The plane's racy design, smooth fiberglass-composite body, BMW-like interior, dazzling computer instrumentation and an onboard parachute ready to float both the plane and passengers to a life-saving landing, if necessary, formed a clean break from the past.

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"Participation in this programme will help us to further enhance our skills and capabilities in the design and manufacture of large composite structures, particularly wings, thereby helping us to compete successfully in the international market place, " he said.

BBC: Bombardier in ?9m wing investment

New technologies, including composite airframes, lighter engines and advanced avionics and design systems, are bringing a huge new generation of giants to life.

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The company said it would be focussing on the design and manufacturing processes needed to produce a next generation composite wing, with the emphasis on reducing weight and aerodynamic drag.

BBC: Bombardier in ?9m wing investment

So far, the company has built a one-eighth-size prototype to test its design, which consists of a carbon-fibre keel, an envelope made from modern composite materials, half-a-dozen engines, a passenger compartment, and a specially lightened crane.

ECONOMIST: Pushing the envelope