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Bombardier completes first flight of new jetliner |
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Thursday, 04 September 2008 |
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Bombardier has successfully completed the first flight of its prototype CRJ1000 NextGen jetliner.
Aircraft manufacturer Bombardier has successfully flown its prototype CRJ1000 NextGen jetliner from its facility at Quebec in Canada.
The flight, which was piloted by Jacques Thibaudeau and Chuck Ellis, lasted three hours and 25 minutes. It reached a height of 30,000 feet (9.1 km) and a maximum speed of 260 knots (481 kmph)
"A first flight is an important milestone in the development of a new aircraft such as the CRJ1000 NextGen regional jet," said Jean-Guy Blondin, director of CRJ programmes at Bombardier.
"We are very satisfied with the readiness of our prototype which is embarking on its journey to type certification, thanks to the dedicated work of our suppliers and employees."
The 100-seat aircraft is due to enter into commercial service during the fourth quarter of 2009. Next year, it will be sent to the manufacturer's flight test centre in Kansas, along with the first production CRJ1000 NextGen airliner.
At the beginning of this month, Bombardier announced that Canadian operator Porter Airlines had converted two options for Q400 turboprop aircraft into firm orders.
They are the fifteenth and sixteenth aircraft to be confirmed from an original order of 10 firm and 10 options placed in 2006.
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