Round-up 26/2

Chevron's latest G650 N1895T left Bradley on the 19th and was delivered to Oakland (it's base) via Hammond LA and Houston TX. Also this day, G500 N534GD (72034) appears to have made it's first flight on the 19th and is the highest (tracked) one to have flown to date. G650 N675GS (6375) ferried from Savannah to Long Beach on the 23rd as GLF14. See that G550 N517QS (5209) now has N517TW reserved. Perhaps Mister Woods no longer wishes to arrive in anonymity.
A 3rd Qatar Executive G500 is on delivery as I type. A7-CGR (72021) left Savannah last night and is currently heading to Farnborough. I show this as the 11th G500 delivery and the 1st this year.

Perhaps a new scheme as well as a new registration soon?

Round-up 2/10

As expected, a busy week to finish the quarter. G650 N622GA (6322) flew from Long Beach to Savannah on the 25th. It cancelled to San Marino on the 26th and will be taking up T7-IIA. This is a replacement for OE-IIH (6134) which has recently taken up N634GD. IIA did a test flight from and to Savannah on the 1st. G650 N330GA (6330) flew Long Beach to Savannah on the 26th and cancelled to the Caymans on the 27th as VP-CML. Did a test flight on the 1st (as CML) from and to Savannah so not delivered yet. G650 N626GA (6326) cancelled to Brazil on the 26th as PP-IZB. It delivered from Savannah to Goiania (near Brasilia) via Manaus on the 27th. G650 N650NY (6079) cancelled to the UAE on the 1st. New ERs this period were 6331, 6333, 6335, 6340 and 6342.
Newly delivered G500 N510GD operated a flight to Palm Beach on the 28th as GLF93, returning home an hour later as GLF14 suggesting this may be being operated by Gulfstream crews. May eventually take up N5PF.
As if this wasn't enough, today is the 52nd anniversary of the first G2 flight.

G2TT N311BD (236) at PBI in 2015. The last civilian G2 I saw fly without hush-kits

Random Gulfstream photo #5

I just had to include this one. Lovely old Gulfstream 3 N416WM (487) arriving at Palm Beach in February this year by Brian Thompson.         

End of an era at Palm Beach

The regular sight of a G-159 Gulfstream turboprop landing at Palm Beach in Florida is now no more.

Phoenix Air, who operate the aircraft, have lost the contract and flights ceased at the end of July. Trackers show that N164PA (seen above and my last shot of her) positioned to Cartersville on the 31st. The G1C N195PA which returned to service at the end of April positioned there the following day.

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.