The Chinese proverb “may you live in interesting times” certainly seems appropriate for manufacturers and would-be manufacturers of new business airplanes. Interesting times indeed: with the weaker than expected economic recovery, and the specter of a possible double-dip recession, even some established, well financed business aircraft manufacturers are stretching out timelines for their respective new products. And startup manufacturers are for the most part starving for cash–Eclipse Aviation and Sino Swearingen excluded–which is casting a dark cloud over these tenuous programs.
But there are some rays of hope for the industry. Bombardier launched two new derivatives of its Learjet 45–the Learjet 40 and 45XR–at July’s Farnborough Air Show. Added to the Canadian airframer’s other in-development programs–the Continental and Global 5000–it certainly shows Bombardier’s confidence in the future of the business aviation industry. Additionally, stalwart Cessna Aircraft is expected at this month’s NBAA show to unveil another new business jet, or possibly even business jets.