Aircraft
Bombardier Challenger 605: Range, Cabin Size, and Specs
Challenger 605 range, cabin size, and the cost figures the sources leave out
At Jet & Beyond, we write buyer guides on private aviation. The guide below covers one airframe from Bombardier: the Challenger 605. It draws on two operator listings, VistaJet and Luna Jets, plus the aircraft’s history from Wikipedia’s Bombardier Challenger 600 series article.
Where the sources disagree, both figures appear with the basis each source gives. Nothing here picks one number as the true one.
What the Bombardier Challenger 605 Is
The Challenger 605 is a jet that seats 9 to 12 passengers and has a range of 3,702 to 4,000 nautical miles (nm), depending on the source. It is worth considering if cabin width is your priority and you can get a quote and maintenance status for one specific aircraft, because no price is published in the sources cited here.
The 605 is a 2006 revision of the Challenger 604. Wikipedia records a first flight in January 2006, with certification and introduction in early 2006. The Luna Jets listing names two General Electric CF34-3B turbofan engines as the powerplant.
Range is the first open question: the two figures differ, and only one states a reserve basis. Price is the second: none of the sources publish one, so a quote for a specific aircraft is needed.
Challenger 605 Range and Speed by Source
The two operator listings give different range figures, and only one of them states a reserve basis: Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) reserves. The table sets out what each source says.
| Source | Stated range | Basis the source gives | Cruise speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| VistaJet 605 page | 4,000 nm (7,400 km) | “Max range,” with no reserve or payload basis stated | Not stated |
| Luna Jets 605 page | 3,702 NM (6,856 km) | With IFR reserves | 470 knots (kts), or 870 km/h |
The VistaJet page gives 4,000 nm as maximum range and does not say what reserves or payload that figure assumes. The Luna Jets listing gives 3,702 NM with IFR reserves.
The Challenger 650 page on this site gives a 4,000 nm NBAA IFR range. The 605 sources do not state a basis that matches it. The VistaJet 4,000 nm figure therefore cannot be set against the 650’s figure as a like-for-like number.
Ask the operator which range basis applies to the tail you would fly. Keep both figures side by side: 4,000 nm (VistaJet, basis not stated) and 3,702 NM with IFR reserves (Luna Jets). The gap between the two figures is 298 nm (4,000 minus 3,702), or about 7.5 percent of 4,000. A 3,800 nm leg falls inside the VistaJet figure and outside the Luna Jets figure.
The fact set used here includes no Mach number for the 605, so a speed comparison with other models is not possible from these listings. VistaJet lists a maximum altitude of 41,000 feet and a flight time of 8 hours, but the figures used here do not include conditions for that flight time.
Challenger 605 Cabin and Seating
Both 605 sources list a cabin that is longer, wider, and taller than the figures on this site’s Challenger 650 page. The table compares the stated dimensions.
| Dimension | VistaJet 605 page | Luna Jets 605 page | Challenger 650 page on this site |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cabin length | 28 ft 4 in (8.61 m) | 28.42 ft (about 28 ft 5 in) | 25 ft 7 in |
| Cabin width | 8 ft 3 in (2.49 m) | 8.17 ft (about 8 ft 2 in) | 7 ft 11 in |
| Cabin height | 6 ft 3 in (1.87 m) | 6.1 ft (about 6 ft 1 in) | 6 ft 0 in |
| Baggage volume | 114 ft3 (3.25 m3) | 3.26 m3 | Not compared |
The width gap is 3 to 4 inches. VistaJet’s 8 ft 3 in minus the 650’s 7 ft 11 in is 4 inches. Luna Jets’ 8.17 ft is about 8 ft 2 in, which is 3 inches more than 7 ft 11 in. The length gap is 2 feet 9 inches on VistaJet’s figure (28 ft 4 in minus 25 ft 7 in) and 2 feet 10 inches on Luna Jets’. The height gap is 1 to 3 inches.
The two 605 sources disagree by an inch or two on width and height. The sources do not say how each one measured, so both numbers are shown.
VistaJet gives 9 to 12 passengers, with five sleeping. Luna Jets gives 10 as the standard count and 12 as the maximum. The figures used here do not include a seat layout, so the passenger counts cannot be tied to a floor plan. Ask the operator for the layout of the specific aircraft you would fly.
Baggage volume matches across the two sources to within 0.01 cubic meter, 3.25 m3 against 3.26 m3.
What Changed from the Challenger 604
Wikipedia lists the changes from the 604 to the 605. The 605 has larger cabin windows and a new tail cone. Its flight deck moved to the Collins Pro Line 21 system, which adds electronic flight bag (EFB) capability.
Wikipedia also says the 605 and the 650 have improved avionics and cabin, with performance similar to the 604. By that account, the 605 changed the cabin and the flight deck, and its performance is similar to the 604.
Wikipedia records the 200th Challenger 605 entering service in October 2012. It also records a maritime surveillance version built by Boeing on the 605 airframe, designated CL-605 MSA.
What Costs Are and Are Not Published
No purchase price, hourly charter rate, or production end date for the Challenger 605 is published here; confirm production status with Bombardier.
The Private Jet Club review on this site lists the Challenger 605 in its Large/Heavy tier at $13,500 to $17,500+ per hour, with 120 minutes’ notice. That bracket covers several aircraft on one card, so it is a tier range and not a price for the 605.
The Challenger 650 figures on this site are 650 figures. They give a new price of about $32 million to $33 million, a used average near $21 million, and a charter budget of about $9,000 per flight hour. None of those apply to the 605.
For a specific tail, ask the operator or broker for three things (see the private jet cost per hour guide for cost context):
- The quote for that airframe, whether charter or purchase.
- The maintenance status of that airframe, including its two CF34-3B engines.
- The seat layout of that airframe.
Challenger 605 vs Challenger 650 vs Challenger 350
The 350 has the shortest listed range and the narrowest cabin of the three models in this comparison. The table uses only the figures in the sources.
| Metric | Challenger 605 | Challenger 650 (this site) | Challenger 350 (this site) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum range | 4,000 nm (VistaJet, basis not stated); 3,702 nm with IFR reserves (Luna Jets) | 4,000 nm under NBAA IFR | 3,200 nm |
| Passengers | 9 to 12 (VistaJet); 10 standard, 12 maximum (Luna Jets) | Up to 12 | Up to 10 |
| Cabin length | 28 ft 4 in (VistaJet); 28 ft 5 in (Luna Jets) | 25 ft 7 in | 25 ft 2 in |
| Cabin width | 8 ft 3 in (VistaJet); about 8 ft 2 in (Luna Jets) | 7 ft 11 in | 7 ft 2 in |
| Cabin height | 6 ft 3 in (VistaJet); about 6 ft 1 in (Luna Jets) | 6 ft 0 in | 6 ft 0 in |
| Cruise speed | 470 kts (Luna Jets) | Not compared | Not compared |
| Purchase price | Not published in these sources | About $32M to $33M new; about $21M used average | Not compared |
| Charter rate | Tier bracket only: $13,500 to $17,500+ per hour (Private Jet Club; different basis, not comparable) | About $9,000 per flight hour (charter budget) | Not compared |
On the sourced figures, the 605 is longer, wider, and taller than the 650 page’s figures. The two models share the same 4,000 nm headline range, but only the 650 page states the basis for its figure. Choose the 605 when cabin width counts for more than a stated range basis. Choose the 650 when you need a range figure with its NBAA IFR basis stated, or when you want the price figures published on this site.
For a two-model comparison, see the Challenger 350 vs Challenger 650 comparison.
For the same-line successor, see Challenger 650 vs 605, which sets out what changed and where the sources disagree.
Who the Challenger 605 Fits and Who Should Look Elsewhere
The Challenger 605 fits a buyer or charterer who wants a wider cabin than the 650 page lists and who can confirm which range basis applies to the tail they would fly.
Consider the 605 if:
- Cabin width matters most. Both 605 sources list between 8 ft 2 in and 8 ft 3 in, against 7 ft 11 in on the 650 page.
- Your longest planned leg fits within the range the operator confirms for the tail you would fly.
- You can get a quote and a maintenance status for one specific tail, since no price is published here.
Look elsewhere if:
- You need a range figure above 4,000 nm. VistaJet and Luna Jets list nothing above 4,000 nm. The Bombardier Global 6000 page on this site covers a different model to compare.
- You need a published price or a production end date before you can shortlist. Neither is published in these sources.
- You need a range figure with its basis stated. The Challenger 650 page on this site states that basis.
Two gaps drive this verdict: the missing price and the unstated VistaJet range basis. A published price, or a stated basis for the 4,000 nm figure, would close one gap each. A specific tail whose quote or maintenance status rules it out would end the case for that aircraft.
How to Fly a Challenger 605 Without Buying One
Ownership is one route. Three others are charter, jet cards, and fractional shares. The sources here show two operator listings for the 605 and one jet card rate card that lists it. That is the evidence available here for charter and jet card access.
- Charter. The Luna Jets listing is a charter operator page. For the VistaJet operator, see the VistaJet review on this site.
- Jet card. The Private Jet Club review lists the 605 in its Large/Heavy tier. Compare the card options on the compare jet cards page.
- Fractional share. For fractional shares, see the fractional jet ownership page on this site.
Each route raises the same two questions the sources leave open: what does this specific aircraft cost, and what is its maintenance status? See the types of private jets guide for more context.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the range of the Challenger 605?
The sources give two figures. VistaJet lists a maximum range of 4,000 nm (7,400 km) with no reserve basis stated. Luna Jets lists 3,702 NM (6,856 km) with Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) reserves. Ask the operator which basis applies to the tail you would fly; both figures are listed above.
How many passengers does the Challenger 605 seat?
VistaJet lists 9 to 12 passengers, with five sleeping. Luna Jets lists 10 as the standard count and 12 as the maximum. Neither listing includes a seat layout, so ask the operator for the layout of the specific aircraft.
What engines does the Challenger 605 use?
The Luna Jets listing names two General Electric CF34-3B turbofan engines. The figures used here from the VistaJet page include no engine type.
How does the Challenger 605 differ from the Challenger 650?
Both 605 sources list a cabin 2 feet 9 inches to 2 feet 10 inches longer than the 650 page's figures, and 3 to 4 inches wider. The 650 page states its 4,000 nm range under NBAA IFR. The 605 sources state no such basis. Wikipedia says the 605 and 650 have performance similar to the 604.
How much does a Challenger 605 cost?
VistaJet and Luna Jets publish no purchase price or hourly charter rate for the 605. The Private Jet Club rate card lists the 605 in its Large/Heavy tier at $13,500 to $17,500+ per hour, a bracket covering several aircraft. Ask for a quote on the specific aircraft you would fly.
Is the Challenger 605 in production?
This page does not state a production end date or say whether production continues; confirm production status with Bombardier. The latest milestone date in these sources is October 2012, when the 200th Challenger 605 entered service, according to Wikipedia.
The Short Verdict
The Challenger 605 is worth a shortlist spot if cabin width decides the choice. Both operator listings put its cabin 3 to 4 inches wider than the 650 page’s figures, and its range runs from 3,702 nm with IFR reserves up to the 4,000 nm VistaJet states. Skip it if you need a published price or a production end date, because neither appears in these sources. Next, request a quote and maintenance status for one specific 605, then compare charter and jet card options on the compare jet cards page.
We update this guide as aircraft, program, and route pricing changes. Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we'll check it.