Bombardier Challenger 650
Bombardier · Canada · first flew 2014 · transport aircraft
The Challenger 650 is the current production member of the long-running Challenger 600 series, with upgraded avionics, new winglets and improved cabin comfort over the Challenger 605 it replaced.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, swept |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × turbofan, tail-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Wide-body fuselage — the Challenger 600 series cross-section is one of the widest in the mid-large class, visible as a noticeably fat fuselage from any angle |
| T — Tail | T-tail |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Wide-body fuselage — the Challenger 600 series cross-section is one of the widest in the mid-large class, visible as a noticeably fat fuselage from any angle
- Revised winglets with scimitar-style tips distinguish it on the ramp from the earlier 604 and 605
- GE CF34-3B engines in large, blunt nacelles high on the rear fuselage; same overall silhouette as the 604/605 family
The fat, wide-body fuselage is the key cue separating the 650 (and all Challenger 600-series) from the narrower Hawker 800 or Learjet 60. Against the Challenger 350 the 650 is clearly longer and wider.
Specifications
- The Bombardier Challenger 650 has a length of 20.1 m (66 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 19.61 m (64 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 882 km/h (548 mph).
- Typical crew: 2 flight crew.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
First flown in 2014 and entering service in 2015, the 650 continued Bombardier's strategy of incremental improvement to an airframe lineage dating to the original Challenger 600 of 1978. The wide-body cabin and established support network have kept it competitive against newer designs from Gulfstream and Embraer.
Variants
The 650 is the sole current variant; earlier family members include the Challenger 600, 601, 604 and 605, each introducing progressive improvements in engines, avionics and cabin.
Where you'll see it
One of the most frequently seen large-cabin bizjets across European airports; Luton, Farnborough and Geneva all handle multiple 650 movements per day in the peak season.
Related aircraft
- Bombardier Challenger 350
- Bombardier E-11A
- Bombardier Global 7500
- Learjet 75
- Antonov An-178
- Boeing KC-46 Pegasus
- Dassault Falcon 8X
- Harbin Z-20
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