Bombardier's Global 7000 programme has taken another step forward, with the debut flight on 28 September of the fourth flight test vehicle (FTV4) – the first to be equipped with a full production interior.

The ultra-long-range business jet – serial number 70004, with the registration C-GLBR – made its maiden sortie from the airframer's Downview, Toronto manufacturing plant.

Two days later, FTV4 made a 3h journey to Bombardier's flight-test centre in Wichita, Kansas, to begin certification testing.

The aircraft, dubbed "the Architect", will be used to validate the Global 7000's interior, and to confirm what Bombardier calls "its unparalleled comfort, connectivity and productivity".

Bombardier launched the Global 7000 flight-test campaign on 4 November 2016 with the maiden flight of its first prototype.

Aircraft FTV2 and FTV3 joined the programme in March and May 2017, respectively, and the GE Aviation Passport-powered fleet has since flown more than 500h. The lead trio have been used to evaluate the Global 7000's propulsion, avionics, electrical and mechanical systems.

They will be joined in Kansas shortly by a fifth and final aircraft, FTA5, which will serve as the entry-into-service validation aircraft.

The Global 7000 remains on track for certification in the second half of 2018, says Bombardier. Customer deliveries will begin shortly after.

Priced at $73 million, the flagship fly-by-wire aircraft is projected to have range of 7,400nm (13,700km), a top speed of 530kt (982km/h) and a cruise speed of 516kt.