Gulfstream Delivers 500th Aircraft in the G650 Family

Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. announced on 26 September 2022 that the 500th Gulfstream G650 and G650ER customer delivery was made at Gulfstream’s Appleton, Wisconsin, completions facility.

“With an incredible 500 delivered, persistent demand and a host of industry accolades, the G650 and G650ER are undeniably iconic. This milestone delivery is a strong testament to the tremendous work of our dedicated Gulfstream team. As with all aircraft programs, we continue to invest in the G650 and G650ER to ensure continuous improvement throughout the growing fleet for our customers.”
Mark Burns, president, Gulfstream

The G650 series saves time on some of the longest high-speed routes in commercial aviation. The G650 and G650ER hold a combined total of more than 120 city-pair world speed records, including arctic and westbound around-the-world records. Gulfstream was awarded the coveted Robert J. Collier Trophy for the G650 programme in 2014, an honour that recognises the finest achievements in American aeronautics or astronautics. Gulfstream received the accolade for the G650’s performance, safety, and efficiency advances in the business aviation industry.

The G650 and G650ER, which can accommodate up to 19 passengers, have an award-winning interior that is bright, flexible, and equipped with the latest technology. These features include 100% fresh air, low cabin heights, 16 huge panoramic windows, and high-speed internet access choices like Viasat’s Ku/Ka dual-band service, which has some of the best internet speeds in the business.

The G650, powered by two Rolls-Royce BR725 engines, can fly up to 7,000 nautical miles/12,964 kilometres at Mach 0.85 and 6,000 nm/11,112 kilometres at Mach 0.90. The G650ER has a range of 7,500 nautical miles/13,890 kilometres at Mach 0.85 and 6,400 nautical miles/11,853 kilometres at Mach 0.90. Both aircraft have a maximum operating speed of Mach 0.925, a maximum cruising altitude of 51,000 feet/15,545 metres, and have been certified for steep approach landing operations by the Federal Aviation Administration and the European Aviation Safety Administration.

The G650 was certified by the FAA in September 2012 and by EASA three months later. The G650ER was announced and certified in 2014.

Gulfstream Announces G700 World Tour

Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. announced on October 17, 2022, that two fully outfitted Gulfstream G700 production test aircraft will go on a global tour to exhibit Gulfstream’s flagship and the industry’s most capacious cabin to customers. The G700 world tour will begin immediately following the appearance of the two aircraft at the 2022 NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE) and will build on the test program’s impressive real-world performance capabilities, which already include eight international city-pair speed records.

“These outfitted G700 aircraft currently flying feature two of the most stunning interiors in business aviation. After being on display for the industry at NBAA-BACE in Orlando, Florida, the G700 will fly to major events and private showings across 20 cities and six continents as part of our efforts to give customers direct access to the aircraft. The strategic route of the G700 world tour reflects the strong demand we are seeing in established markets, such as Europe and the Middle East, and in growing markets for us, including Southeast Asia, India and Africa.”
Mark Burns, president, Gulfstream

The G700 will visit South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia, as well as events such as the Future Investment Initiative in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the Bahrain International Airshow, and the Middle East & North Africa Business Aviation Association (MEBAA) Show in Dubai on its global tour.

The first fully outfitted G700 production test aircraft took to the skies in April 2021, followed by the second in September. Gulfstream is putting the interior through thousands of test points and flying hours to assure uncompromised cabin maturity upon entrance into service. The production test aircraft feature the industry’s only ultragalley with more than 10 feet/3 metres of counter space; a grand suite with fixed bed and bright, spacious lavatory with full vanity and shower; the dynamic circadian lighting system; an all-new award-winning seat design; and the lowest cabin altitude in the industry at 2,916 ft/889 m when flying at 41,000 ft/12,497 m when flying at 41,000 ft/12,497 m.

Photo credits: Gulfstream (General Dynamics)