The Bombardier Challenger 650, a refreshed version of the CL605 with new avionics and more powerful engines, is making its public debut this week here in Geneva. “We are thrilled to unveil our Challenger 650, which is scheduled to enter into service in the second half of 2015,” said Eric Martel, president of Bombardier Business Aircraft (Static Display, Booth Z115).

Launched at last year’s NBAA Convention in October, the 3,200-nm/5,926-km Challenger will feature the Bombardier Vision flight deck based on the Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion avionics system, originally designed for the Bombardier Global 6000. Vision features large 15-inch displays and includes head-up guidance, synthetic vision, enhanced vision, MultiScan weather radar and the Integrated Flight Information System. The new model made its first flight on February 26.

Priced at $32.35 million, the twinjet’s passenger cabin borrows design elements from the cabins of the Challenger 350 and the now-shelved Learjet 85. Improvements include wider seats, a galley with a temperature oven, more personal storage in and around the seats and an audio/video-on-demand system.

The Challenger 650 is powered by two GE Aviation 9,220-pound-thrust CF34-3BMTOs, which have 5 percent more takeoff thrust than the CF34-3B engines on the 605. The additional thrust is pilot selectable via a new performance thrust setting.

The Challenger 650 is flanked by several other Bombardier jets at the EBACE static area, including the Learjet 75, Challenger 350 and Global 6000. The company is also showing a full-scale mockup of the Global 7000 at its booth.

"We currently have more than 570 Bombardier business aircraft flying within Europe, and with a full range of products and services, we are committed to maintaining our leadership position within the market,” concluded Martel.