Bombardier Challenger 604
- Period: 1980-1989
- Uses: Prototype
- First Flight: November 8, 1978
- Display Status: On the Museum Floor.
The Challenger is one of the best long-range, jet-powered business aircraft in the world. It owes its origins to a project initiated in the 1970s by the American William Lear, creator of the revolutionary Learjet.
Montreal-based Canadair completely redesigned the aircraft to produce the prototype of the Challenger: the world’s first wide-bodied business aircraft. It made its inaugural flight on 8 November 1978. The Challenger program was slow to get under way but, recognizing the aircraft’s potential, Bombardier decided in 1986 to purchase Canadair.
Over the years, subsequent versions of the Challenger have been fitted with improved engines and additional fuel tanks, as well as increasingly sophisticated instrumentation. More than 680 Challenger aircraft were produced between 1978 and 2005; they have served in every part of the globe. The prototype of a new version of the Challenger began flying in January 2006.
Museum Example
- Registration #: C-GCGT
- Manufacturer: Canadair Ltd., Canada
- Manufacture Date: 1979
- Construction #: 3991
- Acquisition Date: 2006
- Provenance: Donated by Bombardier
The Museum’s Challenger 604 is unique: it is the oldest airworthy Challenger in existence. Built as the third prototype of the original aircraft and test flown in July 1979, it was modified in 1981–82 and 1993–94 to serve as the prototype of the following two versions of the Challenger. In addition, Bombardier Aerospace used this very aircraft between 1999 and 2004 to build up its expertise in fly-by-wire control system design. The Challenger 604 landed at the Museum in February 2006.
Specifications
- Wing Span:
- 19.61 m (64 ft 4 in)
- Length:
- 20.85 m (68 ft 5 in)
- Height:
- 6.3 m (20 ft 8 in)
- Weight, Empty:
- 12,075 kg (26,630 lb)
- Weight, Gross:
- 21,860 kg (48,200 lb)
- Cruising Speed:
- 851 km/h (528 mph)
- Service Ceiling:
- 12,500 m (41,000 ft)
- Range:
- 7,520 km (4,100 mi)
- Power Plant:
- Two General Electric CF34-3A turbofan engines, 4,180 kg (9,220 lb) static thrust
