Bombardier Plans First Flight of CSeries for September 16

Pending optimal weather conditions and aircraft readiness, Bombardier Aerospace plans to perform the first flight of the CS100 flight test vehicle one (FTV1), on Monday, September 16.

Bombardier Aerospace says it will confirm more precise timing approximately 24 hours prior to the actual date and time of the first flight of FTV1.

During the week beginning September 9, 2013, Bombardier Aerospace completed high-speed taxi tests with the first flight-test CS100 jet as a necessary preliminary to the aircraft making its maiden flight

The CS100 is the smaller of two initially planned models of the new Bombardier CSeries commercial jet family. The larger model is known as the Bombardier CS300 and is planned to enter service approximately a year after the first delivery of a CS100 to a customer.

During the past week, Bombardier CS100 FTV1 conducted a series of high-speed taxi tests with FTV1 at Mirabel Airport near Montreal, which culminated the aircraft recording speeds of 124 knots, or close to 230 km/h.

“Seeing the aircraft’s nose wheel lift slightly off the tarmac is exactly what we’ve been waiting to see at those high speeds and once again, it validates that FTV1’s tests are progressing very well,” said Rob Dewar, Bombardier Aerospace’s vice president and general manager, CSeries program, on September 10.

“We are very encouraged by this milestone as we keep moving forward to conclude the high-speed taxi runs and proceed to the shimmy testing of the landing gears,” added Dewar. “The big day is approaching and it’s very exciting.”

Interested observers may follow the first flight of FTV1 via a live, public webcast at www.cseriesfirstflight.bombardier.com.