Canadian Gulfstreams - Part 4

During the early 1980s, corporate jet buyers expressed their interest in an aircraft that could fly farther and faster, be more fuel efficient and produce less noise in the process. More stringent noise regulations were threatening operational flexibility, especially at sound sensitive airports. Dassault responded on Sept.21, 1984, when its Falcon 900 wide-body tri-jet first flew. It could fly 4,300NM at Mach .75. This presented a challenge to the Gulfstream III's range of 3,650NM at M.77. A year later, on Sept. 19, 1985, the first Gulfstream IV flew. Its range was 4,220NM at M.80. Besides being capable of flying 15% farther than the GIII, it had a 4.5' longer cabin and quieter Rolls-Royce Tay engines. A year after that, on Sept. 28, 1986, the first Canadair Challenger 601-3A flew. Its range was 3,100NM at M.80. After their respective certifications, all three were operating with flight departments in the fall of 1987.

The first Canadian GIV (c/n 1032, C-FSBR) was delivered to Denison Mines in Toronto in November 1987. The loyal Gulfstream customer had previously operated a GI, a GII and a GIII. It would be almost six years before another new GIV was delivered to a Canadian customer. The Seagram Company of Montreal took delivery of c/n 1207 (C-FDCS, later C-FJES and N77SW) in August 1993. Its U.S. subsidiary (Joseph E. Seagram & Sons) had been, and would continue to be, a significant Gulfstream operator. Over time, it operated two GIIs, two GIIIs, seven GIVs and two GVs.

When previously owned GIVs became available at more attractive prices, Canadian operators took more interest in the type. Since 1993, two GIVs (c/n 1065, C-FCNR and c/n 1103, C-FHPM) and five GIV-SPs (c/n 1224, C-GEIV; c/n 1238, C-GCPM; c/n 1336, C-FORB; c/n 1382, C-GMRX; and c/n 1466, C-FLMS) have been operated by Canadian companies. In addition, three previously owned GIV-Xs (G450s) have been purchased by Canadians. These have included c/n 4030, C-GXDN; c/n 4047, C-GFCP; and c/n 4308, C-FDBJ.

As had been the case with the GIII, the Canadian market proved to be a difficult one for Gulfstream to penetrate with the GIV. Likewise, Dassault delivered only three new Falcon 900s to Canadians from 1987 until 2000. The Canadair/Bombardier Challenger 600/601/601-3A/601-3R/604/605/650 family has dominated the high end corporate jet market in Canada. Of the 901 fourth generation Gulfstreams built, only 12 have worn a Canadian registration. Only a pair were purchased new.

Photos by Frederick K. Larkin