When the going gets tough, the tough launch airplane programs. Banking on better times beyond the currently cloudy economy, and despite depressed business-airplane shipments by the Canadian airframer last year, Bombardier has formally launched the Global 5000 after first introducing the program last October.
Essentially a Global Express shorter on both range and cabin length, the Global 5000 is Bombardier’s offering in what it describes as the “super-large” business jet market. With a cabin 8 ft 2 in. wide and 43 ft 4 in. long from the cockpit divider to the aft pressure bulkhead (five feet shorter than that of the Global Express), the Global 5000 competes with the Gulfstream IV-SP and Falcon 900EX. Bombardier claims the Global 5000 cabin offers 12 percent more volume than that of its closest competitor. The length of the cabin seating area is 26 ft 6 in., divided into three 106-in. zones.