Bombardier business jet concept

I developed originated in what began as a purely leisure project and a design exercise. However, the idea was not random; it was strongly inspired by the work of one of the most innovative aerospace engineers, Burt Rutan, and his unique aircraft: the Beechcraft Starship.

The Beechcraft Starship, which served as my primary inspiration, was a revolutionary twin-turboprop pressurized business aircraft. Designed to carry six to eight passengers, it represented a bold step forward in aviation. Its most distinctive feature was undoubtedly the tandem wing design. It is crucial to emphasize that this arrangement should not be confused with a canard design. While canard designs place a smaller control surface ahead of the main wing, the Starship’s tandem design used two full-fledged lifting surfaces (wings) arranged along the fuselage, both contributing to the aircraft’s lift.

Even more groundbreaking was the fact that the Starship was the first composite aircraft produced on a large scale. The extensive use of carbon fiber composites resulted in an exceptionally strong and light structure. Despite its visionary design and technical innovations, production of this remarkable machine ceased in 1995. After its first flight in 1983, only 55 units were constructed in total.

While the Starship’s unique geometry and construction approach  provided the foundation for my design, I opted for a fundamental change in propulsion. In contrast to Rutan’s turboprop design, my Bombardier business jet concept features a Pratt & Whitney jet engine. This choice allows me to push the concept into the category of faster and more powerful business jets, delivering different operational profiles, a higher cruising speed, and a greater range, thereby adapting the Starship’s futuristic silhouette for the demands of modern jet aviation.