Bombardier Aerospace has nearly $2.9 billion in sales and a healthy $3.6-billion backlog of orders, according to company president Robert Brown. On Monday the firm disclosed that it has 369 orders for the 50-passenger CRJ100/200 jetliners and 41 for its new 70- seat variant, the CRJ700.

Total orders and options now exceed 500 aircraft.

The final design of the 70-passenger CRJ700 regional jet has been frozen and construction of the first production aircraft is underway in Montreal. The cockpit section of the airframe is complete and major wing components have been manufactured. DC electrical power, fuel, landing gear, wheel brakes and avionics test rigs are in operation. The fatigue test article is due to enter a 160,000-cycle, endurance testing program in September.

The CRJ 700 is powered by a pair of 12,670-pound-thrust GE CF34-8C turbofan engines, with 13,790 pounds of thrust in APR. The cabin floor has been dropped one inch for more cabin head room, the windows have been raised almost five inches, and an underfloor baggage compartment has been added. First flight is scheduled for second quarter 1999, certification is slated for late 2000 and first deliveries should begin in first quarter 2001.

The firm's new generation of Dash 8 "Q" (for quiet) turboprops is on display at Farnborough, including the -400. The 37-seat -200, 50-passenger -300 and 74-seat -400 feature an Ultra Electronics active noise and vibration suppression system that provides the quietest cabin of any regional turboprop, according to Bombardier claims. Passive noise suppression measures include interior shell attachment isolators, acoustically tuned sidewalls and floor panels, and sealed interior shell joints to prevent noise leaks. A new propeller synchro-phaser system reduces prop resonance in the cabin.

Nearly 500 Dash 8 turboprops have been delivered and there is a backlog of 63 aircraft. Bombardier expects that its new Q ships will increase the number of orders and that turboprop regional airliners will be in demand almost indefinitely.

By Fred George