An undisclosed customer has placed firm orders for 20 of Bombardier’s recently-launched, still-under-development Challenger 3500 super-midsize business jet.
The Montreal airframer disclosed the order on 30 September. It declines to specify the name of the customer, saying the buyer “wishes to remain confidential”.
“This is Bombardier’s largest business jet transaction of 2021, representing a value of $534 million… based on list pricing,” the company says.
The news comes just weeks after Bombardier on 14 September revealed it is developing the 3500, which is an updated version of its Challenger 350. Bombardier aims for the 3500 to enter service in the second half of 2022.
The company is giving the Challenger a modern cabin – complete with features standard on larger-cabin aircraft like the manufacturer’s Globals. It is also making a few technical changes. Those include reducing the Challenger’s cabin-pressure altitude and equipping the jet with its first auto-throttle system.
Performance specifications remain unchanged from the 350, which entered service in 2014. The 3500 will be a 10-passenger jet powered by twin Honeywell TF7350 engines, with 3,200nm (5,926km) of range and top speed of March 0.83. Its price is $26.7 million per aircraft.
The 3500 will have Bombardier’s “Nuage” seats – now found in its Global large-cabin jets – voice-control cabin technology, 24in monitors with 4K definition, an updated galley and redesigned ledges.
