Bombardier Challenger 600 series
| Challenger 600/601/604/605 | |
|---|---|
| |
| Role | Business jet |
| Manufacturer | Bombardier Aerospace |
| First flight | 8 November 1978 |
| Status | In production |
The Bombardier Challenger 600 series is a family of business jets designed by Bill Lear and produced first by Canadair until that company was bought by Bombardier Aerospace in 1986.
Development
The aircraft was an independent design by Bill Lear in 1976, who had resigned as Chairman of Lear Jet seven years previously. Originally dubbed the LearStar 600, Lear sold exclusive rights to produce and develop the design to Canadair, who renamed it the CL-600 Challenger.
While similar in general configuration to Lear's previous designs, notable changes were made that distinguished the new aircraft from the Learjets, including the use of a widened fuselage that allowed a 'walk-about cabin', a feature not shared by any other business aircraft of the time. The Challenger was also one of the first bizjets designed with a supercritical wing.
On 8 November 1978, the prototype aircraft took off at Montreal, Canada. The second and third prototypes flew in 1979. A 3 April 1980 test flight in the Mojave Desert resulted in disaster, the aircraft crashing due to a deep stall, killing one of the test pilots (the other test pilot and the flight test engineer parachuted to safety)[1].
Despite the crash, both Transport Canada and the Federal Aviation Administration in the United States certified the aircraft in 1980, albeit with restrictions to pilots including a limited maximum take-off weight. A program to reduce the aircraft's weight was then implemented to improve the aircraft's range.
Challengers can be identified visually by their distinctive fowler flap design, where the fairings can be seen below the wings, a sight much more common on commercial airliners.
Variants
CL-600
- CL-600 - original production version, powered by Avco Lycoming ALF 502L turbofans of 7,500 lbf (33.6 kN) thrust each. Built until 1983 (83 built)
- CL-600S - 76 CL-600s retrofitted with the winglets introduced on the CL-601-1A. 12 aircraft purchased by Canadian Forces Air Command, named CC-144, CE-144, and CX-144.
CL-601
- CL-601-1A - refined version including winglets to reduce drag and more powerful General Electric CF-34 engines. (66 built, including 4 Canadian Forces CL-144/ CC-144B)[2]
- CL-601-1A/ER - 601-1A retrofitted with an additional fuel tank in the tail
- CL-601-3A - engine with a higher flat rating and a glass cockpit. This was the first version marketed by Bombardier.
- CL-601-3A/ER - 601-3A with an additional, optional fuel tank in the tail
- CL-601-3R - the tail tank was made standard, and airline style 'unsided' engines (no left or right) were used, matching what was used on the CRJ.
CL-604
- CL-604 - major upgrade of the 601 design, incorporating more powerful engines, larger fuel supply, including saddle tanks in the rear of the aircraft, new undercarriage for a higher takeoff and landing weight, structural improvements to wings and tail, and a new Collins ProLine 4 avionics system. The C-143A is a single Challenger 604 aircraft, which was acquired by the United States Coast Guard in December 2005 as its new Medium Range Command and Control Aircraft (MRC2A).[3]
CL-605
- CL-605 - introduced in early 2006 as an avionics and structural upgrade of the 604 design. Structural improvements include larger cabin windows. Cockpit instrumentation updated with the Collins Proline 21 avionics and "electronic flight bag" capability. It can be visually identified by a new, rounded tailcone.
CL-610
- CL-610 Challenger E was to have been a stretched version with seating for 24 passengers. Development was halted by Canadair in 1981 without any having been built. A few years later, a new project would develop the Canadair Regional Jet based on a stretched Challenger design.
Operators
Military operators
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- Canadian Forces - designated as the Bombardier CC-144 Challenger
- No. 412 Squadron
- No. 434 Squadron (former)
- Croatian Government (EMS and VIP Transport)
- United States Air Force
- United States Coast Guard - designated as the Bombardier VC-143 Medium Range Command and Control Aircraft.[7]
Civilian operators
- Morningstar Partners Ltd. - Operates one CL605 as part of fractional fleet.
- VistaJet Holding
- Nomad Aviation
- Rega air rescue, operates three CL604
Specifications (CL-601-3A)
Data from [8]
General characteristics
- Crew: Two (pilot & co-pilot)
- Capacity: Up to 19 passengers, depending on configuration
Performance
See also
Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
References
- ^ - the Crash of Challenger #1001
- ^ http://www.ody.ca/~bwalker/CF_Challenger_detailed.html
- ^ DOD 4120.15-L - Addendum
- ^ a b
"Update: Denmark's Arctic Assets and Canada's Response — Danish Air Force Aircraft on a Mission over Canada's High Arctic". Canadian American Strategic Review. 2009-07. Retrieved 2009-07-12.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ a b "Canadian Aerospace – Background – Challenger 604 MMA". Canadian American Strategic Review. Retrieved 2009-07-12. [dead link]
- ^
"Update: Denmark's Arctic Assets and Canada's Response — Danish Air Force Aircraft on a Mission over Canada's High Arctic". Canadian American Strategic Review. Archived from the original on 2009-10-11. Retrieved 2009-07.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ [1]
- ^ Lambert, Mark (1993–1994). Jane's All The World's Aircraft (1993-94). pp. 27–28. ISBN 0-7106-1066-1.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date format (link)
External links
