In the first week of January a Bombardier Global 6500 corporate jet operated by the manufacturer touched down at Lanseria International Airport. Believed to be on a customer demonstration flight, it departed again the following day heading to South America. This low-key visit is the first to South Africa by the new jet that entered customer service in December 2019.

July the follow elivered almost ARDIER’S successful Global Express ow in its fourth generation with e first Global 6500. A clean l Express first flew on s Canadian type red service years, military clients across the globe. The Global 6500 and its smaller Global 5500 sibling were launched at EBACE in May 2018. Powered by the new, more fuel efficient Rolls Royce Pearl-15 engine, they introduced a number of new changes and improvements to an already proven design.

At the heart of the new-generation Global Corporate jets is the Rolls Royce Pearl 15 turbofan engine, designated the BR700- 710D5-21. It continues the Rolls Royce tradition of naming their engines after rivers. Based on the BR710 engine, the new design delivers 15,250lbs thrust with a 7% lower fuel burn while producing two decibels less noise and 20% lower nitrogen oxide emissions. It is also equipped with a new-generation engine health monitoring system with advanced vibration detection, remote engine diagnostics, and bi-directional communications that allows for easy remote reconfiguration of engine-monitoring features from the ground. The engine received FAA certification as well as Transport Canada and EASA certification.

The Global 6500 has a 6,600nm range allowing it to connect Hong Kong, Beijing or Shanghai to major destinations such as London, Milan or San Francisco.

An interesting anecdote from the development of the engine at the Rolls-Royce Centre of Excellence for Business Aviation engines in Dahlewitz, Germany is told by Corporate Jet Investor. In March 2017, the day before a media tour was to happen at the factory, it was realised that the press contingent would walk right past the core of the still-secret Pearl engine. Realising that was impossible to move, it was, in the end, decided to ‘hide it in plain sight’. To everyone’s relief no-one noticed it and the new project remained secret for another 12 months.

The Pearl engine remained a tightly guarded secret completing its numerous test flights before the announcement of the new Global 5500 and 6500 in May 2018. The fact that its cowl is identical to that of the Global 6000 made this very easy to conceal.

The interior of the Global 6500 also features several new features, including the new patented Nuage seat and chaise. Other improvements include a tweaked wing design, particularly the leading edge, an updated cabin managemen lution entertainment screens and Ka-band internet.