Elite Traveler Summer 2021

INSPIRE 20TH ANNIVERSARY GUIDE TO RESPONSIBLE LUXURY Jets

BOMBARDIER CHALLENGER 300/350 Described by one industry insider as “the triple seven of private jets,” according to Amstat, there are close to 800 of Bombardier’s Challenger 300/350 aircraft in service. Like the Boeing 777, it’s also a workhorse. It has range, capacity and comfort. It can fly 3,200 nautical miles nonstop, making it ideal for connecting the US East and West Coasts, plus for trips to the Hawaiian Islands. It can seat up to 10, although it is typically configured for eight passengers with two sets of facing club seats or nine passengers with a three-seat divan. With a cabin height of six feet, it provides a convivial environment to fly family and friends, entertain clients, or get some work done with associates. The roomy galley makes it popular with corporate flight attendants. Perhaps proof of its popularity — 20 years after the first flight — is that it flies for NetJets, Flexjet and Vista Global’s VistaJet and XOJET. One of the few things these rivals agree on. bombardier.com

Selecting the most impactful business jet launches of the past two decades is a little tricky: Without a doubt, there will be well-grounded arguments for airplanes we didn’t include, like the Embraer Phenom 300, Praetor 500, Beechcraft King Air 360 or the Bombardier Global 7500. Equally, others will argue that a list highlighting important future launches can’t be complete without Gulfstream’s G700 or futuristic eVTOLs. One commonality among all of these is that each launch strengthens sustainability with more efficient designs, engines and avionics, reducing CO2 emissions as well as noise. Criticisms aside, one thing is clear: Elite Traveler has seen and covered significant breakthroughs that have changed the way we fly — privately. Looking ahead, there’s no doubt there will be exciting news in these pages in the future.

by Doug Gollan