The initial appearance of Bombardier's Global 7000 at an aviation industry event also marks the debut for Nexcelle's nacelle system on this Canadian-built business jet's Passport integrated propulsion system (IPS).

Exhibited on static display at the National Business Aviation Association's (NBAA) annual convention in Las Vegas, Nevada, is one of four Bombardier Global 7000 Flight Test Vehicles that have logged several hundred hours aloft during the twin-engine aircraft's flight test and certification program.

The Passport powerplant is business aviation's first truly integrated propulsion system, benefitting from the close cooperation between Nexcelle as the nacelle system supplier and GE Aviation as the turbofan engine's manufacturer.

"Our nacelle system is demonstrating its capabilities as a key element in the Passport IPS, as demonstrated during the hundreds of flight cycles logged to date by the Global 7000 Flight Test Vehicles," Onderko said. "We have good feedback on the nacelle system's reliability as Nexcelle continues to support the Global 7000's sustained flight test pace."

The Nexcelle joint venture's two parent companies – GE Aviation's Middle River Aircraft Systems (MRAS) and Safran Nacelles of the Safran group – are now shipping the final development nacelle components for Bombardier's Flight Test Vehicle fleet. In parallel, MRAS and Safran Nacelles are readying the production ramp-up to meet Bombardier's aircraft delivery scheduling, and will begin supplying production nacelle hardware during the fourth quarter of 2017 for integration on Passport engines to outfit the initial Global 7000 customer aircraft.

A lighter-weight, aerodynamically-efficient nacelle system

"Our hand-in-hand working relationship with the engine manufacturer and its propulsion engineers is showing positive results, providing the lightest-weight, most aerodynamically-efficient product available," explained Nexcelle President Kenneth Onderko.

He noted that Bombardier has set highly-demanding tolerances for the Passport nacelle's "steps and gaps" – (the positioning and spacing clearances between such elements as the inlet, fan cowl doors and thrust reverser). As a result, the nacelle system is more aerodynamically optimized, as well as being "tight" throughout the propulsion system's internal airflow path.

"The steps and gaps requirements are along the most exacting ever," Onderko added. "We're achieving the goals for these tolerances, contributing to the overall efficiency of the Passport IPS on the Global 7000."

The Passport nacelle incorporates the extensive use of composites for reduced weight – including large two-piece fan cowl doors that facilitate access to the engine for inspection and maintenance; along with a 360-degree single-piece extended inner barrel, which contains advanced acoustic protection for lower engine noise levels.

Other features of Nexcelle's Passport nacelle are its one-piece aluminum inlet lip for reduced aerodynamic drag; an innovative anti-ice system that uses the directed flow nozzle concept; and the target-type thrust reverser with a fixed nozzle for lower weight and reverse thrust efficiency, as well as movable kicker plates that enhance thrust reverser performance in the direct mode.