General Dynamics subsidiary Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. has introduced its new flagship, the Gulfstream G700, featuring ultralong-range, speed, and performance.
Announced on the eve of the 2019 National Business Aviation Association Convention & Exhibition in Las Vegas, Gulfstream President Mark Burns revealed a full-scale mockup of the G700 and showed a video of the aircraft taxiing under its own power at Gulfstream headquarters in Savannah, Georgia.
“The Gulfstream G700 takes the very best elements from our most innovative products and unites them with cutting-edge advances to create an all-new, advanced-technology aircraft that redefines safety, comfort, and range at speed,” Burns said.
Qatar Airways is the launch customer for the Gulfstream G700, ordering 10 of the jets for its charter service, Qatar Executive.
“We are excited to be the launch customer of the G700, the largest business jet in the industry, and are looking forward to the aircraft joining our fleet,” said His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, Group CEO of Qatar Airways.
Eleven Gulfstream aircraft are currently in service with Qatar Executive: six G650ERs and five G500s. The executive charter service is the world’s largest commercial operator of the G650ER and the first commercial charter operator of the G500.
Flexjet as its first North American fleet customer for the G700. The G700 will join Flexjet’s growing fleet of Gulfstream aircraft, including the Gulfstream G650ER, Gulfstream G500 and Gulfstream G450.
“The Gulfstream G700, with its speed, range and versatility, will make an exceptional fractional offering,” said Flexjet Chairman Kenn Ricci. “We anticipate that it will be ideally suited for those companies that need occasional access to global markets and will be the pinnacle of our Red Label offering. It will be the fifth large-cabin aircraft type in the fleet as we continue our international expansion.”
The Gulfstream G700 boasts the tallest, widest, and longest cabin in the industry and can fly 7,500nm (13,890km) at Mach 0.85 or 6,400nm (11,853km) at Mach 0.90.
The cabin on the G700 offers up to five living areas, with an extra-large galley with a passenger lounge or crew compartment; a six-place dining or conference room; and a master suite with shower. The Gulfstream Cabin Experience promotes and enhances wellness through 20 Gulfstream panoramic oval windows, low cabin altitude, 100% fresh air, quiet, and advanced circadian lighting system. The Gulfstream-developed system recreates sunrise and sunset through thousands of white and amber LEDs to coax passengers into their new time zone and reduce the physical impact of traveling halfway around the world nonstop.
The G700 features the Symmetry Flight Deck, active-control sidesticks, extensive use of touch-screen technology, and the Predictive Landing Performance System. The system gives pilots advanced warning of potential runway excursions so they can adjust approaches or go around. The G700 Symmetry Flight Deck also comes standard with Gulfstream’s Enhanced Flight Vision System and Synthetic Vision on dual head-up displays.
High-thrust Rolls-Royce Pearl 700 engines power the G700 and, along with newly designed Gulfstream winglets, give the aircraft high performance capabilities. The aircraft can operate easily at weight-restricted, short-runway, and high-altitude airports.
The ability to fly at faster speeds (Mach 0.90 versus Mach 0.80) gives customers more time, lower annual expenses for maintenance, parts and services, and shorter crew days for safer operations.
In preparation for first flight, Gulfstream has already accomplished nearly 14,000 hours of lab testing in its integration- and cabin-test facilities, Systems Integration Bench, and Iron Bird. The company has successfully completed ground vibration testing, engine runs, loads calibration, and all structural testing required for first flight.
The G700 flight-test fleet will incorporate five traditional test aircraft and one fully outfitted production test aircraft. Manufacturing for all test aircraft is underway.
Gulfstream anticipates G700 customer deliveries in 2022.
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