Bombardier Begins Assembly of Prototype CRJ900 Series
TORONTO, ONTARIO--OCTOBER 4, 2000 - 09:31 EDT
Bombardier Aerospace has begun assembly of the
prototype 86-seat CRJ900* Series regional jet.
First flight of the prototype is scheduled for the first quarter
of 2001, followed by delivery to the Bombardier Aerospace Flight
Test Center in Wichita, Kansas.
To create the prototype, Serial Number (SN) 15991, Bombardier will
insert two fuselage plugs measuring 2.29 metres and 1.57 metre (90
and 62 inches) into the fuselage of CRJ700* Series SN 10001,
giving the aircraft an overall length of 36.19 metres (118.75
feet). The fuselage plugs were manufactured by Bombardier's
Shorts unit in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The prototype will
retain the original CRJ700 wing, engines, wheels and brakes.
Assembly of the first production CRJ900, SN 15001, with a stronger
wing, upgraded wheels and brakes, two additional over-wing exits
and General Electric CF34-8C5 engines, is scheduled to begin in
the first quarter of 2001.
Officially launched at the 2000 Farnborough Air Show in July, the
CRJ900 has attracted orders from BRIT Air of France (four firm,
eight options) and General Electric Capital Aviation Services of
the U.S. (10 firm, 20 options). Tyrolean Airways of Austria has
signed a Letter of Agreement for 12, while Air Nostrum of Spain
has signed a Letter of Agreement covering eight CRJ900 aircraft.
Type certification of the CRJ900 is scheduled for the third
quarter of 2002 with customer deliveries scheduled to begin in the
first quarter of 2003.
"The CRJ900 will be the first regional jet in the 90-seat class to
the market and its exceptional operating economics will set the
standard for this category of aircraft," said Steven A. Ridolfi,
president of Bombardier Aerospace, Regional Aircraft. "Further,
its extensive family commonality with the 50-seat CRJ100* and
CRJ200* and 70-seat CRJ700 Series will offer regional airlines
unbeatable operational flexibility and a multi-million-dollar cost
advantage over mixed fleets."
The standard CRJ900 has a maximum take-off weight of 36 514 kg
(80,500 pounds) while the CRJ900ER (Extended Range) has a maximum
take-off weight of 37 421 kg (82,500 pounds). A "European
Version" of 36 995 kg maximum take-off weight is available to
minimize weight-related charges in European airspace.
The standard aircraft has a still-air range of 2,778 km (1,500
nautical miles), putting Reykjavik, Moscow, Marrakech and Ankara
within nonstop range of Frankfurt.
Bombardier Aerospace, a unit of Bombardier Inc., is the leading
business, regional and amphibious aircraft manufacturer. With
full design and production capabilities in three countries, it
offers the most comprehensive families of turboprop and regional
jet aircraft and the widest range of business jets. It also
provides the Flexjet fractional business aircraft ownership
program, technical services, aircraft maintenance and pilot
training for business, regional airline and military customers.
Bombardier Inc., a diversified manufacturing and service company,
is a world leading manufacturer of business jets, regional
aircraft, rail transportation equipment and motorized recreational
products. It is also a provider of financial services and asset
management. The Corporation employs 56,000 people in 12 countries
in North America, Europe and Asia, and more than 90 per cent of
its revenues are generated outside Canada. Bombardier's revenues
for its fiscal year ended Jan. 31, 2000, totalled $13.6 billion
Cdn.
* Trademark of Bombardier Inc.
Note to Editors: Images of CRJ900 assembly is available on our
website photo gallery at:
www.aero.bombardier.com/htmen/CRJ900Series.htm |
