A Royal Canadian Air Force CL601 in Canadian Forces livery; used for short range transport of the Prime Minister and Governor General on May 21st, 2005.
The Canadair Challenger 600 series is a family of business jets. It is produced by Canadair. It is also used as a VIP Transport by the Canadian Forces and a few other air forces.
Variants[]
CL-600[]
CL-600[]
The original production version, powered by Avco Lycoming ALF 502L turbofans of 7500 lbf (33.6 kN) thrust each. Built from 1978 to 1982 (81 built)
CL-600S[]
3 CL-600s retrofitted with the winglets introduced on the CL-601-1A.
Canadair CC-144[]
12 aircraft purchased by the Royal Canadian Air Force, including the CE-144 and CX-144
Canadair CE-144[]
3 Electronic warfare / EW trainers converted to/from basic CC-144.
Canadair CX-144[]
2nd prototype, a CL-600-1A11, c/n 1002, allocated to the RCAF after finishing test programme. Used at the Aerospace Engineering and Test Establishment (AETE), RCAF Station Cold Lake until retirement in 1993, now preserved at the National Air Force Museum of Canada. Designated CC-144 in service.
CL-601[]
CL-601-1A[]
A refined version including winglets to decrease drag and more powerful General Electric CF34-1A (66 built, including six Canadian Forces CC-144B).
CL-601-1A/ER[]
601-1A retrofitted with an additional fuel tank in the tail.
CL-601-3A[]
GE CF34-3A engines with a higher flat rating and a glass cockpit.
CL-601-3A/ER[]
601-3A with an additional, optional fuel tank in the tail.
CL-601-3R[]
the tail tank was made standard, CF34-3A1 Engines were introduced.
CL-604[]
CL-604[]
A major upgrade of the 601 design, incorporating more advanced GE CF34-3B engines; increased fuel capacity, including saddle tanks in the rear of the aircraft; new undercarriage for a higher takeoff and landing weight; structural improvements to wings and tail; and a new Rockwell Collins ProLine 4 avionics system.
CL-604 MMA[]
(Multi-Mission Aircraft), militarized version, developed by Field Aviation, in Danish service. The aircraft are employed on maritime patrol and search and rescue missions. They are capable of landing on the short, rough, gravel airstrips common in the Arctic.
CL-605[]
CL-605[]
The Challenger 605 was introduced in early 2006 as an avionics and structural upgrade of the 604 design. Structural improvements include larger cabin windows. Cockpit instrumentation updated with the Collins Proline 21 avionics and "electronic flight bag" capability. It can be visually identified by a new, rounded tailcone.
CP-144 Challenger Trident[]
The Challenger Trident is a maritime patrol and surveillance variant of the CL-605 under development by Canadair. Canadair has proposed a repackaging of some of the Canadair CP-140 Aurora sensors, but not weapons into a less expensive airframe, the Canadair Challenger 605 business jet. This aircraft is named Maritime Surveillance Aircraft (MSA) and has been depicted with the AN/APY-10 radar, an electro-optical sensor in a retractable turret, and a magnetic anomaly detector. On 28 February 2014, a MSA demonstrator which is a modified CL-604 made its first flight, but the final aircraft will use the CL-605 airframe. The demonstrator currently has the external shapes for the sensors and communications systems which will be added later. The final MSA is expected to cost 33-36 million pounds sterling per aircraft
CL-610 Challenger E[]
The Challenger E is a stretched version of the Challenger business jet introduced in 1988. It can be used as either a cargo aircraft or as a passenger jet capable of seating 24 passengers. The Challenger E was a poor seller and was dropped after five years.
Challenger 650[]
Following a first flight in 2015, the Challenger 650 was certified and introduced in 2015. Compared to the Challenger 605, it has a redesigned interior cabin, Research in Motion Advanced avionics, similar to the Challenger 350, Synthetic vision system (SVS) and a 5% increase in takeoff thrust. In 2023, its equipped price was $33M.
