Challenger 605: Flying Barrel

Alternative: Legacy 600, Falcon 2000; On Ground: Mercedes S-class

What do you want? Comfort, cool, and public recognition? Put down the aircraft catalogue, get a Challenger 605 and enjoy.

Comfort
Looks like Bill Lear got tired of sending everyone for a walk to Central Park, otherwise why would he ever think of such a bizjet. It’s as comfortable as they get, at least for this class, with a stand-up, wide and spacious cabin – as long as you’re average size. If you want something bigger, throw in another ten million.

Technology
It has everything it should. Two engines. A wing. T-tail. Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 glass cockpit. An entertainment system, internet access, and satellite communications. Whatever the owner wants he gets.

Cool
It’s cool on the inside. Not one for those who pick their wine by the shape of the bottle. Just like its predecessors, the Challenger 605 looks like a barrel with wings: a bit fat and short, as if he’d overdone the steroids. Form follows function. There you go.

Flight
The speed is nice at 470 ktas and the range is an impressive 4010 nm. Welcome to Moscow from the U.S. if you don’t mind an extra stop. The ceiling is not as good though, this plane won’t always take you over intensive traffic. Even its Learjet sibling is better.

Quality
Challenger is a renowned brand. It has been popular internationally for over 30 years and a hit for at least 10 among Russian charter customers. Strange that it’s lagging behind in fourth place in the AIN product support survey.

Practicality
A spacious stand-up cabin (not for basketball players though) for 10-12, a well-known respected brand, “mature” specs, and low operating costs. Asking price is around 30 million. Too expensive? Get a Yak-40 and have fun. Remember to donate it to a museum after five years. Not all planes are as popular on the preowned market as the “too expensive” Challenger.

Costs
See Practicality.

Verdict
A good all-rounder for those who know what value for money is. Leave the oval windows, high speed, and excessive range to the spenders – and let them get the other Challenger. The one by Dodge.

Overall: 9 of 13

Specifications

Price:  $28 359 000 

Variable costs:  $2 934.71 per hour

MTOW: 48 200 lbs (21 863 kg) 

Seats:  12

Cabin Size: (LxHxW) 28'4''x6'11''x8'2'' (6.3х1.85х2.49 m)

Cabin / Baggage Volume: 1 150 / 115 cu. ft. (32.56 / 3.26 cu. m) 

Range: 4 045 nm (7 491 km)

Cruise Speed: 470 ktas (870 km/h) 

Rate of Climb:  4 300 f/m (1311 m/min) 

Certified Ceiling: 41 000 ft (12 497 m)

Max Payload: 5 015 lb (2 275 kg)

Photo courtesy: Bombardier Aerospace