Canadian Gulfstreams - Part 2

The bizjet era dawned with the first flight of the Lockheed L-1329 JetStar on September 4, 1957. Within the next seven years, another seven new types (including the North American NA-265-40 Sabreliner, de Havilland DH-125, Rockwell 1121 Jet Commander, Dassault Falcon 20, Lear Jet 23, HFB-320 Hansa Jet and the Piaggio-Douglas PD-808) had flown. While they all flew faster and higher, none of them had the range or cabin size of the Grumman G-159 Gulfstream turboprop.

At that time, Grumman had been asking G-159 owners if they would be interested in a jet version of the aircraft. After it was determined that a market did exist for a corporate jet that could fly non-stop across the Atlantic Ocean, production of the G-1159 Gulfstream II was launched on May 5, 1965. It first flew on October 2, 1966 and the first customer aircraft (c/n 5, N100P) was delivered in early 1968. On May 5 that year, N100P became the first corporate jet to cross the pond non-stop when it flew from Teterboro, NJ to London's Gatwick Airport.

The first Canadian GII (c/n 7, CF-HOG) was received by Home Oil at Calgary in August 1968. The second (c/n 9, CF-SBR) went to Denison Mines at Toronto a month later. Each of those companies had operated a G-159 before replacing it with a Dassault Falcon 20C. Now they had upgraded to Grumman's flagship.

During the following 11 years, three more new GIIs arrived in Canada: c/n 52, CF-FNM with Falconbridge Nickel Mines in Toronto; c/n 140, C-GTWO with International Nickel in Toronto; and c/n 232, C-GDPB with Dome Petroleum in Calgary. As well, ten previously-owned GIIs flew for Canadian companies including Imperial Oil, Noranda Mines, Kaiser Resources, TransCanada PipeLines, Ranger Oil and Bell Canada. One of these other examples (c/n 28, C-GCFB) was operated by Transport Canada as an airways calibration aircraft.

During the past half-century, 15 of the 256 Gulfstream IIs built have graced the Canadian Civil Aircraft Register. Today there are none.

The first three Canadian GIIs at Toronto. Photos courtesy of George Trussell.

Gulfstream in Uniform : Part II

Gulfstream II

The US Coast Guard extended their relationship with Gulfstream by purchasing a brand new Gulfstream II to fill their VIP needs. The Bethpage built airframe (c/n 23) was delivered in April 1969 and served with them until 1995. The VC-11A as it was known in USCG service was the first aircraft to carry the famous USCG 01 serial. Only one other Gulfstream II saw US Military service and that was c/n 45, and this was used by the US Army. it was initially designated a VC-II but was later re-designated a C-20J. A handful of civilian registered Gulfstream IIs still operate in the United States with heavy external modifications, these are operated by various divisions of the United States Air Force.

Although the Gulfstream II was widely used by Governments around the globe only a handful of military operators made use of the type, these being Venezuela, Mexico, Denmark and Oman. Probably the one that isn't very well known about is c/n 62. The Russian Air Force had Black 62 on strength for a number of years during the late 90's before selling it back on to the US civil market, very little can be found about it's flying career in Russia if indeed it actually had one.

Photo by : Eric Bannwarth

Classic Update

Just back from another Florida trip. Only the one classic Gulfstream seen flying this time. G3 N400AA (362) arrived at Palm Beach on the 20th. A Mexican G2 was seen at Opa Locka which was probably XA-CVS. The following were seen at Fort Lauderdale Exec. G2s N721CN (206) and N1218C (99), G3s N36DA (450), N320MK (370), N500EF (400), N975RG (471) and XA-LNP (323). Another G2 defied recognition. Pic below. Any ideas?

Update: Info suggests this is N88LN (020) which was originally delivered to P&G as N2PG in November 1968, exactly 50 years ago. Thanks to FKL for this snippet.



Round-up 12/11

A day early this week, for personal reasons. Looks like the "new" Flexjet G650 operated a first service from Cleveland to Orlando on the 6th as LXJ651 (although still there on the 12th). G550 N585GA (5585) appears to have made a first flight from Savannah on the 7th. The 3rd G500 was delivered on the 8th when N1980G (72013) flew from Savannah to Denver-Centennial. Joining (or replacing?) Challenger 300 N1980Z. You will already have read about the new British G650.
A really nice collection of Gee Two scans is being uploaded to Flickr and can be seen at Gulfstream 2 collection on Flickr I hope you like them as much as I do. Certainly brings back memories.

CF-SBR (009) at Edmonton (YXD)



Sad sight at St. Lucie part 3

It's been a few years since we last did a report from here. St. Lucie in Florida is where some Gulfstreams go to die. Good friend Dave Lythgoe did a side trip here during the recent NBAA. G2 N117JJ is still here but has now been joined by a pair of G3s. N109DD (415) arrived here in July while N456BE (335) appears to have arrived within the last 12 months. The 2 Drummond G2s N125DC and N188DC are still present. Not that we're counting but this is the 350th post to this blog.

Update: N109DD departed on 8th November so not withdrawn here.



Further to my earlier

A couple of updates to earlier posts worth highlighting here.
Further to my post of 27th June 2018 (link) a blog reader has kindly referred me to an item on the US Navy NC-37B (G550) at www.navair.navy.mil which includes a picture showing it carrying N544GD so is confirmed as 5544.

Further to my post of 20th August 2018 (link) trying to identify the cabin trainers at Long Beach, Eric the Pilot has sent me an earlier shot of the outside one showing a crest by the door. This suggests this may be the old Panamanian machine but any crest had certainly been painted out when it was seen in storage at St. Lucie. A pic of HP-1691 (link) active in 2011 shows no crest here. Could it possibly be an ex Mexican machine? Any help most welcome.

A very low definition pic but you get the idea

Update: Tony Dann has identified the crest as being on the Venezuelan G2 0004 (con 124). The fuselage was actually seen at Long Beach in 2007. See link to original picture It was rescued from the scrap man at Mojave and last carried N124TV.



Long Beach cabin trainers

Eric the Pilot has sent me some more "inside" pictures, this time from Long Beach. Both are believed to be G2s. The first has been reported as 078 (the old HP-1A parked at St. Lucie for several years) and the second as 107 (N10123). Any help confirming these frame numbers would be appreciated. Note the G650 simulator in the lower pic. A sad ending but better than the alternative.

 

Update: Thanks to Wes for spotting this, we may have the 2 G2s in question the wrong way round. The upper pic shows the "eye brow" above the central cockpit window while the lower doesn't have it. N10123 had the "eye brow" but the Panamanian didn't.

G2 back from the dead?

The FAA have recently been culling many G2s from the register. Presumably, if the airworthiness certificate has expired and there is no renewal in the system then this seems a fair thing to do. N721CN (206) was one of these. It was cancelled on the 25th May this year and assumed to be permanently retired. Sitting at the back of a ramp off West Cypress Creek Road at Fort Lauderdale Exec when I last saw it, this made absolute sense. The good news is that this has returned to the register as at 8th August which hopefully means this has found a new home. Any reports of sightings welcome. Thanks to Stephen Rudge for making me aware of this.


Seen at FXE in February 2018

First flew in 1977, converted to G2SP but has not been hush kitted when last seen. Fingers crossed there's an empty space when I next visit.



Round-up 7/8

G550 B-3327 (5570) was delivered from Brunswick to Anchorage on the 31st and then on to Tianjin the following day. G650 N620GD (6320) ferried from Long Beach to Savannah on the 1st. Another of the G650s originally destined for Deer Jet being cancelled to Guernsey (new reg?). The 2nd found N636GA (6336) from Savannah to Appleton as GLF65 and N643GA (6343) from Savannah to Long Beach as GLF88. Also notable this day was a G2 in UK Airspace. N36PN (042) flew from Naples to Keflavik and then on to Pontiac. A bit of catch up now. A pic has appeared of G650 6309 carrying B-3326. Flightaware shows this was delivered from Savannah to Anchorage on the 8th July and then to Tianjin the following day. A new G650ER is 6332.
Seen recently at Long Bach through the heat haze was G650 M-ARDI. Presumably will replace the G550 (5153) currently with that reg. No con number known at this time. Pic by Michael Carter.

Update: Seen again as N637GA so is con 6337.



Round-up 8/5

G650s 6308 and 6309 were upgraded on the register to an ER. N686GD (6286) was cancelled to Guernsey on the 1st of the month to become the first on that register. This is 1 of the 3 that were originally painted in Deer Jet colours. Am hearing this has become 2-EPIC but awaiting visual confirmation. G650 N330GA (6330) ferried Savannah to Long Beach on the 3rd. G650 N319GA (6319) ferried Savannah to Appleton on the 7th as GLF41 for completion. N309GA (6309) went the opposite way later the same day as GLF44. G650 N1BN (6205) cancelled to China on the 7th. The 5th of the month was the 50th anniversary of the first executive jet to fly across the Atlantic (in both directions). G2 N100P (005) of National Distillers landed at Gatwick on 5th May 1968 from Teterboro 6 hours and 55 minutes later. It returned home a week later taking 7 hours and 10 minutes.

N100P at Heathrow on 11.06.77 Shot by my good friend Paul Seymour



As an aside, this machine soldiered on for many years and has only recently been withdrawn. I last saw it at Palm Beach in Feb 2012.



Bumpy Gee Twos arrive in the UK today

A pair of Gulfstream 2s arrived at Mildenhall today from Lajes in the Azores just 15 minutes apart. Operated by L-3 Communications for the Missile Defence Agency. Believed to be here in connection with Exercise Formidable Shield. Thanks to Dave Lythgoe for sending me these pics. Fortunately, I was standing next to him and my efforts can be seen on the link top right. A wonderful sight.

N779LC (088) arriving as HALO 4 and N178B (125) as HALO 2



Random Gulfstream video #2

Thanks to my colleague the other side of the world for posting this on his blog (MRC Aviation - link bottom right), a video from a few years back but worth another airing. Turn up your volume and enjoy this beauty landing in the middle of nowhere.



California City Update

Paul Filmer recently visited California City where a number of G2s and G3s are ending their days. His collection of photos can be seen by clicking on this link. skippyscage.com/aviation/ca/ A few have registrations still applied while others have the con number stencilled on the nose. Still a sad sight.

Interesting to note that the G2 above (N706TJ c/n 212) was the same machine I shot on the line at Savannah in 1977 and this can be seen at Savannah Nostalgia

Random Gulfstream photo #10

Today's picture is from Eric Parrott and brings another year to an end. Taken at Gatwick in June 1969 and shows G2 CF-HOG (007) of the Home Oil Company and was the first G2 to be exported. Eric continues to chase Gulfstreams and I'd like to wish him and all my readers a Happy New Year.



Random Gulfstream photo #9

This time, one from my own collection. G2 N83M (135) was at Washington-National (as it was known then) in September 1977. The 3M Company operated G1s, G2s, G4s, G5s and currently G550s. Hopefully new models will eventually join the fleet.



Continuing the theme

More than 50 years after the first flight of the G2, thought I'd share a couple of old pics taken by Las Vegas resident photographer Dave Budd back in 2007. Enjoy.

N2JR (131)

N218SE (116)



50 years ago today

The very first Grumman G-1159 Gulfstream 2  (N801GA con 001) flew for the first time on 2nd October 1966 at 1511EST (1911z) from Bethpage, Long Island, New York. Piloted by Bob Smyth and Carl Alber, the flight lasted 52 minutes and landed at the Grumman facility at Calverton. Powered by a pair of Rolls Royce Spey 511s with no problems reported. This would be the first of 256 of this model built and become N55RG. Production would move to Savannah in 1967 and initially there were 2 production lines until number 041 when this and all subsequent Gulfstreams were built at Savannah. More than 2200 jets have been built to date with many more to come.

via SDASM archives

Savannah Nostalgia

It's a mere 39 years since I visited Savannah for the first (and currently only) time. 21st September 1977. It was certainly not as big an organisation that it is now and they only built one model at a time as opposed to the 5 as I type. The Grumman Gulfstream 2 was in production then and I was lucky enough to get a couple of pics. I even got a picture of the production line which I don't think you can do now. There was only one machine outside at that time.

G2 212 became N807GA and N551MD

G2 143 N334 John Galbreath



South African Magic

When I visited Lanseria, South Africa in October last year, Gulfstream G2B ZS-DJA (156) looked like it was ending it's days in a hangar. Not the case it seems.

The good news is that it did a test flight at Lanseria today. Captured by my friend Michael Flebbe





The original Gulfstream jet

Thanks to Eric Castelein for sending this pic of N55RG (001) at Charlotte a few days ago. This flew here in September 2012 and was supposed to be preserved in a museum but this shot possibly suggests otherwise. We hope this finds a proper home soon.