Bombardier CRJ700 series

The Bombardier CRJ, CRJ900, and CRJ1000 are regional airliners based on the successful CRJ200.

Development

Following the success of the CRJ-100/-200 series, Bombardier decided to go ahead with the production of two larger variants in order to compete with small airliners such as the Boeing 717, the Boeing 737-600, the Embraer E-Jets and similar.

CRJ700

Stretched 70-seat version. The CRJ700 is equipped with the General Electric CF34-8C1 engine. Maximum speed is Mach .85 at a maximum altitude of 41,000 feet (12,500 m). Depending upon payload, the CRJ-700 can travel up to 2250 statute miles (3,600 km) with current engines, and a new variant with CF34-8C5 engines will be able to travel up to 2895 miles (4,660 km). The CRJ700 features a new wing with leading edge slats and a stretched and slightly widened fuselage, with a lowered floor. This enables the aircraft to carry up to 78 passengers with a crew of 2 plus cabin crew. The first flight was in 1999 and it entered service in 2001. Competes loosely with the Embraer 170. The CRJ700 comes in two subvariants - Series 701 and Series 705.

The Series 705 is actually a CRJ900, with a business class and a reduced maximum seating capacity to allow operation with scoped regional airlines. Some regional airlines have contracts with their major airlines that limit the maximum passenger capacity of aircraft they operate. Air Canada Jazz was the launch customer for this aircraft in 2005 with 10 executive (business) class and 65 economy seats.

In August 2006 a total of 260 CRJ700 aircraft (all variants) are in airline service, with 29 further firm orders. Major operators include Lufthansa CityLine (20), American Eagle Airlines (25), Atlantic Southeast Airlines (35), Comair (15), Horizon Air (21), PSA Airlines (14), Air Canada Jazz (15), and SkyWest Airlines (57). Some 9 other airlines operate the type, but in smaller numbers. ^[1]

CRJ900

Stretched 86-seat version, with the GE CF-348C5 engines (13,360 lb thrust with APR) and added leading edge slats. Max GTOW is 82,500 pounds.The airplane is loosely based on the CRJ200 series with a few major improvements. The environmental packs have a target temperature instead of a hot-cold knob. The cabin has a recirc fan which aids in cooling and heating. The engines are controlled by FADEC digital engine control instead of control cables and a fuel control unit. The cabin floor has been lowered 2 inches which gains outward visibility from the windows in the cabin. The APU is a General Electric unit which supplies much more air to the AC packs and has higher limits for starting and altitude usage. The wingspan is longer, the tail is redesigned with more span and anhedral. In typical service the CRJ-900 can cruise 8-10,000 ft higher with a slightly higher fuel burn and an average true airspeed of 450-500 knots, a significant improvement over its predecessor.

File:CRJ-900LR.jpg

Mesa CRJ900LR at Las Vegas Airport

Currently Mesa Airlines, Mesaba, SkyWest and Air Canada Jazz operate the CRJ900 in North America. The first CRJ900 (N901FJ) was actually a CRJ700 with a longer fuselage plug fore and aft. It sits in Tucson, AZ, with only the flight test and ferry time on it. The CRJ900 competes loosely with the Embraer 175, and according to Bombardier is more efficient per seat-mile. The Embraer airliners have significantly more payload, range and a roomier cabin.

In June 2007 a total of 62 CRJ900 aircraft are in airline service, with 36 further firm orders. Major operators include Mesa Airlines (38), SkyWest Airlines (17) and Atlas Jet (3).^[1]

CRJ1000

On 19 February 2007, Bombardier launched the CRJ1000, previously designated CRJ900X, as a stretched CRJ900, with up to 100 seats. The aircraft is scheduled to enter service in late 2009. Bombardier claims that it offers better performance and a higher profit per seat than the competing Embraer E-190.

MyAir has ordered 15 CRJ-900X's converted to the CRJ1000.^[2] Atlasjet has also indicated interest in the new type.^[1] There are currently 38 firm orders and 23 options for the aircraft.^[3]

Operators

Specifications

CRJ-700:

Passengers: 70-75 + 4 Crew

Engines: Two General Electric CF34-8C5 turbofans producing 12,670 pounds (56.4 kN) thrust at take-off

Dimensions:

Length overall 106 ft 8 in 32.51 m

Wingspan 76 ft 3 in 23.24 m

Wing area (net) 760 ft2 70.61 m2

Height overall 24 ft 10 in 7.57 m

Fuselage maximum diameter 8 ft 10 in 2.69 m

Turning Circle 75 ft 22.86 m

CRJ-900

Passengers: 90-95 + 4 Crew

Engines: Two General Electric CF34-8C5 turbofans producing 12,670 pounds (56.4 kN) thrust at take-off

Dimensions:

Length overall 119 ft 4 in 36.40 m

Wingspan 81 ft 6 in 24.85 m

Wing area (net) 760 ft2 70.61 m2

Height overall 24 ft 7 in 7.51 m

References

^ ^a ^b ^c Cite error: The named reference FI was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Bombardier Aerospace Launches 100-Seat CRJ1000 Regional Jet. Bombardier.com. Accessed 19 February 2007.
^ http://www.bombardier.com/en/3_0/3_1/pdf/CRJ_april_30_07.pdf

The initial version of this article was based on a public domain article from Greg Goebel's Vectorsite.