BOMBARDIER'S third Global Express long-range business jet has re-entered the flight-test programme less than two months after an inadvertent wheels-up landing. The aircraft was returned to flight status earlier than expected, and the company says that the incident has had no impact on the schedule, which calls for certification in May 1998.
Despite the grounding of the aircraft just three days after its first flight on 22 April, Bombardier was able to spare the first aircraft for display at the Paris air show. The 8h 28min, 7,750km (4,185nm), flight from Wichita, Kansas, to Paris was the longest so far in the test programme, and shaved 1h 16min off a similar flight two years ago accomplished with the company's Canadair Challenger 604 business jet.
Source: Flight International