NBAA-BACE 2025 Day 1 roundup: New bizjets, high-speed upgrades, and sustainability
October 14, 2025
Day 1 of the 2025 NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE) opened in Las Vegas with strong OEM showings and a slate of announcements spanning aircraft launches, performance upgrades, and sustainability. From Textron’s long-anticipated Citation Ascend debut to Bombardier’s Global 8000 sale, exhibitors signalled renewed momentum for the business aviation market.
Textron unveils the Citation Ascend
Textron Aviation marked the start of the show with the world debut of the Cessna Citation Ascend, displayed at Henderson Executive Airport. The midsize jet offers features the planemakers’ customers have been asking for, including many of the luxuries found in the popular Cessna Citation Latitude and Cessna Citation Longitude aircraft.
“With the aircraft making its debut at NBAA-BACE, visitors can see the new Garmin G5000 cockpit and experience the sleek new interior features, including a flat floor, larger windows, and wireless cabin management system,” said Lannie O’Bannion, senior vice president, Sales & Marketing.
Featuring Pratt & Whitney Canada PW545D engines and Garmin G5000 avionics, the aircraft is designed to provide fuel efficiency and increased thrust. The Ascend also features a Honeywell RE100 [XL] Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) approved for unattended operations.
The Citation Ascend has 19 standard USB ports and three universal outlets throughout the aircraft, ensuring everyone has access to a charging port. The aircraft can accommodate up to 12 passengers.
The new aircraft program reached a significant milestone in September, as the first production unit of the Ascend rolled out of the manufacturing facility in Wichita, Kansas. The planemaker expects to achieve aircraft certification from the Federal Aviation Administration later this year.
Textron also showcased four Citation jets at its static display at Henderson Executive Airport: the Longitude, Latitude, CJ4 Gen2, and a mock-up of the forthcoming CJ3 Gen3.
Bombardier Sells Global 8000 to Comlux
Bombardier confirmed that Comlux Aviation has placed a firm order for the Global 8000, with delivery scheduled for 2026. The aircraft, now certified for a maximum operating speed of Mach 0.95, is positioned as the world’s fastest business jet.
The sale reinforces the Global 8000’s role as Bombardier’s ultra-long-range flagship, building on the success of the Global 7500 and expanding Comlux’s VIP charter capabilities.
“The Bombardier Global 8000 aircraft integrates perfectly into our long-range fleet, in between our wide-body fleet and our Global 6500 fleet,” said Comlux Aviation CEO Andrea Zanetto. He continues: “We have built our reputation on delivering premium global travel solutions, and this aircraft allows us to offer ultra-long-range.”
Speaking during a Newsmakers Lunch ahead of the NBAA-BACE, Bombardier CEO Éric Martel also shared the company’s success with AI-based predictive maintenance applications.
“This makes our service even better,” Martel said. “And it’s very, very important to efficiency and reliability.”
The Blackhawk Group Daher TBM 700 engine upgrade earns FAA approval
The Blackhawk Group announced FAA approval of its XP66D Engine+ Upgrade for the Daher TBM 700 series aircraft. The first XP66D installation is being completed at Blackhawk’s headquarters in Waco, Texas. The next installation will take place at TBG’s AVEX Performance Centre in Broomfield, Colorado.
This 850-horsepower engine replaces the 700-horsepower PT6A-64, providing the TBM 700 with a 21% increase in shaft horsepower. Flight tests show the climb to FL310 takes 22 minutes instead of 28 minutes, while cruise speed increases by 25 KTAS on average, reaching 303 KTAS.
Additionally, the XP66D upgrade reduces operating costs and increases safety margins by increasing available power to altitude. The certification aircraft features an upgraded Garmin avionics suite, custom paint, and a new interior.
Gulfstream launches G300 with sustainability focus
Gulfstream returned to NBAA-BACE, putting a spotlight on its next-generation fleet with the launch of its all-new G300. A mockup of the G300 is on display during the exhibition.
The company also drew attention to its sustainability initiatives, announcing its fleet of corporate, demonstration and support aircraft has surpassed 3 million nautical miles flown on sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) blends. The Gulfstream G800, Gulfstream G700, Gulfstream G600 and Gulfstream G400 flew to this week’s NBAA-BACE in Las Vegas using SAF blends.
“We have long been at the forefront of sustainability innovations, and this latest milestone further showcases our leadership and efforts to advance business aviation’s overarching sustainability goals,” said Mark Burns, president, Gulfstream.
Gulfstream maintains a supply of SAF at its Savannah headquarters and plans to increase its usage by nearly 50% this year compared to last year.
Gogo expands connectivity with STC approvals
In-flight connectivity provider Gogo announced the availability of the first Gogo Galileo FDX supplemental type certificates (STC) for the larger of the two electronically steered antennas (ESA). ALOFT AeroArchitects obtained Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approval for Boeing BBJ737NG aircraft. The first FDX antenna is already flying on an executive airliner.
A second Gogo Galileo FDX was completed as StandardAero became the first Gogo Galileo dealer to complete a pair of STCs simultaneously. The FAA approved HDX and FDX submissions for Bombardier Challenger 600 series aircraft.
Eight additional Gogo Galileo FDX STC agreements are also in process, covering a total of 24 aircraft types.
The Gogo Plane Simple Ka-band tail mount antenna system has also been approved for Dassault Falcon 7X and 8X aircraft by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).
To obtain the STC modification, Gogo worked with Dassault Falcon Jet in Le Bourget, France, which has already been installed on a privately owned Dassault Falcon 7X. This Plane Simple Ka-band terminal complements the existing onboard L-Band and SwiftBroadband solutions, further enhancing connectivity on board.
All Dassault Falcon 7X and 8X operators that equip their aircraft with the Plane Simple Ka-band terminal will have immediate access to global connectivity, powered by Viasat’s next-generation Ka-band GX network. Satellites and terminals optimised for dual polarisation enable on-the-ground broadband speeds at altitude.
Multiple passengers can access video streaming, conferencing, email, voice calls, and digital applications simultaneously with the high-performance solution.
“Aircraft Connection” static display reimagined
NBAA debuted a refreshed version of its Aircraft Connection static display, transforming the outdoor showcase at Henderson Executive Airport into a curated, interactive environment. Instead of traditional static layouts, the new format features pop-up exhibits, immersive experiences, and scheduled access to major OEM aircraft—including those from Bombardier, Gulfstream, Textron, Pilatus, Cirrus, and Honda.
The NBAA-BACE Aircraft Connection also features a new Tribute to Flight Pavilion showcasing vintage aircraft, including a de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito, Douglas A-26, Douglas DC-3, Lockheed P-38 Lightning and a fully preserved 1965 Learjet 23. These are on display alongside newly certified aircraft, including Game Aerospace’s aerobatic GB1 GameBird.
NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen described the revamp as “an inspiring new way to celebrate the pioneering spirit that defines aviation in every era.”
Day 1 of NBAA-BACE 2025 set the tone for a week that is as focused on technology and sustainability as it was on speed and luxury.
Featured image credit: Gulfstream
