Business jets · Bombardier (originally Canadair)
Bombardier Challenger 600 series (601/604/605/650) CL60
The Bombardier Challenger 600 series is a large-cabin business jet family that has been in production for more than four decades. The same basic design grew into the CRJ regional airliner.
Challenger 600s airborne over the US now
—
of all airborne aircraftplus — on the ground
Live data loads with JavaScript and refreshes every 15 seconds.
Challenger 600s in the air over the last 24 hours
A chart of how many Challenger 600s are airborne through the day loads with JavaScript.
Specifications
- ICAO code
- CL60
- First flight
- 1978
- Typical cruise
- 460 kt / 529 mph
- Service ceiling
- 41,000 ft
- Range
- 4,000 nm / 4,603 mi
- Capacity
- 9-12 passengers
- Length
- 20.9 m / 69 ft
- Wingspan
- 19.6 m / 64 ft
Engines: 2 x GE CF34 turbofans (Lycoming ALF502 on the original 600). Family: Challenger 600. Figures are typical published values, rounded; real performance depends on variant, weight and conditions.
What it does in US skies
Challenger 604, 605 and 650 jets fly long domestic and transatlantic trips for corporations and charter firms, and some serve as long-range air ambulances. Hundreds remain active in the US.
Main US operators: Corporate flight departments, Charter operators, Air ambulance operators.
How to recognize a Challenger 600
- Wide, short fuselage for a business jet, giving a chunky look
- T-tail with two engines high on the rear fuselage
- Swept wing with small winglets on later models
- Looks like a shortened CRJ regional jet with fewer windows
How it looks on a flight tracker
Expect FL370 to FL410 and ground speeds of 420 to 480 knots. Most show N-number callsigns, though charter companies may use their own ICAO prefixes.
History
Canadair flew the original Challenger 600 in November 1978. Bombardier bought Canadair in 1986 and continued the line through the 601, 604, 605 and the current Challenger 650, introduced in 2015.
Where Challenger 600s are right now
Open this view on airplanes.live →Questions
What is the ICAO code for the Bombardier Challenger 600 series (601/604/605/650)?
The ICAO aircraft type designator for the Bombardier Challenger 600 series (601/604/605/650) is CL60. Flight trackers and flight plans use this four-character code.
How fast does the Challenger 600 fly?
The Bombardier Challenger 600 series (601/604/605/650) typically cruises at about 460 knots true airspeed (about 529 mph). Ground speed on a tracker varies with the wind.
How high can the Challenger 600 fly?
Its service ceiling is about 41,000 ft.