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

60th Anniversary

60 years ago today, 14th August 1958, the first Gulfstream took to the air. At the time, I was just a little lad and was totally oblivious of this event which would ultimately have such an effect on my life and a few others I suspect. N701G took off from Bethpage NY (east of New York city) where this and all 200 G1s were built. Designed to have a lifespan of 25 years, it's incredible that maybe 10 of these are still airworthy 60 years later.
The G-159 Gulfstream was the first aircraft to be built specifically as a corporate transport. Previously, airliners or military transports were converted to meet this role. The Rolls Royce Dart was chosen as the power plant (as used on the Vickers Viscount and Avro 748) and RR have supplied engines for Gulfstreams until only recently.
A number of G1s were stretched (by 10 foot 7 inches) and re-designated G1Cs. The first conversion was frame 116 in 1979. See pic below. Other conversions were 027, 083, 088 and 123 (5 in total). Many of the original customers are still flying later models today which is a testament to the quality and reliability of Gulfstream's products.
A big thank you to Frederick K Larkin and Scott Morris for their help and inspiration. Much appreciated.

An appropriately registered G1 at Boston in September 1981



3 years of G500 flying

3 years ago today (2015), the first flight took place of the G500. Although certification is still awaited, the 5 test aircraft continue to build up their hours and are often setting speed records. Leaving Shanghai recently, both the G500 and G600 headed home via Honolulu. The G500 did it a minute quicker than "big sis" and 5 minutes quicker back to Savannah. See gulfstreamnews.com for more info. On a personal note, I've only seen one of them (see below) but hope to improve my tally soon. Watch this space.

N502GS at Palm Beach in November 2017



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.



5 years of G650 service

5 years ago today, the first 2 G650s were delivered to customers. N711SW (6007) to Steve Wynn and N100A (6010) to Exxon Mobil. Both are cherished registrations and have been carried by G2s about 40 years ago. The 280th G650 should deliver imminently which means that deliveries are averaging out at about 1 a week! Long may this continue.

N711SW was the first G650 to visit Luton back in February 2013. Believe 192 different frames have visited now. N100A was seen at Zurich in January 2014 but was first seen here the year before. Thanks, as always, to FK Larkin for his input with this post.



Round-up 3/10

The end of another quarter so a few deliveries. G550 5557 delivered to Madrid as EC-MRL. G650 N650FX delivered to Bermuda on the 29th but seems to be struggling to get home. G650 6267 delivered to Hong Kong via Anchorage as T7-LKT using the callsign TBJ96. G650 N296GA (6296) ferried Savannah to Long Beach on the 2nd as GLF62. A picture of G650 OE-LEO has come to light as a future delivery. A 17th G500 added to the register. Yesterday (2nd) was the 51st anniversary of the first G2 flight hence the new header.

N557GD (EC-MRL) at Fortt Smith by Nick Thomas



50 years of Gulfstream at Savannah

Today marks the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Gulfstream facility at Savannah in 1967. 19 G-1159s were previously produced at Bethpage NY. Those included c/ns 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9,11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 34, 35, 37, and 40. The last G2 to be built at Bethpage (c/n 40) first flew on December 12, 1968. The first G2 to be built at Savannah (c/n 8) first flew on November 15, 1967. So, there was a 13-month period during which G2s were being produced concurrently at the two facilities. All subsequent Gulfstream generations have been produced at Savannah, with the exception of the G100, G150, G200 and G280 models built by Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd. in Tel Aviv, Israel.

Savannah in 1968 via GAC

N225MS (008) at Opa Locka in 2010. The first Savannah built G2

Round-up 19/9

G650 N606GA (6266) was cancelled to China taking up B-3276 and G650 6272 was upgraded to an ER on the US register. G280 N229GA (2129) ferried from Tel Aviv to Stansted on the 17th. Good to see these appearing on a regular basis now.
It's now 32 years today since the first G4 flew although sad to hear that the first one (N552WF) is being parted out. Am therefore including a pic of the 2nd one built although not sure what the status of this one is.

N181CR (1001) at Las Vegas in 2013

 

Round-up 15/8

G650 N312ZW (6256) delivered Savannah-Prague on the 9th. Continued on to Changsha in China the following day. G280 greenie N226GA (2126) arrived at Stansted on the 10th from Tel Aviv. Continued on to Halifax the following day en route to Dallas. Yesterday (14th) was the 59th anniversary of the first flight of the Gulfstream 1 in 1958. The plane that started it all.

The Gulfstream photo site passed a milestone recently with more than 4000 pictures now on show.

37 years ago today

The prototype Gulfstream G-1159A G3 (N300GA) flew for the first time on 2nd December 1979 from Savannah. 202 of this model were eventually built. Rolled out on 21st September 1979, it and one other (249 and 252) were originally taken out of the G2 line and built as G3s. A slightly longer fuselage and new wings and the introduction of winglets. These proved so successful that many G2s were retrofitted with G3 wings and became G2Bs.
A busy week for anniversaries with last Monday (28th November) being the 21st anniversary of the first flight of the G5 in 1995.



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.



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

G2 anniversary

49 years ago today, 2nd October 1966, the G2 flew for the first time. It was built and flown from Bethpage NY. N801GA (001) and the next 6 were all built here before production was moved to Savannah GA where all subsequent Gulfstreams have been built. N801GA became N55RG which was caught by Alex Peake at Luton in 2006.



30 years of the G4

30 years ago today, 19th September 1985, the First G4 flew. 536 were eventually built and very many are still in service.

That first G4 became  N552WF (1000) and is seen landing at Farnborough in 2010.