50 years ago today

The very first Grumman G-1159 Gulfstream 2  (N801GA con 001) flew for the first time on 2nd October 1966 at 1511EST (1911z) from Bethpage, Long Island, New York. Piloted by Bob Smyth and Carl Alber, the flight lasted 52 minutes and landed at the Grumman facility at Calverton. Powered by a pair of Rolls Royce Spey 511s with no problems reported. This would be the first of 256 of this model built and become N55RG. Production would move to Savannah in 1967 and initially there were 2 production lines until number 041 when this and all subsequent Gulfstreams were built at Savannah. More than 2200 jets have been built to date with many more to come.

via SDASM archives