Midsize Business Jets
Bombardier Challenger 850
ICAO: CRJ2
Overview
The Learjet 85 was conceived as a clean-sheet composite business jet for the midsize segment. Announced in the late 2000s, it aimed to combine modern materials with established Learjet performance. The program was ultimately canceled before entry into service.
Specifications
Units
- Engine
- 2 × Pratt and Whitney PW307B
- Engine type
- Turbofan
- Thrust
- 2 × 6,100 lbf · 27 kN
- Avionics
- Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion
- Wing tips
- Blended tips
- Seats
- 9
- Crew
- —
- Cabin width
- 6 ft 1 in · 1.85 m
- Cabin height
- 5 ft 11 in · 1.80 m
- Cabin length
- 24 ft 9 in · 7.54 m
- Exterior length
- 68 ft 1 in · 20.76 m
- Tail height
- 19 ft 11 in · 6.08 m
- Fuselage diameter
- 6 ft 3 in · 1.90 m
- Wing span
- 61 ft 4 in · 18.70 m
- Baggage volume
- 106 ft³ · 3.0 m³
- Gross weight
- —
- Empty weight
- —
- Max takeoff weight
- 33,500 lb · 15,200 kg
- Max landing weight
- —
- Max payload
- 2,100 lb · 950 kg
- Fuel capacity
- 1,210 gal · 4,600 L · 3,700 kg (Jet A)
- Max cruise speed
- 470 kt · 541 mph · 870 km/h
- Maximum speed
- —
- Cruise speed
- —
- Approach speed
- —
- Range
- 3,000 nm · 3,450 mi · 5,560 km
- Fuel burn
- 2.48 nm/gal · 1.21 km/L
- Ceiling
- 49,000 ft · 14,900 m
- Rate of climb
- 2,500 ft/min · 13 m/s
- Takeoff distance
- 4,800 ft · 1,460 m
- Landing distance
- 2,700 ft · 820 m
Gallery
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Operational Context
Bombardier Learjet 85 — composite midsize business jet
The Learjet 85 first flew in 2014 during its development program. It featured extensive composite construction and advanced avionics systems. Bombardier intended it to replace earlier aluminum Learjet designs.
Two Pratt & Whitney Canada PW307 turbofan engines were selected to power the aircraft, each producing approximately 6,100 pounds of thrust (27.1 kN). Cruise speed was projected near Mach 0.82. Maximum takeoff weight was planned to exceed 33,000 pounds (14,969 kg).
Despite promising performance goals, the program was canceled in 2015 amid market pressures and cost challenges. No production aircraft entered service. The Learjet 85 remains an example of an ambitious but unrealized modernization effort.
Sources and references used for research and fact-checking.