FOR AFRICAN GOVERNMENTS and private sector operators, given the long distances and lack of intra-African air connectivity, business jets have an invaluable role.
The original Global Express with its range of 5,400 nautical miles came, along with the big Gulfstream jets, to epitomise long-range, large-cabin business aircraft. The type has evolved over time: Global Express, to Global Express XRS, to Global 6000, to Global 6500.
The subject of our flight test is a Global Express, ZS-SMF constructor's number 9074 built in 2000 and delivered to South Africa in 2021. This aircraft benefitted from a full factory refurbishment before its delivery to South Africa.
The aircraft was built as a baseline Global Express and is now operated by United Air Charters on behalf of its owner, Sam Matakekane, a Lesotho/SA businessman.
Development
Canada's Bombardier acquired Canadair, with its Challenger 600 business jet, in 1986. Using the Challenger 600 series as a starting point, Bombardier proposed a long-range business aircraft to carry eight passengers and four crew over 12,000 km (6,500 nm) at Mach 0.85. To meet this goal a team was established at the company's Montreal facility in the early 1990s. By 1994, this team had grown to 200 engineers, evenly divided between Canadair and various partners, including Japanese company Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Anglo-German engine manufacturer BMW Rolls-Royce.
The final product was the Global Express, which first flew on 13 October 1996, received its Canadian type certification on 31 July 1998 and entered service in July 1999.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة September 2022 من SA Flyer Magazine.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 8500 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة September 2022 من SA Flyer Magazine.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 8500 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
SACRIFICE
John continues his anecdotes about the sacrifices he has had to make in the course of his helicopter bush flying career.
KENYA - SAA PARTNERSHIP DELAY
KENYA AIRWAYS AND South African Airways announced the establishment of a highly anticipated Pan-African Airline Group three years ago.
TO PARIS FOR LUNCH
One morning I arrived back at Lanseria from a two day charter to a dreary Northern Cape iron mine. Entering the terminal, I removed my wings and epaulets, thrust them into my flight bag, and headed for the restaurant.
ASCA'S MPUMI MPOFU: READY FOR TAKE-OFF
Ms Mpumi Mpofu has occupied the hot seat as Chief Executive of ACSA, the Airports Company of South Africa for a tumultuous past four years.
HYDROGEN POWERED PLANE TESTED
WORLD’S LARGEST liquid hydrogen-powered aircraft, using a 1 MW fuel cell engine, has been tested.
CAMEROON - BLAMES BOEING
BOEING JUST CANNOT STAY out of trouble. It has become the whipping boy for endless absurd claims.
IRIS GOES TO SOMALIA
Having spent the last couple of years flying to a rota, I was thoroughly enjoying the freedom and randomness of flying charters at Sunbird Aviation.
TELEPORTATION
One of the best clients for whom I ever flew was BP, the British oil giant. I was with them in Algeria for about seven years, from the very start of their large gas projects, right in the heart of the Sahara Desert, near the small towns of In Amenas and In Salah.
FEBRUARY 2023
February has shown steady growth in the number of aircraft registered. Four fixed wing and one helicopter were added while the non-type certified (NTCA) register grew by seven.
RIGHT SEAT RULES NO. 16 FUEL SYSTEMS WHY SO COMPLICATED?
You know those aggranoying people who say, “Oh I wouldn't fly in one of those little things - you can't just pull over and fix it if something goes wrong\"? What makes this particularly irritating is that the bastards are right.
