new pic to come
Nextant Aerospace has embarked on the second phase of its Challenger 604XT remanufacturing programme, which will include both a performance enhancement to the existing airframe and an entirely new cabin design.
The announcement, which was made at the show this morning, comes five months after Nextant launched the project – a revamped version of the Bombardier Challenger 604 – which introduces a Rockwell Collins ProLine Fusion flightdeck in place of the legacy model’s ProLine 4 suite.
Flight testing of the Fusion on board a Challenger 604 began in September, and the test aircraft is on display at the static.
Speaking at the show this morning Nextant’s executive vice-president Jay Heublein described the response to the 604XT as “exceptional”. The company has already secured a launch customer for the Fusion-equipped aircraft and plans to deliver the first unit shortly after certification in mid-2018.
“Now, with a large portion of the certification effort related to the cockpit behind us, we will embark on phase two of our overall solution for this airframe,” says Heublein.
Bombardier
Improvements include a “radically new cabin” – renderings for which were shown for the first time this morning. It features a redesigned entryway to the aircraft, including a solid door closure between the air stair and the galley, designed to help reduce exterior wind noise.
The front half of the cabin is designed as an “all-new, ultra-modern media room hosting the latest in connectivity technology”, says Heublein. The rear is separated from the forward half and features VIP seating with a full-width conference/dining table. “The interior will also benefit from an all new composite shell and acoustic/thermal insulation kit to further enhance the overall cabin experience,” he says.
Phase two also includes an increase in range of up to 500nm (925km), which is described by fellow Nextant executive vice-president Mark O’Donnell as “a true game-changer for consumers”.
“We will now be able to link New York with London on a non-stop basis, or Boston with western Europe in both directions. Now operators that need reliable trans-Atlantic range will have a new option at a far superior price point relative to competitive aircraft,” he says.
The range improvement will be made via a “significant drag reduction and wing extension programme,” O’Donnell continues. “Our goal is to combine this with a service-ceiling increase to 45,000ft which in addition to increasing the fuel efficiency will free operators from the traffic and weather they have been tied to in the past at lower altitudes.”
Nextant projects an 18 to 24-month certification timeframe for the range and interior enhancements, but expects some customers to opt for the cockpit upgrade initially and then add the other features at a later date.
Source: Flight International
