What is a Bombardier Challenger 850 Jet?
The Bombardier Challenger 850 is a large business jet made by Bombardier Aerospace. It started life as an airliner. Bombardier took the CRJ200, a 50-seat regional jet, and fitted it with a corporate interior.
That origin explains the cabin. The Challenger 850 has the length of an airliner, so it carries more people than most business jets in its range class. It is a good fit for a team, a family or a group that wants to travel together on one aircraft.
Overview of the Bombardier Challenger 850 Jet
The aircraft first appeared in 1996 as the Challenger SE (Special Edition). Bombardier rebranded it as the Challenger 850 in 2006. Production ended in 2012 after 71 deliveries.
"Challenger 850" is a marketing name. Each one is a CL-600-2B19 airframe that left the factory "green", without an airliner interior, and was then completed with a corporate cabin approved under a supplemental type certificate. Because each interior was finished separately, layouts vary from one aircraft to the next.
Design and Specifications of the Bombardier Challenger 850 Jet
Body and Cabin Features
The Challenger 850 is a twin-engine, T-tail jet with its engines mounted on the rear fuselage. Its main dimensions are:
- Length: 87 ft 10 in (26.77 m)
- Wingspan: 69 ft 7 in (21.21 m)
- Height: 20 ft 5 in (6.22 m)
- Maximum takeoff weight: 52,999 lb (24,040 kg)
Size and Capacity
Most Challenger 850s seat 12 to 16 passengers. The published crew is two pilots plus one cabin attendant. When you charter one, ask the operator for the floor plan of the specific aircraft, since seat count and the mix of club seats, divans and dining areas differ between interiors.
Layout and Interior
The cabin is long and narrow compared with jets designed as business aircraft from the start. Interiors usually split the space into several seating zones, with a galley and a lavatory. That makes it practical for a longer flight with a larger group: people can work in one section while others rest in another.
Performance and Speed
Power comes from two General Electric CF34-3B1 turbofans, each producing 8,730 pounds of thrust. Bombardier's published figures give:
- High-speed cruise: Mach 0.80 (459 knots, 528 mph)
- Long-range cruise: Mach 0.74 (425 knots, 489 mph)
- Maximum operating speed: Mach 0.85
Range and Endurance
The Challenger 850's range is 2,811 nautical miles (3,235 miles, 5,206 km) at long-range cruise. That figure assumes eight passengers, two crew, standard conditions and NBAA IFR fuel reserves. That is transcontinental range.
Real range on the day depends on the load, the cruise speed, the winds and the weather. If you are planning a long nonstop flight with a full cabin, ask the operator to confirm the route before you book.
Speed and Altitude
The service ceiling is 41,000 feet. The aircraft needs a balanced field length of 6,305 feet at sea level in standard conditions at maximum takeoff weight, and a landing distance of 2,910 feet at maximum landing weight. Those numbers matter when you want to fly into a smaller airport, so the operator will check the runway at both ends of your trip.
Safety Features of the Bombardier Challenger 850 Jet
Collision Avoidance and Flight Management
The Challenger 850's published avionics include:
- Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS II), which alerts the crew to nearby aircraft
- Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System (EGPWS), which warns of terrain ahead
- Dual flight management systems (FMS 4200), dual GPS and dual inertial reference systems
Safety on any charter also depends on the operator: its pilots, its maintenance and its certification. BLADE books flights only with licensed operators.
Avionics and Navigation in the Bombardier Challenger 850 Jet
The flight deck is a Rockwell Collins Pro Line 4 system with six EFIS screens and a two-screen engine indication and crew alerting system (EICAS). Navigation equipment includes dual DME and dual ADF radios alongside the dual GPS and inertial reference systems.
Chartering a Challenger 850 with BLADE
BLADE arranges private jet charters. All US flights are operated by FAA-licensed carriers, and BLADE books the aircraft for you. Tell BLADE your route, date and group size, and you can compare the aircraft available for your trip, including large-cabin jets like the Challenger 850 when one is free. Prices and availability depend on the route, the date and the aircraft.