Gulfstream’s newest jets–the super-midsize G280 and wide-cabin G650–are making their China debut at ABACE 2013

Monday, April 15th, 2013

Gulfstream’s newest jets–the super-midsize G280 and wide-cabin G650–are making their China debut at ABACE, which officially opens tomorrow at Shanghai Hongqiao Airport. “We’re excited to bring the G650 and G280, as well as the G150, G450 and G550 to China for our customers to see in person,” said Gulfstream senior vice president of sales and marketing Scott Neal. “Bringing these five aircraft here demonstrates the commitment we’ve made to China and reflects our belief in the strength of this market.” Both aircraft have also recently set to-be-confirmed city-pair speed records in Asia Pacific. Late last month, a G650 flew the 6,223-nm route nonstop from Chicago International Airport to Beijing Airport in 12 hours 49 minutes, for an average speed of Mach 0.87. When confirmed, this will be the eighth city-pair record for the G650. The G280 logged 10 city-pair records so far this year, including two following the Avalon 2013 airshow in Australia. It set the first record on a 3,300-nm flight from Melbourne Essendon Airport to Singapore Seletar Airport, completing the route in 7 hours 22 minutes at an average speed of Mach 0.80. The second record was between Singapore and Abu Dhabi, where the G280 flew the 3,213-nm route in 7 hours 41 minutes, also at Mach 0.80.

Gulfstream G280 and Gulfstream G650

Gulfstream G650 racks up yet another city-pair speed record

Wednesday, March 6th, 2013

The wide-cabin Gulfstream G650 racked up yet another city-pair speed record, flying the 6,329-nm trip between Melbourne, Fla., and Abu Dhabi, UAE, in 13 hours and 5 minutes nonstop. It cruised at an average speed of Mach 0.87, carrying five crew and two passengers. Once verified by the U.S. National Aeronautic Association, the record will be the flagship aircraft’s sixth city-pair milestone this year.

Gulfstream G650

Gulfstream G650 and G280 Set Four Unconfirmed City-Pair Records En Route To Air Show

Tuesday, February 26th, 2013

Gulfstream Aerospace Corp.’s two most up-to-date aircraft showed up in Australia Monday to take part in the business’s fixed display at Avalon 2013, an air program and defense exhibition in Geelong, Victoria. It’s the initial time both the super mid-sized Gulfstream G280 and the ultra-large-cabin, ultra-long-range G650 have gone to Australia.

“We’re enjoyed having the ability to show these 2 planes to our customers in Australia,” stated Scott Neal, senior vice head of Sales and Marketing, Gulfstream. “It’s an opportunity for consumers to see firsthand the significant capacities of the G280 and G650, featuring speed, selection, comfort, security and reliability.”

Both aircraft demonstrated their speed and variety on course to Australia, setting a series of possible city-pair records. The G650 set a world record in between Honolulu and Auckland, flying 3,868 nm (7,164 km) in 7 hrs and 57 moments. When authorized by the National Aeronautic Association, this report will sign up with eight others currently specified by the G650.

The G280 specified three pending records on course to Avalon. The aircraft took off at optimal weight from Carlsbad, CA, where it displayed its launch capacities from the short runway (4,897 ft/1,492 m). It then flew 6 individuals (three passengers and three staff) to Honolulu, a distance of 2,322 nm (4,300 km), in 5 hrs and 31 minutes at an average rate of Mach 0.83. The plane flew the 2,292 nm (4,245 km) from Honolulu to Pago Pago in 5 hrs and 12 minutes at an ordinary speed of Mach 0.83. The trip from Pago Pago to Melbourne, a distance of 2,846 nm (5,270 km), took 7 hrs and 16 mins, at a normal performance of Mach 0.80 The G280 has specified 22 city-pair records considering that it got in service in 2012.

The aircraft’s look at Avalon 2013 belongs to a globe exhibition trip meant to introduce the 2 aircraft to consumers. Since entering into market in November 2012, the G280 demonstrator has gone to 65 cities in 15 nations, building up greater than 340 trip hrs. Its longest nonstop trip was from Savannah to London, a journey of 3,676 nm (6,808 km).

The G650 flies farther, faster and with a larger, more comfy cabin than every other private plane that is operational. The G650 globe demonstration tour began in mid-January and has already seen 28 locations in 6 nations, covering 40,000 nm (74,000 km).

The two airplanes demonstrated their performance and selection en route to Australia, specifying a series of prospective city-pair records. The airplane flew the 2,292 nm (4,245 km) from Honolulu to Pago Pago in 5 hrs and 12 mins at an ordinary speed of Mach 0.83. The planes look at Avalon 2013 is part of a world demonstration trip planned to introduce the two jets to consumers. JetOptions Private Jets charters the full line of Gulfstream jets.

G280 G650

Gulfstream revenues soared in 2012

Saturday, January 26th, 2013

Incomes at General Dynamics’ aerospace division, that includes Gulfstream Aerospace and Jet Aviation, shot up to $ 6.91 billion last year, up even more than $ 900 million from 2011, thanks in big part to Gulfstream. Profits at the division climbed by $ 129 million to $ 858 million. Throughout an investor teleconference yesterday, General Dynamics chairman and CEO Phebe Novakovic forecast that the department will see a 16-percent sales development this year. “At Gulfstream, both profits and earnings were strong, with revenue up more than $ 800 million and incomes up $ 110 million,” she stated. Last year, Gulfstream provided 121 green airplane (104 large-cabin and 17 midsize jets) versus 107 (90 large-cabin, 17 midsize) in 2011. Novakovic stated that the aircraft producer expects to deliver 139 green aircraft this year (113 large-cabin and 26 midsize jets). Distributions of finished plane fell from 99 in 2011 to 94 last year. This suggests a traffic jam in the completions pipeline, and Novakovic acknowledged that rework to bring in-completions G650s up to last FAA specs has slowed deliveries of these wide-cabin jets. Though the aerospace division’s backlog shrunk by even more than $ 2 billion last year, ending at $ 15.67 billion on December 31, Novakovic is optimistic by sales so far this year. Especially, she said that Fortune 500 companies are once again in a mood to buy aircraft and looking to renew their fleets. “Gulfstreams are beautiful jets and if you ever need to charter one, call me at 972-764-3563″ said Gus Lira Vice President of JetOptions Private Jets.

Gulfstream revenues soared in 2012 JetOptions jet charter blog G200 JetOptions jet charter blog G150 JetOptions jet charter blog G650 JetOptions jet charter blog G550 JetOptions jet charter blog G450 JetOptions jet charter blog G350 JetOptions jet charter blog G250 JetOptions jet charter blog

 

NTSB: Rush To Certify G650 a Factor in Test Crash

Monday, October 15th, 2012

In findings released yesterday, the NTSB blamed the April 2, 2011, flight-test crash of a Gulfstream G650 on what it characterized as the aircraft manufacturer’s rush to complete its aggressive flight-test schedule. The Safety Board found that the crash at Roswell (N.M.) International Air Center was the result of Gulfstream’s failure to properly develop and validate takeoff speeds; recognize and correct errors in the takeoff safety speed that manifested during previous G650 flight tests; the flight-test team’s persistent and aggressive attempts to achieve a takeoff speed that was erroneously low; and Gulfstream’s inadequate investigation of uncommanded roll events that occurred during previous flight tests, “which should have revealed incorrect assumptions about the airplane’s stall angle of attack in ground effect.” “Deadlines are essential motivators, but safety must always trump schedule,” said NTSB chairman Deborah Hersman. “Flight test should not be rushed or compromised.” At about 9:34 a.m. MDT on April 2, 2011, during a one-engine takeoff from Roswell International Air Center, the G650 experienced a right-wing stall, causing the airplane to roll to the right with the right wingtip contacting the runway and hitting a concrete structure and an airport weather station, resulting in extensive structural damage and a post-crash fire. The two pilots and two flight engineers on board were killed in the accident. Although the aircraft was substantially damaged, the NTSB said the crash was survivable. “We appreciate the commitment of the NTSB to thoroughly examining this accident and determining its cause,” Gulfstream said in a statement. “Gulfstream has and will continue to support the families of the flight crew on aircraft [S/N] 6002. Their well-being remains a top consideration of everyone at Gulfstream. Safety is Gulfstream’s first priority. Since this accident, we have redoubled our efforts to strengthen the safety culture in flight test and throughout the rest of the company. We are committed to continuous safety improvement.”

At Jet Expo in Moscow, Gulfstream Touts G650 Sales in Russia

Friday, September 28th, 2012

With FAA type certification of its new G650 and G280 in hand, Gulfstream is stepping up efforts to ensure that it meets its goal of making first customer deliveries during the last three months of this year. “We are focused on ensuring that deliveries start in the fourth quarter,” Gulfstream president Larry Flynn told AIN today at Jet Expo 2012 in Moscow. He added that G650 deliveries to Russian customers are scheduled to begin during the first few months of next year. One of the few Western business aircraft manufacturer presidents attending Jet Expo, Flynn told journalists at Moscow Vnukovo Airport that both the G650 and G280 have sold well in Russia and Eastern Europe. He said that Gulfstream’s presence in the Russian market in particular started growing at a significant rate in 2007 and has continued through this year. “The Russian market has been an extremely important market for Gulfstream,” Flynn said. “So here I am and I want to make sure that Gulfstream senior leadership comes to meet local customers and stay abreast of market conditions.” Flynn told AIN that the G650, with its wide cabin and ultra-long range, is by far Gulfstream’s strongest-selling model in Russia. The U.S. company has now sold more than 200 of the $64.5 million jets worldwide, and the next available G650 delivery slot is in the second quarter of 2017. AIN reporters are working on site at Jet Expo, and the latest-breaking news, as well as a photo gallery, from the show is available on AINonline.

Gulfstream’s Party Submission on G650 Crash Published

Friday, June 8th, 2012

Gulfstream Aerospace and Parker Aerospace have provided party submissions to the National Transportation Safety Board’s public docket for the April 2, 2011, Gulfstream G650 flight-test accident. Parker, the manufacturer of the G650’s primary flight control actuation system, and Gulfstream are both parties to the accident investigation, and their submissions were filed by the NTSB on May 22 but not posted in the online public docket until two days ago. The material submitted to the docket is raw data, and the NTSB’s final report remains pending. In its submission, which was dated May 21, Gulfstream outlines actions to enhance safety that it took following the accident. These include creating “an aviation safety officer position, reporting directly to the president of the company. Gulfstream has also improved documentation, processes and procedures; increased support of flight test by design engineering; convened more detailed and frequent flight-test safety review boards; and improved onboard emergency equipment for test aircraft to better protect aircrews.” The next steps for the NTSB are a draft final report, a public board meeting, publication of an abstract of the report on the NTSB website and then the release of the final report.

A Gulfstream G650 flight-test airplane crashed April 2nd, 2011

Gulfstream Aerospace Excels in Third Quarter

Friday, October 28th, 2011

General Dynamics reported third-quarter earnings yesterday, and chairman and CEO Jay Johnson said the company’s aerospace group–Gulfstream Aerospace and Jet Aviation–saw “continued emerging market customer interest and improved aircraft service volume” in the quarter. Gulfstream’s sales in the period were $1.4 billion, “driven by more aircraft deliveries [both green and completed airplanes] and higher services volume when compared with the last quarter.” Emerging-market demand was credited with driving Gulfstream orders and represented about 50 percent of the order book. Included in that emerging market activity was a firm order for 20 Gulfstreams from Chinese aircraft leasing company Minsheng. A positive 1.5 book-to-build ratio resulted in a $300 million increase in the backlog value, bringing the total to $18.6 billion. Johnson said Gulfstream anticipates provisional certification of the G650 “in the next several weeks” and plans to deliver 10 to 12 green aircraft before year-end, with entry into service of outfitted G650s beginning in the second quarter. He also noted that Jet Aviation’s service-related revenues continued to grow in the third quarter, with volume up nearly 16 percent. For the full year, he said, “I expect the aerospace group’s sales to be up approximately 13 percent and operating margins to be around 15 percent.”

Gulfstream G650 Advances Toward Certification

Thursday, October 13th, 2011

The wide-cabin Gulfstream G650 is expected to obtain provisional certification by year-end, the Savannah, Ga.-based aircraft manufacturer said this week at the NBAA Convention in Las Vegas. According to Gulfstream, tests of the G650’s fly-by-wire system, engine inlet compatibility and operation in hot weather, among others, have recently been completed. As of last week, the four G650 flight-test aircraft had accumulated more than 2,077 hours on more than 626 flights. “On September 15, we had five G650 aircraft in the air at once,” said Gulfstream senior vice president of programs, engineering and test Pres Henne. “Four of the aircraft were conducting flight-test activities, while the fifth aircraft completed a post-production test flight. We are moving at a prudent pace toward our certification objective later this year.” Gulfstream has now flown four production aircraft in preparation for induction into final-phase manufacturing, where the aircraft are outfitted and painted. Fourteen aircraft are currently in the production process.

Gulfstream Reiterates G650 Is on Schedule

Sunday, May 29th, 2011

Gulfstream has announced that it expects FAA approval by the end of this year for its G650 ultra-large-cabin, ultra-long-range jet. Although the April 2 crash of a G650 during a test flight may cause delays in the certification program, the Savannah, Ga.-based manufacturer still expects to deliver 12 “green” G650s (with unfinished cabins) by the end of this year. Gulfstream, which has more than 200 orders for the model, is working with the National Transportation Safety Board on the crash investigation, according to Pres Henne, a senior vice president for the company.