Gulfstream Aerospace (Static AD_101) has all seven models of its business jet fleet on static display this week at NBAA-BACE 2022, including the in-development top-of-the-line G700 and G800. At the show, Gulfstream is also highlighting planned expansions of manufacturing and support facilities.
The G700 and G800, with respective ranges of 7,500 nm and 8,000 nm, and long-range cruise speeds of Mach 0.85, are expected to enter service next year. Two fully outfitted G700 production test aircraft are on static display this week at Orlando Executive Airport, each with a different interior, but between them showcase what Gulfstream terms an "ultra-galley" with more than 10 feet of counter space; a grand suite with fixed bed and bright, spacious lavatory with shower; circadian lighting system; and an all-new seat design.
“They really show the flexibility of the design that our team has created,” said Gulfstream president Mark Burns.
Immediately following the NBAA show, which closes Thursday, the two G700s will embark on a world tour across 20 cities and six continents. The route will reflect “the strong demand we are seeing in established markets, such as Europe and the Middle East, and in growing markets for us, including Southeast Asia, India, and Africa,” said Burns.
Gulfstream also announced a total of 262,000 sq ft of expansions to its aircraft and wing manufacturing buildings at its Savannah, Georgia headquarters. The addition to its G500/600 manufacturing facility will accommodate G400 production, while the enlarged wing production facility will increase output for all aircraft lines, in addition to G400 wingsets.
The business jet manufacturer also revealed plans to open a 100,000-sq-ft component repair and overhaul facility for wheels, brakes, and landing gear in Dallas-Fort Worth in the first half of 2023, as well as add more hangar space adjacent to the customer support facility at its new Mesa, Arizona service center, which is scheduled for completion next year. The $100 million, 225,000-sq-ft service center in Mesa will significantly expand Gulfstream’s maintenance, repair, and overhaul capabilities in the Western U.S.
Supporting its international customers, the company also announced plans for a new authorized warranty facility in partnership with ExecuJet Aviation Nigeria in Lagos to provide warranty and maintenance service and spare parts for G450, G550, and G650/650ER twinjets in West Africa. The 275,000-sq-ft/25,548-sq-m facility— the largest such building in sub-Saharan Africa— will include an international departure/arrival terminal, FBO, and maintenance operations.