Aviation News – April 2021

[Aviation News]

Gulfstream Flies First Fully Outfitted G700

Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. announced on 16 April 2021 that the Gulfstream G700™ aircraft dedicated to testing the cabin experience has flown for the first time and now joins the five other test aircraft already in the steadily maturing certification program.

The fully outfitted aircraft took off today and flew 3 hours and 36 minutes, reaching an altitude of 48,000 feet/14,630 meters and a top speed of Mach 0.935. The test regimen will encompass more than 15,500 test points, validating every facet of the cabin to ensure the utmost in interior comfort and reliability upon customer delivery.

“Flying a fully outfitted aircraft signals significant progress in the G700 flight-test program. The G700 interior is raising the bar for cabin innovation and customization. It provides more space than ever before for Gulfstream’s precision-crafted furnishings, more opportunity for personalization and more technology to optimize passenger health, safety and enjoyment. We look forward to fully testing the cabin before delivering this amazing aircraft to customers.”
Mark Burns, president, Gulfstream

The first fully outfitted G700 features the industry’s only ultragalley, with more than 10 feet of counter space; a dedicated crew space; an entertainment and presentation area; a six-place conference and dining area; and a state room with full-length wardrobe. Interior elements include award-winning seat design; natural stone flooring in the galley and bathrooms; quartz countertops; powered single seats; surround sound; and other bespoke features that come standard on the aircraft.

The Gulfstream Cabin Experience on this G700 test aircraft includes the all-new ultrahigh-definition circadian lighting system along with Gulfstream’s signature 100% fresh, never recirculated air, the industry’s lowest cabin altitude, whisper-quiet noise levels and an unprecedented 20 panoramic oval windows.

The G700 cabin, the most spacious in the industry, can be configured for up to five living areas with the option to include a passenger lounge in the ultragalley and/or a grand suite with optional shower.

The Symmetry Flight Deck™ on the G700 features the industry’s only active-control sidesticks, most extensive use of touch-screen technology and a data concentration network, as well as the award-winning Gulfstream Predictive Landing Performance System and Enhanced Flight Vision System and Synthetic Vision on dual head-up displays.

The aircraft is powered by Rolls-Royce Pearl 700 engines and can fly at its high-speed cruise of Mach 0.90 for 6,400 nautical miles/11,853 kilometers or at its long-range cruise of Mach 0.85 for 7,500 nm/13,890 km.

Photo credits: Gulfstream Aerospace Corp.

Cessna Delivers the 600th Citation CJ3 Series Business Jet

Textron Aviation marked the delivery of the 600th aircraft from the Cessna Citation CJ3 family on 5 April 2021. The milestone Cessna Citation CJ3+ was delivered to an unnamed customer in North America.

The CJ3+ remains a strong performer due to its versatility as COVID-19 limitations have prompted customers to look for alternatives to commercial travel.

“Since joining the Citation family, the Citation CJ3 series has proven to be an incredible performer for customers around the world with the connectivity, price, range and efficient operation that puts it at the top of its category. The CJ3+ remains a strong performer due to its versatility as COVID-19 limitations have prompted customers to look for alternatives to commercial travel.”
Lannie O’Bannion, senior vice president, Global Sales and Flight Operations

This aircraft features a fresh air system to keep cabin air clean, bringing fresh air from outside into the aircraft through the engines. The engines compress and heat the air eliminating pathogens and germs. The air is then cooled and enters the cabin as cold or warm air, depending on passenger preference.

The Citation CJ3+ boasts the latest technology in the cabin and cockpit providing both unrivalled comfort and productivity for passengers, and intuitive, efficient operation for either single-pilot operation – perfect for owner-operators – or traditional two-pilot operations.

The single-pilot Citation CJ3+ delivers performance, G3000 avionics and high-speed internet capabilities. Best-in-class acquisition and operating costs, seating for nine passengers, and up to 1,000 lb of baggage capacity make the CJ3+ a very versatile light business jet.

With a range of up to 2,040 nautical miles, the Citation CJ3+ can fly single-pilot and up to four passengers nonstop from Washington, D.C. to Mexico City; from London to Moscow; from Shanghai to Bangkok; or from Lima to São Paulo.

Designed to provide the most efficient flight profile by minimizing fuel costs and environmental impact, the Citation CJ3+ burns, on average, 10 percent less fuel and costs 5 percent less in maintenance per flight hour versus other aircraft in the light jet segment.

Photo credits: Textron Aviation

Boeing Delivers Next F-15EX Ahead of Schedule

Boeing-led industry team officially delivered a second F-15EX fighter aircraft to the U.S. Air Force on 21 April 2021, earlier than the contract requirement. The result of a collaboration across industry, the U.S. Air Force and the Air National Guard, the F-15EX is a ready-now replacement for the F-15C that includes best-in-class payload, range and speed and an all-new digital infrastructure.

“Moving from contract award to delivery in a matter of months enables the U.S. Air Force to get a head start on flight testing and demonstrates our commitment to exceeding expectations,” said Prat Kumar, Boeing vice president and F-15 program manager. “Along with state-of-the-art avionics and survivability suite, the new F-15EX includes almost 3 miles of high-speed digital data bus to enable open architecture, which will keep it evolving ahead of threats for decades.”

The second F-15EX arrived at Eglin Air Force Base to begin testing with the first EX that was delivered last month.

In July 2020, the U.S. Air Force awarded Boeing an Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity contract for up to 200 F-15EXs to replace the undefeated but aging F-15C. The Air Force has announced initial basing locations in Florida and Oregon.

“Delivering the F-15EX to defend our freedom is a source of intense pride for the Boeing and industry team,” said Kumar.