Story ID: 1051312alerts
Gulfstream’s Newest Bizjets Make EBACE Debut
By: Bill Carey
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Word Count: 230
Gulfstream’s wide-cabin G650 and super-midsize G280 are making their European debuts this week at EBACE. They both flew into Geneva International Airport yesterday from Washington Dulles International Airport, with the G650 making its first transoceanic crossing to appear at the show.

The G650–S/N 6020, a green production aircraft fitted with limited test equipment–did a “high-speed dash” across the Pond, flying at speeds between Mach 0.90 to 0.92 at FL430. It landed just before 8 p.m. last night, accomplishing the flight in six hours 55 minutes. Sharing piloting duties were Scott Buethe, Gulfstream senior experimental test pilot, and senior production test pilots Ahmed Ragheb and Rick Gowthrop. The G650 will be on the EBACE static display only until tomorrow afternoon.

Meanwhile, the G280 touched down at Geneva’s Runway 23 at 10 a.m. under low-hanging clouds. The aircraft, S/N 2004, is the first production G280 and comes with a completed cabin. It was flown by Brett Rundle, Gulfstream’s chief pilot for mid-cabin jets, and international demonstration pilot Chip Leonard. Butch Allen, chief production test pilot for mid-cabin jets, sat in the jump seat.

Gulfstream intends to apply for city-pair speed records from the U.S. National Aeronautic Association for both flights. The two new aircraft types, flying under experimental certificates, are on parallel paths to certification from the FAA and EASA in mid-year.