Gulfstream Details Progress On G500, G600 Programs To-Date American airframer Gulfstream just announced the progress made to-date on the new Gulfstream G500 and G600 business jet programs. At the moment, the G500 program is full-steam ahead with the test bed aspect of the program. Gulfstream says they have two of five testbed aircraft in operation at the moment with the other three in production in the run-up towards the first flight for that particular model. The G500 has completed its operational checks and is undergoing taxi validation prior to first flight. Gulfstream has also started manufacturing the first G600 aircraft, which will be used as part of the four-aircraft flight-test program. Wind-tunnel testing for both aircraft is complete, and more than 34,000 hours of lab testing have been logged. Additionally, the company recently started testing in the G600 integration test facility (ITF) and initiated construction of the G600 iron bird, which will allow full evaluation of the aircraft’s systems and software.
Gulfstream suppliers have been equally busy. In February, Pratt & Whitney Canada received certification of the aircraft’s PW814GA and PW815GA engines by Transport Canada in February. FlightSafety International, Gulfstream’s factory-authorized training provider, has established a full-flight simulator for the G500 at its Learning Center in Savannah. Gulfstream engineering and flight-test personnel have begun using the simulator to supplement work being done in Gulfstream’s G500 ITF and the Conceptual Advanced Simulation Environment to prepare for the first flight of the G500. 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 can carry passengers 6,200 nm/11,482 km at Mach 0.85 and 4,800 nm/8,890 km at Mach 0.90. The maximum operating speed for the aircraft is Mach 0.925, the same maximum speed as Gulfstream’s G650 and G650ER. The G500 and G600 also include Gulfstream’s all-new SymmetryTM Flight Deck, the most advanced and intuitive flight deck in business aviation. The cutting-edge technology comes in the form of active control sidesticks, integrated touchscreen controllers, next-generation enhanced vision system and Honeywell Primus Epic avionics. In addition to the Symmetry Flight Deck, the G500 and G600 cabins maximize passenger comfort and aircraft performance and can carry up to 19 passengers. The optimized wide cabin also features an industry-leading cabin altitude of 4,850 feet/1,478 meters at FL510 and 100 percent fresh air that boosts mental alertness and productivity while reducing fatigue. Gulfstream anticipates certification of the G500 in 2017, with entry into service in 2018. The G600 certification is slated to follow in 2018 with entry into service in 2019. For more information: Gulfstream Aerospace 500 Gulfstream Road Savannah, GA 31407 www.gulfstream.com ***
