The world's fastest supersonic aircraft is being built: What you need to know

Canadian aircraft company Bombardier is developing the world's fastest and longest-range purpose-built business jet, known as the Global 8000. 

The business jet is set to achieve a top speed of Mach 0.94, making it the fastest business jet in the world. The Global 8000 has the capacity to seat 19 passengers and has a range of 8,000 nautical miles (14,800km). Bombardier aims to achieve a cabin altitude of 2,900 feet in the Global 8000. 

The jet is expected to come to service by 2025. The development of the jet was announced on May 23. “The Global 8000 aircraft leverages the outstanding attributes of the Global 7500 aircraft, providing our customers with a flagship aircraft of a new era. We remain unmatched, which for an innovation-focused team like us, is great,” President and CEO of Bombardier, Eric Martel said.

In May 2021, the Global 7500 had broken the sound barrier by achieving the speed of Mach 1.015. 

Other than being the fastest jet, Bombardier also intends to make Global 8000 the healthiest cabin and has equipped the jet with Bombardier’s Pũr Air and advanced HEPA filter technology. 

Currently, the Global 8000 jet is being flight-tested on Global 7500 flight-test vehicles. 

NOT THE ONLY ONE:  Bombardier isn’t the only company aiming to make supersonic jets. 

United Airlines announced in 2021 that they will begin to offer supersonic routes starting as early as from 2029. 

US-based company Boom Supersonic has completed the flight testing of the prototype model of their Overture jet. The jet has a Mach 2.2 speed and aims to cover 500 mainly transoceanic routes. 

Concorde was the first supersonic commercial airplane. It was built by aircraft manufacturers in Great Britain and France. The Concorde made the world’s first scheduled supersonic passenger service on in 1976.