The race for supersonic aircraft is back in full swing after Concorde's last supersonic plane retired two decades ago.
Aircraft manufacturer Bombardier presents the performance of its newest business jet that can reach very high speeds. The Canadian planemaker said the Global 8000 aircraft under development would be the world's fastest and furthest custom-built business jet.
The Bombardier Global 8000 has a capacity of up to 19 passengers, a range of 14,800 km and a top speed of Mach 0.94. The aircraft is expected to enter service in 2025.
The news comes after the Global 7500 test aircraft broke the speed of sound on a demonstration flight last May, reaching speeds of over Mach 1,015.
The plane, along with NASA's F/A-18 aircraft, also became the first aircraft in the supersonic continuous aviation fuel (SAF) transport category.
"The Global 8000 aircraft leverage the outstanding attributes of the Global 7500 aircraft, providing our customers with a new era flagship aircraft," said Bombardier President and CEO Eric Martel.
Flight testing for the Global 8000 has already begun on the Global 7500 flight test vehicle. Bombardier says the upcoming aircraft will also have a cabin altitude equivalent to 2,900 feet.
The Global 8000 is just one of many aircraft racing to supersonic speeds after Concorde's retirement. Last year, United Airlines announced it would offer a supersonic route in early 2029 after agreeing to buy 15 supersonic jets.
Meanwhile, Colorado-based Boom Supersonic has completed ground testing on the X-B1, the prototype aircraft for its Overture jet, which is designed to accommodate between 65 and 88 people. The aircraft is planned to fly on more than 500 transoceanic routes thanks to its top speed of Mach-2.2.
Unfortunately, Florida-based aviation startup Aerion collapsed months after revealing plans for a Mach 4+ commercial aircraft called the Aerion AS3 last year.
