WEF Gulfstreans 2018

Have just returned from Zurich to catch the movements for the annual World Economic Forum. As usual, lots of Gulfstreams were present. My pictures will appear on Flickr in due course and they can be seen at the usual link top right of this page. May take a few days though. The weather went from pouring rain to nice sunshine and fortunately it was the latter when I did a ramp tour.
*** All pics now uploaded ***

A pair of G650s pass as they depart on runway 28



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.



Tell-tale tail numbers

Ever wondered why certain registrations are used by top-end executive jet users? Some are obvious. N1KE is an advertising man's dream although you'll need to look at your phone keypad to see why they also use N6453. Another obvious one is N155AN (Nissan) but you'll have to be in to classic cars to know why they also use N260Z.
AT&T used to use 212 in their registrations, this being the area code for New York. Verizon do the same now. Going back in time, Paul Mellon had a G1 and then a G2 that used N1929Y. He graduated from Yale in 1929. Oprah Winfrey uses N540W, 1954 being the year she was born.
The tail number therefore quite often gives a clue to the operator even though many of them try and hide it on the register. Thanks to FK Larkin for his assistance with this post.

at Zurich in 2009

New US Coast Guard G5?

Have received a report that there may be a new United States Coast Guard Gulfstream in service. Have seen nothing visual but flight trackers show that a GLF5 with a callsign of C202 and a hex code of AE5F07 has been visiting Washington (DCA) recently. I am aware of 2 in service. These are 01 (con 653) which has a hex code of AE10C1 and uses the callsign C101 and 02 (con 638) which has a hex code of AE4E05 and uses the callsign C102. It's possible that the codes have been changed so any visual confirmation of a new one would be appreciated.

01 visiting Zurich in 2007

Update: I have now seen a picture on Facebook of G550 N640W (5416) in full Coast Guard scheme and another of it carrying 02 on the tail. I am advised that G5 02 was leased so presumably will be returned upon the delivery of the new 02.

Gulfstream Photography

The keener amongst us head to Zurich each January to catch the movements for the annual World Economic Forum. Ramp tours can be booked through Buchair where amazing access can be had.