The Challenger 3500 is classified as a Super Midsize Jet that seats 8-10 passengers, with a cabin height of 6ft and width of 7ft 2 inches. With a range of 3400nm and a speed of Mach 0.83. Factory List Price is around $27m.
Built as a successor to the Challenger 350 the Challenger 3500 is an evolutionary not a revolutionary upgrade. The main improvements are increased range, cabin technology and comfort. Other significant upgrades include; flight controls, operational efficiencies and improved environmental materials.
According to JET NET and verified with Bombardier there are 148 Challenger 3500’s in operation as of July 2025. Therefore averaging around 5 newly produced aircraft a month since production began. In terms of sales 73% of buyers are coming from the North American market.
At 3400 nautical miles (nm) of range, that’s an extra 200nm on the Challenger 350, a significant improvement. To put it into perspective, the 3500 can go from JFK in NY to Paris, France. the Challenger 350 however, would (in doing so) result in zero fuel reserves. This would force the 350 into making the trip a 2-stop destination. The 3400nm in range is less range than the Gulfstream G280 3600nm or Dassault Falcon 2000LXS at 4000nm in the same class.
Improvements in range have primarily come from incremental improvements. Small aerodynamic tweaks to the winglets have reduced drag slightly, improving fuel burn over time. Also, improvements in cabin weight have improved fuel efficiency, primarily from using lighter more sustainable materials. Other contributing factors to increased range include flight controls (auto throttle) and flight management systems.
The speed of the aircraft is the same as the Challenger 350 at Mach 0.83 (83% of the speed of sound). This is similar in speed (slightly less) to the Gulfstream G280 and Citation Longitude. The reason the speed has remained the same is that they both use the same trusted, Honeywell HTF7350 turbofan engine.
The Challenger 3500 does have some cool technology in the cabin. These upgrades give the Challenger 3500 some key advantages over the competition in improved cabin experiences for customers.
The ability to use voice control, so hands free to adjust key cabin settings like lighting, temperature and entertainment systems.
It’s a native system integrated into the aircraft’s smart cabin environment. So, you do not need an app or a device to use the voice control, making it convenient.
It uses built-in microphones situated around the cabin and onboard processors. The system is activated by voice prompts (like saying “cabin, lower temperature” or “adjust lights”).
Lighting (brightness, color temperature, mood lighting), Temperature settings, Entertainment system (media playback, display selection), Window shades (if equipped), Flight information display (bring up maps, times, etc.).
Other technology includes wireless charging for phones, 24-inch 4K displays, and Bluetooth audio.
Passengers will benefit from one of the lowest cabin altitudes in its class at 4,850 ft. That’s like being at ground level in Denver, Colorado when cruising at 41,000 ft. Lower cabin altitude means more oxygen is available to passengers, reducing fatigue and dizziness. Lower cabin altitudes help reduce dehydration caused by dry cabin air and is better for anyone suffering from respiratory and or heart conditions.
Challenger 3500 aircraft feature’s the widest cabin in its class with a flat floor design that allows for safe and unrestricted movement throughout the cabin. The cabin received the prestigious 2022 Red Dot: Best of the Best design award.
The Challenger 3500 has all new seating, called Nuage Seats (Nuage is French for cloud). The main difference in seating is the Challenger 3500 has a tilting base recline creating a zero-gravity experience. Unlike typical business jet seats (which just recline the seatback), Nuage seats tilt from the base — meaning the entire seat moves smoothly to support your body, not just your back.
Designed to reduce pressure on the spine, hips, and lower back. Promotes better blood circulation and less muscle fatigue. These seats are fully adjustable making it easy to adjust both lumbar and leg support. These seats are considered class leading and compliment the lower cabin altitude and Improved cabin environment to create more comfort and less physically demanding flight.
The auto throttle (also called auto-thrust) is a pilot-assist system that automatically manages an aircraft’s engine thrust to maintain a desired speed or power setting.
It’s a significant feature because it reduces pilot workload, improves safety, increases fuel efficiency, and provides smoother, more precise control. The Bombardier Challenger 3500 was the first in the super-midsize category to offer auto throttle as standard.
The Challenger 3500 also uses a HUD (Head-Up Display) that is a transparent display system that projects critical flight information directly in the pilot’s forward line of sight, typically on a glass combiner in front of the cockpit windshield. Information offered includes: Airspeed, Altitude, Attitude (pitch, roll, heading), Flight path vector (shows where the aircraft is going, even in crosswinds).
This is an optional safety feature that provides critical information in an easy-to-read display for the pilot. This decreases time spent looking inside the cockpit and improves situational awareness at night or in fog.
In conclusion the Challenger 3500 is a big upgrade when it comes to cabin and customer comfort. Offering class leading seating, cabin altitude, technology and voice controls, positioning itself very strongly against its competition including the Gulfstream 280, Citation Longitude and Embraer Praetor. If range and speed are more important factors, within the super mid-size class the Citation Longitude and Dassault Falcon 2000LXS have the advantage but come at a higher cost.
Other factors that make the Challenger 3500 a popular choice is that it’s part of the Challenger family, one of the bestselling mid-size jets with the Challenger 300/350 alone selling over 1000 aircraft. The Challenger aircraft is known for its outstanding reliability, predictable maintenance and high utilization rates.
For more information on the Challenger 3500 please visit https://bombardier.com/en/aircraft/challenger-3500 and for Challenger Parts please also contact us at https://aircraftparts.net/contact-us
