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

The last Gulfstream II to visit the UK?

Departing Luton on Saturday 19th October was Gulfstream IIB N36PN, having stayed since its arrival on Monday 14th October. This 1969 vintage Gulfstream departed on a lovely Autumn morning heading across the Atlantic to Gander International.

With the sad realisation that this could very well be the last visit to the UK of a Gulfstream II is very sobering. 

Now this particular Gulfstream also is very poignant to the blog for one reason and that is because it was the last flying Gulfstream IIB that Bob saw and photographed.

Photo kindly provided by Mark Empson.

Gulfstream GVI's 10th Anniversary

Ten years ago today, the first member of the Gulfstream GVI family rolled out of the plant at Savannah, GA under its own power. The flagship model had been introduced on March 13, 2008 and later flew for the first time on November 25, 2009.
Today, approximately 380 sixth generation Gulfstreams are in service with customers around the world. This number includes about 225 G650ERs that can fly 7,500NM while cruising at M.85.
There is industry speculation that Gulfstream Aerospace will be introducing a new model (G700?) that has a somewhat longer cabin and an even greater range capability. In the meantime, the G650/G650ER family continues to win orders from traditional Gulfstream operators as well as from organizations that have flown competitors' products.

Blog future and G600 News

Bob's Blog Going Forward

We (Westleigh Bushell and Ted Larkin) wish to honour Bob Holland's memory by posting infrequent comments. We intend to comment on subjects/developments that Bob would have mentioned on his beloved blog.

One such development happened yesterday. The first Gulfstream G600 was delivered. N76PW (73007) flew Savannah - Denver Centennial. With the GVII family (G500/G600) now in service, is it time for Gulfstream to announce a new clean-sheet design at the NBAA in October? Your comments are welcomed.

Robert Holland lost his battle to cancer on Sunday 14th July 2019.

Bob was undoubtably one of the most knowledgeable guys around when it came to Gulfstreams. Even in his hospital bed on his last day we chatted about new Gulfstream G500s and the recent Qatar order. He will be sorely missed by many other Gulfstream fans from around the world.

So from myself and Ted, 

Blue skies Bob, it was a pleasure to call you a true friend.                                                                       

Bob (right) at Teterboro 1977

Bob sat in the left seat of a G600

Qatar News

To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 launch, a world record attempt to beat a previous circumnavigation speed record over both poles has just been completed by Qatar Executive G650ER A7-CGD.  The 22,422nm flight from NASA Kennedy Space Centre (USA) - Nursultan Nazarbayev (Kazakhstan) - Port Louis (Mauritius) - Punta Arenas (Chile) - NASA Kennedy Space Centre (USA) was concluded in 46 hrs 39 mins. With only 45 minutes at each stop, the eight crew beat the previous record by 6 hours.

Other Qatar Executive news.
Gulfstream announced this week that Qatar Executive are behind the $1 Billion order from January 2019. the previously undisclosed order for large cabin jets is in addition to the 2014 order for 20 G500, G600 & G650ER.

Photo by Trevor Warne

Round-up 9/7

With normal service imminently due back to the blog, a small round up this week.
G650 HB-JKP (6370) delivered on the 3/7 while (6399) has N750HF reserved and (6374) has taken up N652GB. following on from last weeks registration on N132BL (72032) this delivered on the 29/6. N710FT has been reserved on G500 (72033) while G280 (2171) is now CC-AYY.

N137GJ parked up at KFLL

Round-up 2/7

A handful of G650s taking up reservations at the end of quarter, N1DS (6369) and N451CS (6372), with M-HSCZ (6373) heading to China via AnchorageOnly one G500 snippet sees (72032) taking up N132BL.
A few reservations to note, N67WB reserved (6386) to replace the original which is now wearing N67WV. N7GF (6376) N111UB (6393) and another possible frame for Disney in the shape of  N500ES (6397). Two more G280s since the last roundup with N482GA (2182) and N15N (2183) having both transited through Stansted this week heading to Dallas for completion.

N8833 at Farnborough

FAA Certificates G600

Gulfstream ended the second quarter with the news that they received both type and production certification for the G600. The approval from the Federal Aviation Administration allows Gulfstream to start deliveries this year of the Pratt & Whitney Canada powered G600.

Image from Gulfstreamnews.com

Round-up 25/6

A smaller than normal Round-up, Bob is currently having an extended stay in hospital but will be back to keeping the blog up to its normal standard very soon.

Another G280 delivery through Stansted, N281GA (2181) arrived on the 16/6 and departed the following day to Halifax. A few deliveries of note, G650 N4050 (6368) has been delivered to San Jose on the 13/6. While G650 N661GT (6364) flew Savannah - Reno on the 20/6 and then onto Portland on 21/6.

N606SA arriving at KFLL by Westleigh

Round-up 11/6

Too late in the day to include in last week's post was the delivery of G500 N499JB (72031) from Savannah to Scottsdale. G650 A7-CGF (6366) delivered from Savannah to Farnborough on the 5th as QQE465. Trackers show this was only on the ground for 34 minutes before continuing on to Toulouse. It arrived at Doha the following day. G500 A7-CGS (72029) delivered from Savannah to Farnborough on the 7th as QQE460. This one night-stopped and continued on to Doha the following day. Qatar Executive now have 6 G650s and 4 G500s.
Further to my post on Saudi G4s, have received a note that HZ-AFW is being dismantled at Jeddah.
Am unable to check for any changes this morning but hopefully if there are any, I'll pick them up the next time.

Photo by Westleigh Bushell

Round-up 4/6

G280 N980GA (2180) ferried Tel Aviv to Stansted on the 30th. Believe this is the 1000th biz-jet built by IAI. G650 N232G (6365) delivered from Long Beach to Yellowstone the same day. New ERs this period were 6368 and 6373. Been ages since we had a G500 delivery so good to see that N499JB (72031) delivered Savannah to Scottsdale today (4th).
Gulfstream have commenced building their new maintenance hangar at Farnborough and when completed will be the biggest facilty after Savannah. See www.ainonline.com
An unusual visitor (?) to Biggin recently was G280 PR-CRC (2066) which was caught by Westleigh Bushell.