Bombardier Challenger 600 series
The Bombardier Challenger 600 is a family of business aircraft, which was designed by William P. Lear under the terms LearStar 600 for use in the short and medium-haul routes. The design of the LearStar 600 was bought by Canadian company Canadair, which realized the concept under the name Challenger 600. Even after the acquisition of Canadair by Bombardier, the project was continued and extended to include new variants.
Challenger 600
The Canadair Challenger 600 was the original version. When driving two turbofan engines ALF - 502L Avco Lycoming, whose jet engine division is now part of Honeywell International served. The thrust was 33.6 kN per engine.
Challenger 601
After the first version ( CL600 ) was found in the drive when Challenger 601- 1A, the biggest change. Here the vulnerable Avco Lycoming ALF - 502L - engines were replaced by more modern and more powerful General Electric CF -34 -3A. The possible maximum takeoff thrust hereby increased by about 20 percent over the Avco - drive. In addition, the fuel consumption dropped significantly. The engine is based on the same arrangement on the trunk already proven on the A -10 U.S. Air Force General Electric TF34. Among the other new features of the CL -601 include the introduction of winglets. With version CL601 - 3A, a modern EFIS cockpit held Honeywell feeder. The major innovation in the Challenger 601 -3R was the standard introduction of additional fuel tanks in the extreme rear of the aircraft ( which this also extended ). Result, the maximum takeoff weight and the range was increased. Previously, these so -called " Tailtank " was already available as an option of a supplier in the retrofit kit.
Challenger 604
The Bombardier Challenger 604 is a twin-engine long-range business aircraft in low-wing design. The aircraft has a two - man cockpit and a cabin for up to 19 passengers.
This type is a further development of the Challenger 600 and 601 by installing additional tanks in the back, the range compared to the CL601 -3R to 819 km could be increased ( by as much as 2272 km compared to CL600 ). Thereby, the Challenger was the long-haul aircraft. The most significant changes to the last version CL601 ( CL601 -3R ) were made with the installation of a glass cockpit from Rockwell Collins. In addition, the airplane received a significantly reinforced landing gear with larger tires; whereby the brakes enlarged and could be improved. The engines were slightly increased compared to the CL601 again in power, which manifests itself mainly in a better takeoff and climb performance. The thrust of the new CF -34 -3B is limited during normal operation to 38.8 kN, but can be increased, including the so-called automatic power reserve (APR) to up to 41 kN,.
Challenger 605
The Bombardier Challenger 605 is currently the latest version, which has some new features in the interior, while aerodynamics and engines remained unchanged. Improvements include especially larger window as well as a completely new avionics. Externally you can see the 605 differ from the 604 among others the amended tail cone and to the higher-lying windows.
Military operators
In addition to numerous civilian company also set several military aircraft from the Challenger 600 series one as a liaison and VIP aircraft for high-ranking military officers and politicians.
- Australia Royal Australian Air Force - The no. 34 Squadron (season ) of the Australian Air Force is based at Canberra Airport and is three Challenger 604 as a complement to its two Boeing Business Jets one.
- Canada Royal Canadian Air Force - The Canadian Air Force puts the Challenger as a CC -144. The aircraft are in Trenton, Ontario, stationed at the 412th Transport Squadron. The previous Challenger Squadron of the Canadian Air Force was the 434th Transport Squadron.
- Czech Republic České Republiky Vzdušné SILY Armády - In the VIP fleet of the Czech Republic is used in addition to the A319CJ the Challenger in version Cl -601 -3A, these aircraft are stationed in Prague- Kbely and assigned to the 241 Transport Squadron.
- Denmark Flyvevåbnet - The air forces of Denmark have three Challenger 604 The so -equipped 721 squadron stationed in Aalborg.
Former operator
- Germany German Luftwaffe - The machine in the variant Challenger 601 was in Germany at the flight readiness of the Ministry of Defense from 1986 to 2011 in use. Flight readiness put the Challenger predominantly for political and parliamentary area. For the Federal Ministry of Defence and Transport, courier and connecting flights were performed. Through three conversion kits also medevac flights were possible. The Bundeswehr had seven machines of this type with the identifiers 12 01 to 12 07. The pattern was replaced in 2011 by the Bombardier Global 5000, with around 9500 km has a substantially greater range and slightly can use shorter runways.