Gulfstream has revealed its G500 and G600 test programs continue to move toward anticipated FAA certification in 2017 and 2018, respectively. The four G500 test aircraft have exceeded 1,000 hours of test time, and production of the G600 test articles is well underway.
“The G500 made its first flight nearly one year ago, and we have spent the 12 months since then expanding the test fleet and reaching the goals we established early on,” said Mark Burns, president, Gulfstream. “At the same time, we have made significant progress in manufacturing the five G600 test articles. Thanks to the extensive ground work in Gulfstream’s state-of-the-art test labs, these aircraft programs are maturing at a consistent pace.”
The fifth test aircraft, P1, is at the Savannah completions center, where it is receiving an interior that will be used to test the cabin elements in flight.
On the production side, the G600 is making steady progress. Following the first test aircraft’s wing join last month, the empennage has been mated to the aircraft’s fuselage. In addition, the wings for the structural test article were moved to the G600 production facility, and that wing join has been completed.
The G500 can fly 5,000 nautical miles at Mach 0.85 or 3,800 nautical miles at Mach 0.90, while the G600 can carry passengers 6,200 nautical miles at Mach 0.85 and 4,800 nautical miles at Mach 0.90. The maximum operating speed for both aircraft is Mach 0.925, the same maximum speed as the G650 and G650ER.
Both aircraft feature Gulfstream’s new Symmetry Flight Deck. The cabins can carry up to 19 passengers, have forward and aft lavatories and include a full-size galley that can be located in either the forward or aft. The G500 and G600 feature a cabin altitude of 4,850ft at FL510 and 100% fresh air that circulates every two minutes.
May 26, 2016
