercial aircraft sales and marketing at Bombardier, told FlightGlobal in May that "there is no CS500 in sight".
The manufacturer had trademarked CS500 and CS900 in 2010. But these trademarks were allowed to lapse in 2014.
Source: Cirium Dashboard
