Bombardier Challenger 300 Super Midsize Corporate Business Jet, Canada
The Challenger 300, originally known as the 
Continental Business Jet BD-100, is medium size trans-continental business jet from Bombardier Aerospace of Canada. The aircraft was renamed in September 2002.
The aircraft carries up to eight passengers in a cabin with stand-up headroom over a non-stop range of 3,100 nm, i.e. coast-to-coast range across America, using a take-off airfield length of less than 5,000 ft.
The aircraft was launched in 1999 and the first flight of the aircraft took place in August 2001 from Bombardier’s Learjet plant in Wichita, Kansas. The aircraft received certification from Transport Canada in May 2003, US Federal Aviation Authority in June 2003 and European Joint Aviation Authorities in August 2003. The Challenger 300 entered service with Flexjet in January 2004. Over 80 Challenger 300 jets are in service worldwide.
Deliveries and orders
«The Challenger 300 carries up to eight passengers over a non-stop range of 3,100 nm».
Bombardier has received firm orders for over 150 aircraft, including 17 for Bombardier’s subsidiary company Flexjet, based in Dallas, and Flexjet Europe, based in Hounslow, UK, for its fractional ownership program.
By owning a fractional interest in the aircraft, corporate customers have the availability of business jet travel. All aircraft operations are professionally managed on the owner’s behalf by Flexjet, including flight crew employment and maintenance for a fixed monthly management fee.
In July 2004, Qatar Airways ordered one Challenger 300 for delivery in March 2005 and the Royal Jet Group of Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) ordered two Challengers 300 for delivery in mid-2005, with options for two additional aircraft.
In November 2004, the aircraft set a world speed record for its class for a journey from Carlsbad, California, to Bangor, Maine. With two pilots and eight passengers, the Challenger 300 traveled the 4,365 km (2,712 miles) in 4 hours 41 minutes, cruising at an average speed of 921km/h (572 mph).
Construction
The Challenger 300 has a conventional all-metal airframe. Winglets reduce lift-induced drag. Canadair is responsible for building the forward section of the fuselage including the cockpit and primary flight controls. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries builds the wings.
Bombardier Aerospace in Belfast is responsible for construction of the centre fuselage. The rear fuselage and tail are built by AIDC of Taiwan. Hawker De Havilland Australia supplies auxiliary power installation unit.
The component sections are transported to the Bombardier Aerospace Learjet facility in Wichita for final assembly. Final assembly has also begun at Bombardier’s Montreal Dorval plant and all Challenger 300 production is to move to Montreal.
