Gulfstream to Launch Two New Business Jets

Gulfstream has launched an all-new family of business jets: the Gulfstream G500 and G600.

The G500 can fly 5,000 nautical miles/9,260 kilometers at Mach 0.85 or 3,800 nm/7,038 km at Mach 0.90, while the G600 is capable of traveling 6,200 nm/11,482 km at Mach 0.85 or 4,800 nm/8,890 km at Mach 0.90.

The G500 and G600, powered by versions of the new Pratt & Whitney Canada PW800 series engine, can fly at a high-speed cruise of Mach 0.90, saving operators up to an hour per flight versus flying at Mach 0.80. 

Larry Flynn, president, Gulfstream, said, “The G500 and G600 build upon the technology present in our G650 and our latest aircraft, the G650ER. Once again, our customers played a major role in the development and creation of these aircraft. The G500 and G600 continue the long Gulfstream tradition of being the first original equipment manufacturer to ensure an optimal combination of speed, range, wide-cabin comfort and fuel burn.”

The finished cabin of each aircraft, which measure 91 inches/213 centimeters wide and 74 in/188 cm tall, provide wide-cabin comfort with considerable head room and shoulder room for passengers.

Carrying up to 19 passengers each, the G500 has three living areas, and the G600 has up to four, as well as an optional crew rest.

Both aircraft have forward and aft lavatories and include a full-size galley that can be located in either the forward or aft portion of the aircraft.

Ample storage space is also prevalent in the baggage compartment, which has 175 cubic ft/5.0 cu m of usable volume.

Both aircraft feature a cabin altitude of 4,850 ft/1,578 m at FL510 and 100% fresh air that boosts mental alertness and productivity while reducing fatigue.

Large oval windows, the same size as those on the G650, allow natural light to pour into the cabins.

Gulfstream’s Symmetry Flight Deck is one of the most advanced, stylish, comfortable and intuitive in business aviation. The cutting-edge technology comes in the form of active control sidesticks (ACSs), integrated touchscreen controllers, a next-generation enhanced vision system (EVS) and Honeywell Primus Epic avionics.

The ACSs offer enhanced safety and situational awareness over passive sticks through tactile feedback. With electronic linking of the ACSs, the pilot and co-pilot can see and feel each other’s control inputs, which helps improve pilot coordination in the cockpit.

“The active control sidesticks enable both pilots to be consistently on the same page, enhancing safety,” said Dan Nale, senior vice president, Programs, Engineering and Test, Gulfstream. “No other business aircraft on the market has this feature.”

Adding to the pilots’ more intuitive interaction with the aircraft are 10 integrated touchscreens, which will be used for system controls, flight management, communication, checklists and monitoring weather and flight information.

The G500 and G600 incorporate a third-generation Gulfstream EVS, the Synthetic Vision-Primary Flight Display system and Head-Up Display II.

Similar to the G650 and G650ER, the G500 and G600 offer a full three-axis digital fly-by-wire system with benefits that include flight-envelope protection, stability augmentation, increased redundancy and reduced maintenance.

Program

Manufacturing for the G500 and G600 will be done at two new purpose-built facilities in Savannah. Gulfstream will produce the wings and the vertical and horizontal stabilizers for each aircraft.

The first flight of the G500 is scheduled for 2015. Gulfstream projects it will receive type certification from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration and European Aviation Safety Agency in 2017 and begin deliveries in 2018.

The G600 flight-test program is expected to begin approximately 12 to 18 months after the G500’s, and entry-into-service is projected to be in 2019.

“The G500 and G600 are tremendous additions to our family of aircraft, filling a niche in an already extensive product line,” Flynn said. “In 2008, we introduced two game-changers in business aviation, the G650 and G280. Now, six years later, we’re introducing another pair of revolutionary aircraft, the G500 and G600. Thank you to all of our employees for making this possible. Those who build, design, develop, sell, market, service and support our aircraft — you are the best in the business.”