The 400th* Gulfstream GVI Enters Service

Almost two weeks ago, on December 5, Gulfstream Aerospace announced that the 400th Gulfstream GVI had been delivered. It was the delivery of the 400th unit built. Serial number 6400, registered as N651MP, was flown to its new base at Birmingham, AL. Since then, the same owner has received its second G650ER - N652MP / 6405.

Today, a business aviation milestone was reached when the 400th* Gulfstream GVI entered service. Serial number 6401, registered as A7-CGG, flew overnight as QQE460 from Savannah, GA to Stansted, UK. Notably, it is Qatar Executive W.L.L.'s seventh G650ER. The Doha-based operator now has the world's largest fleet of the type.

The 400 GVIs delivered to date include 156 G650s and 244 G650ERs.

This remarkable event comes almost seven years to the day after the first two G650s were delivered on December 20, 2012. Serial number 6007 was delivered to Wynn Resorts as N711SW and serial number 6010 was accepted by Exxon Mobil as N100A.

 The EIS of the 400th GVI represents an average production rate of 4.75 units per month during the past seven years. A mighty impressive number for Gulfstream's flagship model.

* this number represents fully furnished aircraft and excludes airframes 6001 and 6002 that served as flight test aircraft for GAC.

G650ER (serial number 6087) N650GA  at Dulles, Virginia.

Photo by Frederick K. Larkin

Gulfstream Introduces Its New Flagship - the G700

As expected, Gulfstream Aerospace unveiled its newest model yesterday at the NBAA convention in Las Vegas, Nevada. Formally named GVIII-G700, it is being marketed as the G700. Although its advertised range (7,500NM @ M.85 or 6,400NM @ M.90) is the same as that of the G650ER, industry sources have suggested that after the flight test program its range capability may match or slightly exceed the 7,700NM range of Bombardier's Global 7500.
The G700 has design features that set it apart from the company's current flagship. These include:
- a 10-foot-longer fuselage that will enable another cabin zone (four vs the three on a G650ER) in addition to a dedicated crew rest station;
- ten vs eight cabin windows per side;
- Rolls-Royce Pearl 700 engines that will each provide up to 18,250 lbs. of thrust, or 8% more than the 16,900 lbs. produced by each of the G650ER's R-R BR725s;
-new curved winglets designed by Daher; and
- active-control sidesticks (like those on the smaller G500 and G600 models), instead of the traditional control yokes.
After the Pearl 700 engines have been certified, the first G700 is expected to fly during the first half of next year. Post certification, entry into service should be during 2022. Thanks to its order for 10 units of the US$75 million machine, Qatar Executive W.L.L. of Doha is the G700's launch customer. Flexjet, LLC, with its impressive US$1.2 billion order for 16 G700s, will be the first North American fleet operator of the eighth generation Gulfstream.


Photo courtesy of Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation

Canadian Gulfstreams - Part 6

During the past 60 years, three key specifications have driven the evolution of corporate jet design. They are: range, speed and cabin size. A new standard was set with the first flight of the Gulfstream G650 on November 25, 2009. It can fly 7,000NM at Mach .85 - a 17% improvement on the G550's maximum range of 6,000NM at M.85. Perhaps more importantly, the G650 can travel 6,000NM at M.90. Gulfstream has since introduced an enhanced fuel capacity modification that is available for G650s either in service or on order. The G650ER can fly 7,500NM at M.85 or 6,400NM at M.90.

Not to be left behind, Bombardier has responded with its new Global 7500. While it and the G650ER share the same published long-range cruise speed of M.85, high-speed cruise speed of M.90 and top speed of M.925, the Global 7500 has an advertised maximum range of 7,700NM versus the G650ER's 7,500NM. The most significant difference between the two aircraft appears to be cabin size. Assuming the installation of a dedicated crew rest station aft of the cockpit, the G650ER has a three zone cabin, while the Global 7500's longer fuselage accommodates a four zone cabin.

Given that more than 400 G650s/G650ERs have been ordered to date, it will be interesting to see how large the market ultimately is for corporate jets that cost more than US$65 million.

Of the more than 340 Gulfstream G650s/G650ERs currently operating, so far only two wear Canadian registrations. The first example, a G650 (6162, C-GNDN), was delivered new to a family in Calgary in December 2015. Having previously had a G450 and a G550, this upgrade might have been expected. The second unit is a G650ER (6252, C-FYRC). It had previously served as a Gulfstream Aerospace demonstrator before being purchased by a Calgary investor in November 2017.

Photo of 6252 at Montreal by Bill Fawcett.

Photo of 6162 at Farnborough by Bob Holland.

Round-up 15/1

A 2 week edition although still not a lot to report. The latest G650 demonstrator N650GF (6341) is in service now and was seen at Liverpool just before Christmas. G280 N216GA (2166) ferried from Tel Aviv to Stansted on the 2nd. The next one doesn't seem to be far away. G650 N1895T (6346) flew from Long Beach to Savannah on the 14th using it's new registration suggesting delivery is imminent. Upgrades on the register to G650ER this period are 6347, 6348, 6349, 6359 and 6360. This now passes the 200 mark for ER conversions. A source has stated that the first G500 with the 7th window is #7 which should be the 2nd production aircraft. Without seeing a picture, I can't confirm but as numbers 6, 7 and 8 are likely to be for Flexjet (my guess only), this seems a little strange. As always, time will tell. Further to my post at the end of October, the new N305CC for Carnival Cruises has been identified as con 6348 and has had a slight change of paint scheme. Thanks as always to Michael Carter. Can't wait to see this at either Fort Lauderdale, where it will be based, or Luton. The old one (6021) is already flying as N300CC.

Round-up 22/5

Upgrade on the register to G650ER was 6310. G280 N280BA (2147) ferried Tel Aviv to Stansted on the 16th. G650 N632GA (6332) ferried Savannah to Long Beach on the 17th as GLF96. G650 M-YSIX flew Bournemouth to Savannah on the 19th after 3 weeks of storage. The 19th was also the 4th anniversary of the G650ER entering service. This version has now flown more than 135,000 hours. A Chinese G200 came to grief on the 20th. See link G650 6301 was cancelled to Qatar on the 21st, presumably to become the 5th with Qatar Executive making it the largest operator of this model. Next Tuesday is the first day of EBACE at Geneva so there may be a delay in me posting again. This is my 300th post.

Part of the Gulfstream line up at EBACE 2016

Update: Just found a pic of VP-CLH which would appear to be 6308.

Round-up 28/11

A 2 week post this time as have been shooting Gulfstreams in Florida. Pics should all be uploaded over the next few days. G280 N233GA (2133) was ferried from Tel Aviv to Belfast on the 14th and N347NA (2134) via Stansted on the 27th. 2 G650s upgraded to ER on the register. These being 6276 and 6281. The short lived demonstrator N650GD (6252) was cancelled to Canada on the 22nd and took up C-FYRC. The last outstanding G450 (4364) now has N917VZ reserved so will be for Verizon. The 2nd G650 for Flexjet would appear to be N136ZC (6274). See picture On a personal note, saw my 1st G500 at PBI on the 19th.

 

Think I may have been spotted hard at work Pic by Wes

7 years ago today

The prototype Gulfstream G650 (N650GA) flew for the first time on 25th November 2009 from Savannah. More than 200 are now in service and has become the most prestigious private jet on the market. Also, the 100th G650ER has recently been registered showing this to be a most popular upgrade.