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Gulfstream Aerospace obtained both U.S. FAA type and production certification for its first all-new aircraft in a half-dozen years and most advanced to date, the G500, the Savannah, Georgia manufacturer announced today, proclaiming a “new era” has begun.
Deliveries of the aircraft are anticipated later this year, the culmination of a development program that spanned “tens of thousands of lab hours” and 5,000 flight hours amassed with five G500 flight-test aircraft, according to Gulfstream president Mark Burns.
“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,” Burns said, adding the extensive development program “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.”
The flight-test program confirmed improved performance than originally targeted. This includes a takeoff distance of 5,200 feet, 200 feet less than originally projected. Range, originally targeted for 5,000 nm at long-range cruise of Mach 0.85, was confirmed at 5,200 nm. At high–speed cruise of Mach 0.90, the G500 will reach 4,400 nm, a 600-nm improvement over original targets.
As far as advancements, the aircraft is the first purpose-built business jet to bring to market BAE's active control sidesticks, and the Honeywell-powered Symmetry Flight Deck is equipped with 10 touchscreens as well as enhanced vision system, synthetic vision on the primary flight display, and head-up display (HUD II). “The G500 is the first aircraft certified to use enhanced vision to land and the first business aircraft certified to Stage 5 noise standards,” the manufacturer added.
The wide-cabin aircraft, which is 7-ft, 11-inches across, also is designed for low cabin sound levels and altitudes, 100 percent fresh air and has 14 panoramic windows.
The 15,144-pound-thrust PW814GA engines powering the G500 received certification in February 2014.
Along the way to certification, the aircraft accumulated 20 city-pair records, most at speeds of Mach 0.90.
The aircraft was unveiled in fall of 2014, rolling out then on its own power. Certification was originally targeted for 2017, but a supplier issue helped push back that time frame.
With U.S. FAA type certification now in hand, Gulfstream Aerospace is gearing up to deliver the first G500s later this year, possibly as early as late in the third quarter. The approval, along with production certification, was announced on July 20, culminating a development program that spanned “tens of thousands of lab hours” and 5,000 flight hours amassed with five G500 flight-test aircraft, according to Gulfstream president Mark Burns.
Gulfstream's flight-test program confirmed better performance than originally targeted for its newest large-cabin jet, which is powered by a pair of Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC) PW814 engines. This includes a takeoff distance of 5,200 feet, 200 feet less than originally projected. Range, originally targeted for 5,000 nm at long-range cruise of Mach 0.85, was confirmed at 5,200 nm. At high–speed cruise of Mach 0.90, the G500 will reach 4,400 nm, a 600-nm improvement over original targets.
As far as advancements, the aircraft is the first purpose-built business jet to bring to market BAE's active control sidesticks, and the Honeywell-powered Symmetry flight deck is equipped with 10 touchscreens, as well an enhanced vision system, synthetic vision on the primary flight display, and HUD II head-up display.
While Gulfstream spools up production, a contractual dispute between engine supplier P&WC and Nordam, which makes the nacelle and subsequently filed for reorganization, could have “some impact” on G500 deliveries in the fourth quarter, parent company General Dynamics said late last month. “We expect the parties to expeditiously resolve their issues,” General Dynamics chairman and CEO Phebe Novakovic told financial analysts on July 25. “This is all survivable…we can manage this.”
Meanwhile, Gulfstream's deliveries fell 13.3 percent in the first half of this year, handing over 52 aircraft (37 large-cabin, 15 midsize), versus 60 (46 large, 14 midsize) in the same period last year. However, new jet sales were a bright spot at Gulfstream in the second quarter, during which it reported a 1.3:1 book-to-bill ratio and boosting aerospace backlog during the quarter by about $300 million, to nearly $12.2 billion.
“Demand signals [for business jets] were good in North America and Europe, with Asia-Pacific also rising,” Novakovic said. Gulfstream’s flagship G650/650ER “led the way” in terms of sales, she noted.