International Business Machines Corporation was added to an exclusive list of Gulfstream customers yesterday, when it took delivery of a new G650ER. With the arrival of N780TW (serial number 6435) at White Plains, New York. IBM became only the ninth organization to have operated at least one example of each of the first six Gulfstream generations.
The company received its first example 56 years ago, when a Grumman G-159 Gulfstream (serial number 173) was handed over to a completion centre in September 1964. Once furnished, it was assigned to IBM World Trade Corporation, wore N360WT and was based at Le Bourget, France.
Photo of N360WT at London Heathrow Airport in 1970 by Chris England
During the subsequent five decades, IBM has operated three G-1159 Gulfstream IIs (sn 58/N720Q, sn 65/N720E and sn 66/N720F); two G-1159A Gulfstream IIIs (sn 428/N760A and sn 430/N760C); one G-IV Gulfstream IV (sn 1165/N780E); one G-V Gulfstream V (sn 530/N780F) and two GV-SP Gulfstream G550s (sn 5258/N780E and sn 5261/N780F). The GVI is the company's 11th Gulfstream - making it one of the aircraft manufacturer's most loyal and longstanding customers.
Incidentally, the Tango Whiskey suffix in the G650ER's registration stands for Thomas Watson. He was IBM's Chairman and CEO from 1914 until 1956. His son, Thomas Watson, Jr., was Chairman and CEO from 1956 until 1971.
UPDATE: On January 11, 2021, IBM received its 12th Gulfstream when its second G650ER (sn 6442/N780RW) arrived at White Plains, New York from the completion centre at Appleton, Wisconsin.
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