CRJ-200BLR 'B-4702' of the PLA Naval Aviation (Chinese Internet)
The PLA current operates 12 Bombardier Canadair business jets for government VIP transportation role. These aircraft carry the Chinese civil aviation registration numbers and the special government paint scheme. Five examples of the CRJ-200BLR were acquired via the China United Airlines (CUA) in the late 1990s. Later an additional five examples of the CRJ-700 were purchased via China Aviation Supplies Import & Export Group Corporation (CASGC). All ten aircraft are flown by PLAAF 34th Air Division based at Xijiao Airport in Beijing. The PLA Navy also acquired two CRJ-200s via China Ocean Aviation Group Corporation and these aircraft are flown by the PLA Naval Air Force (PLANAF) for VIP missions.
The twin-engine CRJ-200 is the 50-seat passenger plane introduced in the early 1990s based on the famous Challenger executive jet, with stretched fuselage and increased fuel capacity. The BLR model of the CRJ-200 series is the extended-range variant powered by two improved General Electric CF34-3B1 turbofan engines for improved hot and high performance. The CRJ-200BLR in service with the PLA was the business jet version, which is also known as Challenger 800. This variant is fitted with dual IRS and Collins weather radar.
CRJ-700 'B-4061' of the PLAAF 34th Air Division (Chinese Internet)
First flying in 1999, the CRJ-700 is the stretched 70-seat version equipped with two General Electric CF34-8C1 engines. The CRJ-700 features a new wing with leading edge slats and a stretched and slightly widened fuselage. The standard CRJ-700 has a capacity of up to 70 seats but the version in service with the PLAAF is the business jet version known as Challenger 870, which has eight seats in the first class and nine rows of 2+2 seating in the economic class.
