Simulated G650 Makes First Flight

Gulfstream Aerospace last month announced that its large-cabin G650 achieved first flight of a simulated version of the jet on December 15 at the G650 Integration Test Facility (ITF) in Savannah, Ga. The ITF includes a full-scale G650 cockpit equipped with avionics, some production hardware and sensors as well as a full-scale cabin mockup with galley. Gulfstream test pilots and engineers will use the ITF to test all aircraft systems before the actual first flight, which is scheduled for the second half of this year. FAA and EASA certification of the 7,000-nm twinjet is expected in 2011, followed by entry-into-service in 2012.