Kate Sarsfield/LONDON
Bombardier's commitment to developing a super mid-sized business jet has progressed, with Rockwell Collins named as a key supplier for its Continental jet and a second supplier likely to be announced. This comes less than three months after AlliedSignal's AS907 turbofan was selected to power the twin-engined aircraft.
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) looks set to continue its longstanding relationship with the Canadian manufacturerby supplying the aircraft's wing section. "MHI has been appointed to design, manufacture and integrate the single-piece wing section, which has a total area of 522ft² [50m²] and has a wingspan of 65ft [20m]," says an industry source.
Rockwell Collins will supply its Pro Line 21 integrated avionics system featuring four 300 x 250mm flat panel liquid crystal displays, "...the largest in use in business aviation", a traffic collision avoidance system (TCAS II), ground proximity warning systems and a maintenance diagnostic computer. Collins will start delivering components to Bombardier in the first quarter of 2000, one year before the transcontinental business jet's planned first flight.
The manufacturer is now seeking commitments from prospective customers, which it hopes will lead to a formal programme launch in the second quarter of 1999. Certification and first deliveries are planned for 2002.
AlliedSignal AS907 turbofans, flat-rated at 6,500lb- thrust (29kN) to ISA 15°C, will power the eight- passenger Continental over 5,740km (3,100nm) at Mach 0.8.
The Continental, which will be positioned between Bombardier's Learjet 60 and the Challenger 604, will be pitched against the Galaxy Aerospace Galaxy, Raytheon Hawker 800XP and Horizon, and the Cessna Citation X business jets.
Bombardier forecasts sales of more than 1,000 new generation super mid-size business jets by 2012, of which it aims to secure around one-third of the market.
Source: Flight International
