The FAA has received type and production certification for the Gulfstream G500, paving the way for the first customer delivery – which Gulfstream anticipates will be in the fourth quarter of 2018.
“Receiving the type certification and production certificate on the same day speaks to the rigor inherent in the G500 program and the commitment to excellence of the entire Gulfstream team,” said Mark Burns, president of Gulfstream.
“The tens of thousands of lab hours combined with the more than 5,000 hours we’ve flown the five G500 flight test aircraft will help ensure we deliver a high-performing, reliable, mature aircraft to customers.
“We’re excited to conclude the type certification effort, complete the production-certificate audit and move on to the next phase of this program: delivering aircraft. We appreciate the FAA’s diligence and cooperation in certifying this aircraft and confirming the capabilities of our new manufacturing facilities. We look forward to seeing the G500 in our customers’ hangars soon.”
The FAA type certification verifies the airworthiness of the aircraft’s design, while the production certificate confirms that the company’s production processes comply with Federal Aviation Regulations. The G500 is the first clean-sheet Gulfstream aircraft to receive its type and production certificates on the same day.
Gulfstream says highlights of the G500 include low cabin sound levels and cabin altitudes, 100% fresh air and 14 panoramic windows.
Originally projected to fly 5,000 nautical miles at its long-range cruise speed of Mach 0.85, the certified G500 can actually fly 5,200 nautical miles. At its high-speed cruise of Mach 0.90, the G500 will fly 4,400 nautical miles, a 600-nautical mile increase over the original projected range of 3,800 nautical miles.
