CHALLENGER 870CS

The Challenger 870 CS derives from Canadair’s Regional Jet series, having all of the space and performance capabilities of an airliner at the cost of a turboprop.  Rebranded in 2003, the airliner became the Bombardier Challenger 850 CS and 870 CS.  As an “extended” version of the 850, the 870 offers more interior space, a redesigned wing and improved landing gear just to name a few.

As a high-capacity business “shuttle,” the 870 CS requires a large powerhouse (a great deal larger than its predecessor).  A pair of General Electric CF34-8C5 turbofan engines provide 14,000 lbs of thrust apiece.  When compared to the 850’s GE CF34-8C1 engines, these have better fuel consumption and high altitude performance, as well as lower maintenance costs.

The 870 CS’s is equipped with the same flight deck as the Regional Airliner. The Pro Line 4 includes six screens, primary and secondary flight displays, and full EICAS functionality.  Other features are dual GPS receivers, dual FMS, dual nav/comm, Mode S transponder, WXR 840 weather radar, and an automatic fire detection system.

For a larger aircraft, the Challenger 870 CS still compares with smaller, faster business jets in regards to performance.  The 870 can travel at .83 Mach and reach a certified flight ceiling of 41,000 feet.  During climb, it takes a relatively quick 25 minutes to reach 37,000 feet, a remarkable 7 minutes faster than its smaller predecessor.  It can also cruise at high speeds of 471 ktas.

The Challenger 870 CS’s cabin is notably longer than the 850 CS (eleven feet to be exact).   The interior measures 59.1 feet long, 8.3 feet wide and 6.1 feet high (stand-up, of course).  A true high-capacity business jet, the 870 seats 70 passengers, with 42 business class seats, 8 executive chairs and 44 coach seats.  Storage is plentiful in the Challenger 870 CS, holding 350 cubic feet of luggage and an additional 109 cubic feet under its floor.  As far as the interior is concerned, the Challenger 870 CS’s resemblance to an airliner jet is uncanny.

The Challenger 870 is unique in that it originated from an airliner.  It is an ideal executive jet for large capacity travel, maintaining the spatial components of the airliner.  Additional features and design modifications have made the 870 CS a better delivering/accommodating aircraft over the 850 CS.   It is the perfect investment for a big company.