The baseline Challenger 300 was launched at the 1999 Paris Air Show as the Bombardier Continental. An all-new design, it received Transport Canada type approval on 31 May 2003, followed on 4 June by US FAR 25 certification and on 31 July by European JAR 25 approval. Assembled in Montreal, Canada, it entered commercial service on 8 January 2004 with Flexjet. The new design is not developed from the Challenger 600 or its variants.
Its supercritical wings have a fixed leading-edge and a 27% sweep angle, its 1.15 m (3.8 ft) winglets reduce cruise lift-induced drag by 17%. It climbs to FL410 in 18 min with a 455 kg (1,003 lb) fuel burn at MTOW/ISA, where at a 14,330 kg (31,590 lb) weight it burns 680 kg (1,500 lb)/h at Mach 0.8 / 445 kn (824 km/h) tas, 875 kg (1,929 lb)/h at Mach 0.83 / 465 kn (861 km/h) tas.
The fuselage and the wing are semi-monocoque aluminum structures, the winglets are composite. Outboard ailerons are manually actuated, elevators and rudder are hydraulic with a mechanical backup, fly-by-wire spoilers augment roll control, act as speedbrakes and dump lift on the ground, hydraulic single-slotted fowler flap have four positions : 0/10/20/30°. The Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 avionics include four LCD displays, an EICAS and Maintenance Diagnostics Computer, an EGPWS, a TCAS II and an ELT.
Seats Full Range (NM / SM): 2988 / 3438
Ferry Range (No Payload) (NM / SM): 3,256 / 3,747
Balance Field Length (Take-off Distance in Feet): 4,689
Landing Distance (Feet): 2,927
Average Block Speed (KTS / MPH): 447 / 514
Normal Cruise (KTS / MPH): 447 / 514
Long Range Cruise Speed (KTS / MPH): 447 / 514
Fuel Usage (Gallons Per Hour): 286.00
Service Ceiling (Feet): 45,000
Useful Payload With Full Fuel (Lbs): 1,077
Maximum Take Off Weight: 38,850
Maximum Landing Weight: 33,750
Basic Operating Weight: 23,254
Total Usable Fuel Weight: 13,694
RANGE MAP

Minimum Crew / Maximum Passengers: 2 / 8
Baggage Capacity External / Internal (Cubic Feet): 0 / 106
Cabin Height (Feet): 6’1″
Cabin Width (Feet): 7’2″
Cabin Length (Feet): 28’7″
Cabin Volume (Cubic Feet): 1246.15
Years in Production: 2003-2014
Active Fleet (approximate): 400.00

Airframe Maintenance Per Hour: $467.00
Engine / APU Maintenance Per Hour: $547.00
Fuel Cost based on Gallons Per Hour: $1,215.50
Crew Misc.: $466.00
Total Variable Cost Per Hour: $2,695.50
Cost Per NM: $6.03