The delivery of the 500th G650/G650ER marked a key milestone for engine-maker Rolls-Royce, which in tandem has handed over more than 1,000 BR725 engines to power the ultra-long-range aircraft.
Announced yesterday, the 500th delivery comes 10 years since the G650 received FAA and EASA approval in late 2012. The G650ER followed in 2014 and the models have collectively accrued 120 city-pair world speed records.
Built at Rolls-Royce’s business aviation headquarters in Dahlewitz, Germany, the BR725 is the successor of the BR710 developed to power the first breed of ultra-long-range aircraft, the Gulfstream V and the Global Express. Producing up to 16,900 pounds of thrust, the BR725 is more than 4 dB cumulative quieter and has 4 percent better specific fuel consumption. It also shows a 21 percent improvement in NOx emissions compared with its predecessor, Rolls-Royce said, noting the engine also has set new benchmarks in reliability with increased maintenance intervals and lower lifecycle costs.
Rolls-Royce obtained certification for the engine in 2009. The engines have since accumulated nearly 1.5 million flying hours.
“Our partnership with Gulfstream, that started some 60 years ago, is a real success story and it will continue into the future with the Pearl 700, which powers the Gulfstream G700 and the Gulfstream G800,” said Dirk Geisinger, director of business aviation for Rolls-Royce