WINGS The Bombardier Global 7500, electric aircraft, and meet the CEO of Eviation.

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WHEN BOMBARDIER Global 7500—the largest and longestrange business jet ever built—in 2010, the company said the aircraft would enter service in 2016. But, as often happens, the development and certification processes dragged on, and so here we are in 2019, and deliveries of the Global 7500 have only just begun.

The questions we ask now are, who’s been waiting, and for how many of these jets? Don’t bother asking Bombardier. It’s not divulging any specifics from its order book, not even to an industry insider such as Robb Report Private Aviation Advisory Board member Lee Rohde, the president and CEO of Essex Aviation, a privateaviation acquisitions and consulting firm in New Hampshire. “They’re keeping things very tight to the vest,” says Rohde.

According to some sources, the order list remains long enough that if you purchase a buying position today, you shouldn’t expect to receive your jet until at least 2021. Rohde has two clients waiting to take delivery of the Global 7500. Both operate multinational companies and plan to use the aircraft primarily for business trips but also for personal travel. Each currently owns a smaller, shorter-range Global model. Rohde says they want the 7500 for its additional range and its extra room. The Global 7500 is the only purpose-built business jet with four separate living areas aft of the galley, and one of them can be a bedroom.

According to Rohde, the delay hasn’t been a major inconvenience. “For most of the people, this will be either an additional airplane or it’s going to replace the one they have.” M.D. Seaton