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Monday, April 9, 2012

Business Jets - The Boeing BBJ

Business Jets - The Boeing BBJ

The Boeing Business Jet, also known as the BBJ, is a long-range corporate jet developed from the 737-700 and 800. The aircraft, a joint venture between Boeing and General Electric, was intended to be a corporate version of the popular 737 airliner. The BBJ first flew on September 4, 1998.

The BBJ is a direct competitor to several large business jets. After its launch, Airbus announced the ACJ, derived from their A319 commercial airframe. The BBJ also competes with the larger A320 Prestige and the smaller A318 Elite, but even with these competitors, the Boeing BBJ is currently the largest production business jet on the market. The Embraer Lineage, the Bombardier Global Express and the Gulfstream G550 can also be named as smaller competitors.

The BBJ was designed to combine the 737-700's airframe with the strengthened wing, fuselage centre section and landing gear of the 737-800, adding 3 to 10 belly auxiliary fuel tanks, resulting in a fuselage that has a length of 110ft 4in, a wingspan of 117ft 5in and a height of 41ft 3in. The BBJ features the 737 advanced LCD screen EFIS avionics flightdeck package, equipped with embedded dual GPS, TCAS, enhanced GPWS and a Flight Dynamics head-up guidance system.

Two CFM International CFM56-7 turbofans power the BBJ, allowing it to develop a normal cruising speed of 0.80 Mach. Maximum speed is 0.82 Mach. At 0.79 Mach the BBJ's maximum range, which is between 5510 and 6200 nautical miles, depending on the quantity of passengers and cargo. The maximum certificated altitude is 41 000 ft. Operating empty weights is 94 570 lb, with a maximum takeoff weight of 171 000 lb.

The BBJ has a flight crew of two pilots. The rear cabin is capable of seating 24 passengers with a conference area or exercise gym, or up to 63 passengers. However, the typical configuration supports a more luxurious layout, including a crew rest area, forward lounge, private suite with double bed and private bathroom facilities including shower, 12 first class sleeper seats at four abreast and 60in pitch, and rear galley and bathroom facilities.

The BBJ2, launched in1999, is based on the stretched 737-800 airframe, which is 19ft 2in longer than the BBJ. It also offers a larger cabin and more baggage space, but has slightly reduced range. Additionally, it is fitted with three to seven auxiliary belly fuel tanks. The BBJ3 is based on the 737-900ER series, and along with the BBJ2 and the BBJ, includes certain non-specific changes to the airframe.

The BBJ2 supports a range between 4935 and 5735 nautical miles, depending on the quantity of passengers. The empty weight is 100 815 lb, with a max takeoff weight of 174 200 lb. The fuselage measures are the same except for the length and height, which are 129ft 6in and 41ft 2in respectively.

The BBJ's size and range have increased the luxuries and functionality, and size of the modern business jet.

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