Canadian Gulfstreams - Part 1

Subsequent to WWII, the largest aircraft operated by Canadian companies were the Douglas DC-3, the Lockheed 18 Lodestar and the Grumman G-73 Mallard. These large cabin aircraft were loud and flew low and slow. With the arrival of turbine power, corporations desired faster and more comfortable airplanes. When Grumman introduced its G-159 Gulfstream in June 1957, Canadian flight departments took note of the pressurized turboprop. Gulfstream c/n 7 first flew on July 23, 1959 and was delivered in mid-January 1960 as CF-LOO to Home Oil in Calgary, Alberta. During the following three years, new G-159s were delivered to George W. Crothers (31 / CF-JFC), Massey-Ferguson (54 / CF-MUR), Imperial Oil (60 / CF-IOM), Westcoast Transmission (72 / CF-NOC) and Algoma Steel (115 / CF-ASC). Brand loyalty played a role, as Crothers, Imperial Oil  and Algoma Steel had previously owned Mallards.

As time passed, the type became more affordable in the secondary market and numerous corporations and commercial operators added G-159s to their fleets. Besides its initial role as an executive transport, the Gulfstream provided logistical support for natural resource development in remote regions of the nation, was used as a regional airliner with a 24-seat interior, acted as a platform for geophysical surveys, and performed nocturnal missions as freighters.

Between 1958 and 1969, 200 G-159s were built by Grumman at Bethpage, New York. Of those, 25 wore a Canadian registration. Today fewer than a dozen airframes remain airworthy around the world. The sole example on the CCAR is C-FAWE (188). Currently withdrawn from service at Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec, it would be wonderful to hear its R-R Darts spool up and to see it airborne once again.

CF-MUR (054) taken in 1964 at Toronto. With permission from George Trussell

C-FCOL (064) and C-FAWG (106) courtesy of Caz Caswell

Round-up 15/5

G650 N1BN (6205) was cancelled to China on the 7th. No B- registration known yet. G650 N305KN (6142) now shows as an ER. 6313 has also been upgraded to an ER. G550 N577GA (5577) looks to have done a first flight from Savannah on the 8th. A 6th G600 has been registered. N600GU (73006) sounds like it could be a replacement for G650 N650GU. A recent video has been uploaded showing G1 9S-GTH (086) arriving at Rand. The 9S prefix replaced 9Q last August. G450 N667HS (4131) has finally come out of the hangar at Luton (after 9 months) but now carries N667H. Following some engine runs, it did an air test on the 12th and ferried down to Biggin Hill on the 13th presumably for painting as has 2 large green patches, one either side. A G650 in the same scheme has just been seen at Long Beach. See pic. G650 6308 has just cancelled to the Caymans. No other details.



Disney Gulfstreams

With the recent delivery of a 2nd G650 to Earth Star, the flight department of the Walt Disney Company, thought it was time for a run down of their fleet.  It began when G-159 (121) was delivered in early 1964. It flew as N234MM and used the radio call sign "234 Mickey Mouse". Disney has also operated two G-1159s: N283MM (81) and N900ES (174); a pair of G-1159As: N600ES (322) and N500MM (460); as well as G-IV/GIV-Xs: N500MM (1135) and N300ES (4209). 53 years later, the Disney fleet includes GV-SP N900ES (5322) and a pair of GVIs. The two G650ERs are N100ES (6014) and the recently delivered N200ES (6228).

N234MM was caught by Caz Caswell at Toronto in 1991. This is currently preserved at Disney World in Orlando. N200ES was caught by Michael Carter at Long Beach arriving from it's base of Burbank. The above fleet details via FK Larkin.



PBI G1 update

Further to my post at about this time last year, things have changed with the G1s at Palm Beach. The G1C N195PA was thought to be ending it's days due to corrosion but close inspection reveals it may be back in the air after a major overhaul, The reserve G1 N196PA is away on an 18 month inspection so the gap is being filled by G1 N164PA (054). These details via Scott Morris.

N164PA arriving at PBI on 4th February



Gee One visit

Have recently returned from Florida and had the pleasure of meeting Scott Morris (G1 captain and author of  www.g159hrm.com) and visiting both the G1s based at Palm Beach. They operate 2 rotations most days for AUTEC (Atlantic Undersea Test and Evaluation Centre) using a Greybird callsign. The G1C (N195PA con 088) is usually used as the stretched version carries more passengers. G1 N196PA (con 139) is the reserve aircraft. Only 15 G1s remain active out of 200 originally built.

Pics 1 and 2 are N195PA, pics 3 and 4 are N196PA. Pic 5 shows Scott proudly at the door of 195 while the final shot shows 195 arriving several days later.