Bombardier boss Eric Martel recently revealed that a large drone has been secretly flying in Canada since last year to help the company develop the business jet of the future.
“We currently have a demonstration model – a drone – with a wingspan of 18 feet [5,5 mètres] who secretly flies to Canada,” he told the American magazine Aviation Week.
The prototype is part of the EcoJet research program that Bombardier started around ten years ago. Since 2017, a nearly identical drone, but smaller with a wingspan of 2.4 meters (8 feet), has conducted numerous flights in North America.
The first prototype of the EcoJet with a wingspan of 2.4 meters. Photo provided by Bombardier
With the larger drone, the aircraft manufacturer receives data that is closer to the real flight situation of a business jet. Both prototypes are equipped with jet engines, but Bombardier does not rule out the possibility that its future business jets will be hybrid or even fully electric machines.
The largest in the country
“We believe we are the first to fly a drone this large and heavy in Canada. It is also probably the fastest ever to take to the air in Canadian airspace,” points out Benoit Breault, director of research and technology at Bombardier.
“Anything that’s ‘planes of the future’ falls right in my backyard,” he adds. For me it’s a little boy’s dream… I’m very lucky to do what I do!”
Benoit Breault Photo provided by Bombardier
What’s special about Bombardier’s EcoJet drones is that their wings are fully integrated into the fuselage. The result: significantly more consistent aerodynamics, which alone leads to fuel savings of around 20%.
“We believe this is the aviation of the future at Bombardier,” says Mr. Breault.
“One of our technical difficulties is that we have to learn how to make this new aerodynamic shape fly,” he explains. Hence this secret flight test program, which will have to continue for a few more years.
A close-up of the second EcoJet prototype with a wingspan of 5.5 meters. Photo provided by Bombardier
Difficult too Spotters
Few Canadians have had the opportunity to see Bombardier’s unmanned drones in real life. Their flights usually take place in remote locations… far away from curious onlookers and industrial spies.
Under Transport Canada regulations, Bombardier’s experimental drones are only allowed to fly in areas where there are no occupied buildings.
“And we absolutely have to close the airspace during the tests,” notes Benoit Breault.
Still, it’s not impossible that a viewer could see one of Bombardier’s drones.
“As soon as the plane takes off, it’s on the runway, it’s difficult to walk around with a black sheet [pour le cacher]says Mr. Breault. For this reason, we won’t reveal exactly where he’s going. But if there were people who were in the right place at the right time, they would definitely see it.”
Not 10 years ago
It will take at least ten years for the aerodynamic innovations tested by Bombardier drones to be used in operational aircraft.
However, Bombardier is already benefiting from the EcoJet program, which, among other things, piques the curiosity of aviation students and suppliers.
“Many people choose Bombardier because of the EcoJet,” claims Benoit Breault.
Bombardier refuses to say how much it has invested in the project so far, but Mr. Martel told Aviation Week that it is currently receiving “the largest share” of the company’s investment in research and development.
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