Bombardier just delivered its first Global 5500, a $46 million private jet that can fly nearly 7,000 miles – see inside
Thomas Pallini
- Bombardier just delivered the first model of its newest jet, the Global 5500, the most recent addition to the Global line-up.
- Built in Toronto and completed in Wichita, Kansas the Global 5500 boasts a top speed of Mach .90 and range of 5,900 nautical miles, or around 7,000 miles.
- Its main rival is Gulfstream's G500, which it bests in cabin width and range but not speed.
The Global 5500 is the newest aircraft in the popular Bombardier Global line-up of wide-cabin private jets that dates back to the 1990s. The Canadian manufacturer's latest achievement was delivered to its first customer and entered into service on Thursday after being built in Toronto and completed in Wichita, Kansas.
The first delivery was the result of two years of development with Bombardier announcing the launch of the model in May 2018.
It's not the largest Global despite being the newest as the Global 7500 still holds that title but the Global 5500 still boasts an impressive range of 5,900 nautical miles, equivalent to around 7,000 miles, enough to fly between New York and Tokyo or London and Singapore. With a top speed of Mach .90 to match, the Global 5500 is also one of Bombardier's fastest jets.
Sixteen passengers can sit comfortably in the cabin, split between a communal area and a private suite in the back of the plane. The jet is a more open concept design with few dividing walls separating the living spaces, though every plane is customizable to the owner's desire.
Bombardier is claiming that the $46 million jet is the largest and most quiet in its class with the longest range of its competitors.
So let's take a look inside the newest creation from the Canadian aircraft manufacturer.
Bombardier first announced the Global 5500 in May 2018 as the next-step-up from the Global 5000, the smallest plane still being produced in the popular product line.
Source: Bombardier
The Global 5500 offers improved range and more powerful engines than its predecessor. Here's the German Air Force's Global 5000.
The new jet can fly 5,900 nautical miles at a top speed of Mach .90, as opposed to 5,200 nautical miles at a top speed of Mach .89 with the Global 5000.
Source: Bombardier
A typical configuration for the Global 5500 seats 13 passengers but that can be changed according to customer preference with the maximum capacity being 16 passengers.
Source: Bombardier
The interior is divided into three living areas, the first one is the club suite consisting of two pairs of standalone seats that face each other.
Source: Bombardier
Each seat pair has a solid retractable table that is stored in the sidewall.
The jet features the new Nuage seat that uses a new tilt system to offer a deep recline. It can also go fully flat for sleeping.
Source: Bombardier
Here's what they look like on the Global 7500.
The conference suite then features a large table separating four seats, ideal for hosting a meeting or dining.
Source: Bombardier
The table can be lowered and bedding can be placed on top of the seats to create a large bed.
The private suite is the final compartment of the Global 5500. It can be customized depending on the intended use but here's the "executive" style with a three-person couch on one side and a club seat pair on the other.
Source: Bombardier
It's not the full bedroom that the Global 7500 offers...
But the two seats can be made into a bed for longer flights. Here's what that looks like on the Global 5000.
The suite can also be customized to feature two couches, one on each side, to maximize passenger capacity. Charter operators typically prefer that configuration.
Source: Bombardier
For pilots, the Global 5500 offers a modern cockpit with an advanced avionics suite.
Source: Bombardier
Known as the Bombardier Vision flight deck, the business end of the jet offers high-definition displays and traditional W-shaped control yokes for pilots.
Source: Bombardier
The heads-up display also gives pilots additional information when flying thanks to the expanded use of cameras and sensors in the aircraft's nose.
Source: Bombardier
The direct competitor to the Global 5500 is the Gulfstream G500, a recent innovation from Gulfstream.
The two continue the tradition of the long-standing cross-border rivalry between Canada's Bombardier and America's Gulfstream.
Just like the Global 5500, Gulfstream's typical configuration for the G500 seats 13 passengers but the American manufacturer states the maximum capacity is 19, unlike Bombardier's 16.
Source: Gulfstream
Bombardier does win in cabin width with the Global 5500 offering a 7-foot, 11-inch wide cabin to the G500's 7-foot, 7-inch wide cabin.
Source: Gulfstream
Both feature similarly advanced cockpits with the use of heads-up displays.
Source: Gulfstream
Gulfstream offers the Symmetry cockpit on the G500 that includes touchscreen panels and displays.
Source: Gulfstream
Bombardier bests Gulfstream on width and range making the Global 5500 a worthy competitor. The Gulfstream, however, can fly slightly faster with a top speed of Mach .925.
Source: Gulfstream
The first Global 5500 is slated for service with ExecuJet, a European charter operator. Here's one of its Falcon 2000 aircraft.
Source: Aviation Week
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