Gulfstream Aerospace has increased the range for the in-development G600 for a second time, extending its high-speed Mach 0.90 cruise range to 5,500 nm, a 700 nm increase from original projections. With the boost announced on the eve of NBAA 2018, the G600 can now fly nonstop from London to Los Angeles, São Paulo to Aspen, or Hong Kong to Vienna at Mach 0.90. Maximum operating speed for the aircraft is Mach 0.925.
A year ago, Gulfstream (Booth 256; Static SD41) had initially increased range at Mach 0.90 high-speed cruise of the G600 from 4,800 nm to 5,100 nm and at Mach 0.85 long-range cruise from 6,200 nm to 6,500 nm. At the same time, the Savannah, Georgia airframer announced range increases for the recently certified G500, extending high-speed cruise range from 3,800 nm to 4,400 nm, and long-range cruise from 5,000 nm to 5,200 nm.
“Lessons learned on the G500 have enabled us to move with more efficiency through the same tests for the G600,” now nearing the end of its flight testing and certification program, said Gulfstream president Mark Burns.
Since December 2016, five G600 flight-test aircraft have accumulated more than 2,600 flight hours over more than 685 flights. Certification testing for flying qualities, engine and thrust reverser operations, ice protection and environmental control system, field performance, smoke evacuation; flight controls, ventilation and cooling, fuel system, and flammable fluid drainage have been completed. Only crew workload, flight into known icing, and function and reliability tests remain. Type certification is expected by year-end and service entry is slated for 2019.
The G500, announced in parallel with the G600 in 2014, received FAA certification in July and is awaiting EASA type certification. The first customer aircraft entered service last month. Burns noted the first production G500 “set almost 30 speed records before certification,” as the company worked to “ensure the maturity of the airplane at entry into service, which was unprecedented for us and the industry.”
In addition, the G500 is the first aircraft certified to use an enhanced vision system (EVS) to land, and the company also announced the same capability will be available across the entire Gulfstream fleet. “All large-cabin aircraft have completed their test for the enhanced vision system,” said Colin Miller, vice president of flight operations, with the G600 expected to receive approval this year, and the other models to follow.
Gulfstream is showing its complete line of business jets—the G280, G550, and G650/650ER along with the new G500 and G600—at the NBAA static display.
