3rd Edition of Choice Option Magazine August 2014 | Page 12

Lifestyle

Jet Buy

Description
The Challenger 600 is more like an airliner
than a private jet. Comparable to the Boeing
737, it offers much more cabin space than
any similar aircraft. It is quiet, fairly economical, and handles well. Pilots love to fly it, and
passengers love the spacious, comfortable
cabin and transcontinental range.
To be exact, the cabin has a width of 8.2 feet
and a height of 6.1 feet. It is usually configured to seat between nine and twelve passengers, but can be configured for as many as
nineteen. Needless to say, it’s a very roomy
private jet. The cabin is comfortable not only
for its size, but also for its very low noise and
vibration levels. There are 115 cubic feet of
baggage space available in an internal compartment.
Two Avco Lycoming ALF502L engines power
the Challenger 600. They were modified to
add supercharger stages to the low-pressure
compressor, enabling more than 7,500
pounds of thrust on takeoff. The Challenger
600 can take off in 5,700 feet at sea level, or
12 | Choice Options

Bombardier Challenger 600

in 7,350 feet at 5,000 feet at a temperature
of 77° Fahrenheit. Except when flying against
the strongest headwinds, it can cross the
United States nonstop. At its top cruise speed,
it flies at 443 ktas at an altitude of 39,000
feet (far above most air traffic), or it can cruise
at 425 ktas at 43,000 for long-range trips.
It burns 1,710 pounds of fuel per hour at
its long-range cruise performance levels, or
1,910 pounds per hour at maximum speed.
On average, it consumes 262 gallons of fuel
per hour.
The Challenger 600 has four backup power
systems. Its primary system is the 115-VAC
400-Hz electrical system. It gives more power
and voltage than the DC power systems usually installed in business jets. An AC alternator serves as the first backup system, and an
AlliedSignal GTCP 36-100E APU along with
another AC generator and air-driven generator (ADG) are the second and third backups.
This system powers many of the Challenger
600’s functions: hydraulic pumps, wing flaps,
landing lights, and various anti-ice systems.
Its bleed air is used to start the engines and

control environmental systems.
The Sperry SPZ-650 analog flight guidance
system dominates the control panel in the
cockpit. It includes Primus 400 weather radar,
dual-channel SPZ-650 autopilot, a GNS-500
VLF/Omega navigation system, and several
other situational awareness systems.
The Challenger 600 offers capabilities of
an airline jet without the high cost. Its cabin
space is unmatched by any jet in its class, and
it still performs economically. Overall, it is a
private jet that offers as many options as you
can find flying commercial.