Bombardier says its Global 5000

programme has marked a major

milestone with the first flight of the

second test aircraft.

The aircraft took off from

Bombardier’s Downsview, Ontario

facility and during the course of its

four-hour flight northwest of Toronto,

it reached a maximum altitude of

17,000 feet and a maximum indicated

airspeed of 380 mph.

It will be delivered to the

Bombardier Completion Centre in

Montreal this month for the

installation of a production

interior. Flight testing for

environmental control system

validation and interior function and

reliability will begin as soon as the

interior installation is complete.

It will then be joining the first

aircraft as part of the two-aircraft

test programme.

“This second test aircraft will play

a critical role in increasing aircraft

maturity at entry into service,” said

Robert Duffield, director of the Global

5000 programme.

“Each interior system will also

undergo ground clearance testing to

replicate the expected cycles on

the aircraft.”

Test pilots captain Mark Schlegel

and co-pilot Steve Gorton flew the

aircraft, with lead flight test engineer

Ray Tamburro also onboard.