Bombardier completes maiden flight of Learjet 85 aircraft

Bombardier Aerospace has completed the first flight of its Learjet 85 aircraft, marking the beginning of the jet’s flight test programme that will lead to the first customer delivery.

The Learjet 85 flight test vehicle one’s (FTV1) maiden flight lasted for two hours and 15 minutes, with the jet reaching an altitude of 30,000ft and an air speed of 250k.

Speaking about the first flight, Bombardier Business Aircraft president Éric Martel said: "This includes our sites in Wichita, Querétaro and Montréal, as well as our facility in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

"We are all very excited to see this new aircraft, the fastest and most spacious Learjet aircraft, take to the skies, and we look forward to a very successful flight test programme."

Featuring a customer-driven clean-sheet design, the Learjet 85 aircraft is powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada PW307B engines, each with 6,100lb of takeoff thrust at sea level up to 86ºF and low noise levels.

Equipped with advanced low NOx emitting combustor to reduce environmental impact, the aircraft flight deck combines advanced technology and design from the Bombardier Vision flight deck.

The Cabin Management System features a high-capacity Ethernet network, a digital amplifier to feed the high-fidelity speaker system and an interface to support the aircraft cabin environment, including lighting and temperature control.

Since acquiring Learjet in 1990, Bombardier has launched eight fuel-efficient Learjet aircraft.

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Image: Learjet 85 aircraft takes off on its first flight in Wichita, Kansas on 9 April 2014. Photo: courtesy of Bombardier.