Bombardier diecast aircraft models bring the history of one of Canada's most important aerospace manufacturers to the collector's shelf. Bombardier has been involved in a wide range of aircraft programs, from business jets and regional airliners to specialized aviation products. For collectors, Bombardier aircraft offer an opportunity to represent Canadian aviation engineering as well as the aircraft operated by airlines, corporations, governments, and private owners around the world.
The Bombardier category at DiecastModelsWholesale.com is intended for aviation collectors, airline enthusiasts, business-jet fans, and anyone interested in modern Canadian aircraft. Depending on the specific model and manufacturer, shoppers may find Bombardier regional airliners and business jets represented in popular aviation scales and a variety of operator liveries and configurations.
The History of Bombardier Aviation
Bombardier's aviation history grew from the company's development of transportation products in Canada. The company became a major aerospace manufacturer through the acquisition and development of aircraft businesses, eventually establishing a strong presence in both regional aviation and business aviation.
One of the most important milestones was Bombardier's acquisition of Canadair in 1986. Canadair had developed the Challenger business jet, which became an important part of Bombardier's future aviation portfolio. Bombardier subsequently expanded its aerospace business through acquisitions and new aircraft programs.
Bombardier later acquired Short Brothers of Northern Ireland, Learjet, and de Havilland Canada, creating a broad aerospace organization with expertise ranging from regional aircraft to business jets and specialized aircraft.
For diecast collectors, this history is important because aircraft associated with Bombardier can carry different historical identities. Some aircraft originated under companies such as Canadair, de Havilland Canada, or Learjet before becoming part of Bombardier's aviation portfolio.
Bombardier Regional Aircraft
Bombardier became particularly well known for regional aircraft, which connect smaller communities with major airline hubs and provide efficient service on shorter routes.
Canadair Regional Jet
The Canadair Regional Jet, commonly known as the CRJ, became one of Bombardier's most recognizable commercial aircraft families. The program originated with Canadair and was subsequently developed under Bombardier.
The CRJ100 and CRJ200 introduced the family, followed by larger versions including the CRJ700, CRJ900, and CRJ1000. The aircraft were designed around regional airline operations, providing jet service on routes that did not necessarily require a full-size mainline airliner.
The CRJ is an especially interesting subject for airline collectors because the aircraft has been operated by numerous carriers and regional airline partners. A collection can therefore include the same basic aircraft in many different liveries and configurations.
CRJ700, CRJ900, and CRJ1000
The larger CRJ variants expanded seating capacity while retaining the basic twin-engine regional-jet configuration.
The CRJ700 entered service in the early 2000s, followed by the CRJ900 and CRJ1000. These aircraft became familiar sights at airports throughout North America, Europe, and other regions.
For collectors, differences between CRJ variants are subtle but important. Fuselage length, doors, windows, emergency exits, wing configuration, and airline markings can help distinguish one version from another.
Bombardier ultimately sold its CRJ program to Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in 2020, ending Bombardier's role as the manufacturer of new CRJ aircraft. The aircraft themselves, however, remain an important part of regional aviation history.
Bombardier Challenger Business Jets
Bombardier's Challenger family represents another major part of the company's aviation history. The original Challenger program was developed by Canadair and became part of Bombardier's portfolio following the acquisition of Canadair.
The Challenger 600 family introduced a large-cabin business jet with a distinctive wide fuselage and swept-wing design. Later members of the family included aircraft such as the Challenger 601, 604, 605, and 650.
The Challenger family became popular in corporate, charter, government, and special-mission aviation. For collectors, these aircraft offer a different type of subject from airline-focused regional jets because a model can represent a corporate aircraft, government aircraft, charter operator, or other specialized configuration.
Bombardier Global Business Jets
The Bombardier Global family represents the company's large-cabin, long-range business-jet segment.
The Global Express established the family in the 1990s, followed by aircraft including the Global 5000, Global 6000, Global 5500, Global 6500, Global 7500, and other members of the family.
The Global 7500 is particularly notable for its long-range capability and large cabin. Bombardier subsequently introduced the Global 8000 as the latest evolution of the family.
For scale-model collectors, Global aircraft provide distinctive modern business-jet subjects. Their long fuselages, swept wings, winglets, and large-cabin proportions make them readily identifiable alongside smaller corporate aircraft.
Learjet and Bombardier's Business Aviation Heritage
Bombardier's acquisition of Learjet in 1990 added another famous name to its business-aircraft portfolio. Learjet had already established a strong reputation for high-performance business jets, beginning with the Learjet 23 in the 1960s.
Bombardier continued producing and developing Learjet aircraft for decades. Models such as the Learjet 35, Learjet 45, Learjet 60, and Learjet 70/75 became familiar throughout the business-aviation industry.
Although Bombardier ended production of Learjet aircraft in 2022, the Learjet name remains important to aviation history and business-jet collecting. Depending on how individual products are categorized, collectors may encounter Learjet aircraft alongside Bombardier-related subjects.
de Havilland Canada and the Dash 8
Bombardier's aviation history also includes the de Havilland Canada Dash 8 family. Bombardier acquired de Havilland Canada in 1992, bringing a highly successful turboprop aircraft family into its portfolio.
The Dash 8 was designed for regional operations and became widely used by airlines and regional carriers. Different generations include the Dash 8-100, -200, -300, and -400.
The Dash 8-400, also known as the Q400, is particularly recognizable because of its large six-blade propellers, high-speed turboprop performance, and modern regional-aircraft design.
The Q400 became a popular regional aircraft around the world, making it an appealing subject for airline collectors. Its distinctive propellers also give a scale model a visual appearance very different from Bombardier's regional jets.
Bombardier later sold the Dash 8 program to Longview Aviation Capital in 2019. The aircraft remains an important part of Bombardier's broader aerospace history.
Bombardier's Focus on Business Aviation
Over time, Bombardier progressively moved away from commercial aircraft manufacturing and concentrated its aerospace business on business aviation.
The company's current aircraft portfolio is centered on Challenger and Global business jets. This transition is important when organizing a Bombardier collection because the company's aviation identity has changed substantially over the decades.
A historical Bombardier collection can therefore include regional jets and turboprops alongside Challenger and Global business jets, illustrating the company's development from a diversified transportation and aerospace manufacturer into a focused business-aviation company.
Bombardier Diecast Aircraft for Collectors
Bombardier models appeal to several different types of collectors.
Airline collectors may be most interested in CRJ and Dash 8 aircraft because of the wide range of airline and regional-carrier liveries associated with them.
Business-aviation collectors may prefer Challenger and Global aircraft, especially models representing specific corporate, charter, government, or special-purpose operators.
Canadian aviation enthusiasts may appreciate Bombardier models as representations of Canada's significant contribution to regional and business aviation.
Aircraft-family collectors can also use Bombardier models to compare different generations of regional aircraft and business jets.
When selecting a model, pay attention to the exact aircraft variant, operator, registration, livery, and scale. Regional aircraft often have closely related variants, while business jets can differ in fuselage length, winglets, engines, and other details.
Bombardier Aircraft Model Scales
Aviation diecast models are produced in several scales, and the best choice depends on the aircraft type and your existing collection.
Common scales include:
- 1/72 scale – A popular choice for detailed aircraft models, particularly when display presence is important.
- 1/100 scale – A useful middle-ground scale for many commercial and business aircraft.
- 1/144 scale – Popular for airliners and regional aircraft, providing a good balance between size and detail.
- 1/200 scale – Especially attractive to airline and business-aircraft collectors who want detailed models without the size of larger scales.
- 1/400 scale – A compact scale well suited to building extensive airline fleets.
- 1/500 scale – Provides an even smaller footprint for collectors displaying many aircraft.
A 1/200 Bombardier Global business jet and a 1/200 CRJ will have different physical dimensions because the real aircraft have different sizes. The scale refers to the proportion of each model to its full-size aircraft, not a standard physical length across all models.
Building a Bombardier Aviation Collection
Bombardier's broad history provides several interesting ways to build a collection.
One approach is to focus on regional aviation, combining CRJ100/200, CRJ700, CRJ900, CRJ1000, and Dash 8 aircraft. Airline liveries can then be used to represent different carriers and regions.
Another approach is to focus on business aviation, collecting Challenger and Global aircraft and comparing different generations of Bombardier business jets.
Collectors interested in corporate aviation can also combine Bombardier models with other major business-jet manufacturers to create a display representing the evolution of private and executive aviation.
A historical collection can go further by including aircraft connected with Canadair, de Havilland Canada, and Learjet, illustrating the companies and aircraft programs that became part of Bombardier's aviation story.
Choosing a Bombardier Diecast Model
Before purchasing a Bombardier scale aircraft, consider whether you want a commercial regional aircraft, turboprop, business jet, or historically significant aircraft associated with Bombardier's earlier aerospace operations.
For airline collections, the airline livery and registration may be just as important as the aircraft itself. For business-jet collectors, the aircraft generation, operator, and configuration can help determine which model best fits the collection.
Scale is equally important. If you already collect airline models in 1/200 or 1/400, choosing a Bombardier aircraft in the same scale can help create a consistent display. Collectors with more space may prefer larger-scale models that showcase cockpit, landing gear, engines, wings, and other aircraft details.
Whether you collect regional airliners, business jets, Canadian aviation history, or specific aircraft operators, Bombardier offers a distinctive range of subjects with strong connections to modern aviation.
Browse the Bombardier diecast aircraft collection at DiecastModelsWholesale.com to find scale models representing regional aviation and Bombardier's business-jet heritage, and discover an aircraft that fits your collection.
