The Bombardier CRJ700 is a prominent member of the CRJ series of jet airliners produced by Bombardier Incorporated, a leading Canadian transportation manufacturer. Design work for the CRJ700 began in 1995, drawing inspiration from the smaller CRJ100 and CRJ200 aircraft.
Officially launched in 1997, the CRJ700 had its maiden test flight on May 27, 1999. It received type approval from Transport Canada in January 2001 and underwent minor modifications before obtaining American FAA certification four months later. Bombardier invested C$650 million in developing the aircraft, and it was priced at $24-25 million upon completion. Brit Air introduced the new aircraft to commercial service in 2001. As of June 1, 2020, the CRJ program is manufactured by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in Japan. The CRJ700 was innovatively designed with new wings, a larger fuselage, and a lowered floor. Initially powered by two General Electric CF34-8C1 engines, these were later replaced by CF34-8C5 engines. The cabin of the CRJ700 accommodates 63-78 passengers, making it a strong competitor to the Embraer 170, which seats 70 passengers. The plane boasts a maximum speed of 903 km/h and can reach altitudes up to 41,000 ft.
