Contributor - UK

David Donald

Bombardier manufactures a variety of business aircraft models, provides engineering, and aircraft maintenance services.

Bombardier’s EcoJet Phase 2 technology demonstrator has now flown 10 times and is generating large amounts of data as part of efforts to develop technologies that could reduce emissions of a Global 6000-sized business jet by 50 percent. The blended-wing-body (BWB) craft—which has roughly 16 percent of the wing span of a Global 6000—is flying from an undisclosed North American location.
The 18-foot-wingspan air vehicle was revealed at EBACE in May, having made its first flight in late 2022. It is the latest test vehicle of a research program that began 15 years ago and initially resulted in an eight-foot-wingspan air vehicle that represented a notional 7 percent scale model of a potential BWB business jet configuration.
That Phase 1 vehicle provided enough data for Bombardier to progress to the Phase 2 aircraft, with the aim of further refining the data and making it more applicable to the design of a full-size aircraft.
The EcoJet BWB concept is seen as having enormous promise in turns of fuel saving and also offers the potential for carrying large volumes of fuel, which may be an important advantage if fuels with lower power densities than jet-A are selected.
Bombardier suggests that the aerodynamic efficiencies of a BWB could account for around 20 percent of the desired fuel savings, with new propulsion technologies accounting for a similar saving. The remaining 10 percent of the 50 percent goal would come from other technological advances, such as advanced weight-saving techniques and materials.
The larger size of the Phase 2 vehicle allows the control surfaces and systems to be more representative of a full-size aircraft and also permits the demonstrator to fly further, faster, and higher. Additionally, the larger platform is better suited to the testing of realistic full-size aircraft control laws and also for examining critical corners of the flight envelope, Bombardier said.
The flying model is powered by a pair of Bombardier-modified off-the-shelf jet engines normally used by the radio-controlled model flyers. Meanwhile, the airframe was developed and built in collaboration with industrial partners and academic institutions. The vehicle is radio-controlled but also has autonomous features, primarily to facilitate the gathering of repeatable data.
Phase 2 is in the early stages and the design and architecture is likely to change and be optimized through a number of iterations as more data are gathered and more lessons are learned. The flight demonstrations are expected to run for at least two years and potentially up to four years.
At present, Bombardier has no detailed plans concerning the program’s immediate direction or indeed what propulsion concept might be selected for a full-scale BWB business jet.
Stephen McCullough, Bombardier senior v-p of engineering and product development, noted, “We know where we want to be at the end of Phase 2...but we’re going to let the physics drive us,” adding that the engineers are “under no constraints.” Possibilities for future development could include a larger demonstrator that examines potential internal configurations.
In the meantime, some of the technologies being explored by the EcoJet could also find their way into the current Challenger and Global business jet families to generate fuel savings and reduce emissions.

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

Bombardier’s EcoJet Tech Demonstrator is Delivering Data for Future Business Jet Designs

EcoJet employs a blended-wing body design for aerodynamic efficiency

Bombardier’s EcoJet Phase 2 technology demonstrator has now flown 10 times as part of the effort to reduce emissions of a Global 6000-sized jet by 50 percent.

Bombardier’s EcoJet Tech Demonstrator Delivering Data for Future Bizjets

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Charlotte Bailey

News and issues about aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), covering all segments of the aviation industry; and modifications for aircraft and engines. Subjects include product support of aircraft, engines and avionics, MRO company mergers, acquisitions, announcements and personnel, Airworthiness Directives, Supplemental Type Certificate approvals and other topics.

News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

ATR 72 aircraft performs pre-modification flight in Toulouse

Kepplair Starts Converting ATR 72 Into Water Bombers

Curt Epstein

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

Only the piston aircraft segment posted a decline

GAMA: Bizjets, T-props, and Rotorcraft Deliveries Up

Hanneke Weitering

Two captains held the prototype 33 feet above the water for 30 seconds

Regent Flies Electric Seaglider with Crew for First Time

News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

Icing approval would open year-round service to northern communities

Horizon Begins Icing Tests for Cavorite X7 eVTOL

Kerry Lynch

Deal to close this year

Bombardier To Grow Manufacturing Capacity with MHICA Buy

Essential news and analysis on the defense aerospace business. Your trusted source for new and ongoing programs and requirements in military aircraft (manned and unmanned), engines, avionics, weapons and associated systems, including ground-based air defense.

The two NATO allies will purchase seven of the tanker/transport aircraft

Spain and Poland Agree to Buy A330MRTT Tanker Transports

News and developments about aircraft engines, including turbofan, turboprop, turboshaft and piston.

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

GE Aerospace has tested the GE9X, Leap 1A, Leap 1B, and more with the 747.

GE Aerospace Flies Boeing 747 To Test New Engine Tech

Charles Alcock

News about commercial airlines, including regulations, aircraft orders, safety, acquisitions, and mergers.

News about environmental issues relating to aircraft operations, including noise issues, emissisions, and regulations. See Fuel for biofuel.

NBAA-BACE 2023

In this article

Bombardier

More In Aircraft