Gulfstream Looks to the Past as it Prepares for the Future

At the 2017 European Business Aviation Conference & Exhibition in Geneva, Gulfstream officials looked back on the company's accomplishments over the past decade, with the launch of four aircraft, including the G650/G650ER; the super-midsize G280; the G500, which is making its debut this year at EBACE, and the G600, which is expected to enter service in 2018.

When the G650 was announced in April 2008, the manufacturer received more than 430 letters of intent and purchase deposits on a single day, more than 200 of which were converted into firm orders, making it the most successful product launch in business aviation history. When it was certified in 2012, the G650 gave customers more than they expected, said Scott Neal, the airframer’s senior vice president of worldwide sales. “We promised an airplane that would go 7,000 miles at Mach 0.85 and 5000 miles at Mach 0.90; we actually delivered an airplane that went 6,000 miles at Mach 0.90 so we exceeded customer expectations.” That range was improved upon three years ago with the advent of the G650ER, which travels 7,500 nautical miles at Mach 0.85, allowing it to fly nonstop from Shanghai to New York. Currently more than 230 of the G650s are in service.

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Like its larger sibling, the super-midsize G280 was launched on the eve of the global economic downturn, yet Gulfstream persevered with its development, delivering the aircraft on schedule. It entered service in late 2012, and since then, the Savannah, Georgia-based manufacturer has delivered more than 105 of the aircraft, which was recently certified for operation into London City Airport.

The first production G500 commemorated Charles Lindbergh’s historic solo nonstop flight between New York and Paris 90 years ago, setting a speed record of six hours and 21 minutes in the process. Currently the four test aircraft, along with the first production model, have accumulated more than 2,900 hours over the course of 745 flights, the longest at 10 hours and three minutes, according to Dan Nale, the company’s senior vice president of programs, engineering, and test. G500 certification is expected before the end of the year.

Its larger sibling—the G600—has three aircraft in the test program with a fourth to follow shortly. The flight test program has completed 103 flights and a total of 460 hours, Nale noted, adding that the longest-endurance flight was 13 hours and two minutes. One of the test aircraft is having an interior installed, which will debut later this year. Both of the new aircraft are capable of Mach .90 with a range at Mach .85 of 5,000 nm for the G500 and 6,200 nm for the G600.

Not content to rest on its laurels, the manufacturer recently conducted an internal fly-off with the G650, G550, and G500 with staffers rating each for parameters such as acoustics, comfort, ergonomics, and craftsmanship, to ensure that what is learned in the design of one aircraft makes its way to the others.

When asked about the current overall picture of the business aviation industry, Neal was optimistic. “We’re seeing good activity in the markets right now, especially in the U.S. and here in Europe," he said. "We’re also seeing good activity in the Asia-Pacific region. It’s been a very solid year so far for Gulfstream.”