Canadian Gulfstreams - Part 5

Until 1995, corporations and governments that required an aircraft capable of flying more than 5,000NM non-stop had to use modified airliners. The first purpose built business aircraft with such an extensive range was the Gulfstream V. It first flew on November 28, 1995 and could fly 6,500NM while cruising en route at Mach .80. That was a 54% improvement over the Gulfstream IV/IV-SPs' range of 4,220NM at M.80. Bombardier's entry into the ultra long range competition, the Global Express, first flew on October 13, 1996. It also offered a range of 6,500NM at M.80. Dassault later became the third player in the exclusive market niche with the first flight of its Falcon 7X on May 5, 2005. It could fly 5,950NM at M.80.

Since then, all three airframers have introduced variants of these models. They tend to feature slightly improved range and speed capabilities. Gulfstream's G550 flies 6,750NM at M.80. Bombardier's Global 6000 (originally named Global Express XRS) flies 6500NM at M.82, while the slightly shorter Global 5000 flies 5,200NM at M.85. Finally, Dassault's Falcon 8X flies 6,450NM at M.80.

The first Canadian fifth generation Gulfstream was a new G550 (c/n 5230, C-GNDN) that was delivered to a family in Calgary in June 2009. It became C-GXDN in January 2015, then was exported in January 2016. The second one to join the CCAR was a Gulfstream V (c/n 692, C-GLFV) that arrived at its Toronto base in November 2009. The appropriately registered airplane still wore its original Toyota Motor livery.

In March 2011, another new G550 (c/n 5306, C-GBGC) was delivered to a major gold miner in Toronto. Later reregistered as   C-GGPM, it remains with the same operator today. Subsequently, three previously owned units have joined the Canadian corporate fleet. They are c/n 641, C-GUGU in Vancouver; c/n 5283, C-GMCR in Calgary; and c/n 5491, C-GLFG also in Calgary.

As has been the case with the fourth generation Gulfstreams, the fifth generation models have had a difficult time penetrating the Canadian market. The favourite type within this exclusive niche is the Bombardier Global family that is produced in Toronto. Today, the Canadian Civil Aircraft Register shows that Canadian corporations (excluding Bombardier) operate 29 Globals, eight Falcon 7Xs, two Gulfstream Vs and three Gulfstream G550s.

C-GLFV, the penultimate Gulfstream V. Photo by Frederick K. Larkin

G550s C-GBGC and C-GNDN by Bob Holland