Never Resting on the Laurels

Gulfstream has earned itself the position of not only being among best in the business aviation market but also of being innovators when it comes to technical advances. The constantly upgrading fleet of Gulfstream has often taken its customers and the industry by surprise and in its most recent announcement, the manufacturer has again done just that. Displaying its “art of excellence” through the newly revealed business jets, Gulfstream announced that the future has landed.

Adding to its growing family of technologically advanced and innovatively designed aircraft, Gulfstream has introduced two allnew aircraft, the Gulfstream G800, the longest-range aircraft in Gulfstream history, and the Gulfstream G400, the first new entrant to the large-cabin class in more than a decade. While one comes with the promise of flying farther faster than any aircraft ever produced by the company, the other is said to combine performance and environmental efficiency to reinvent the large-cabin aircraft class.

“Today marks a major milestone and investment in our company’s future with the introduction of the G800, our fastest longestrange aircraft yet, and the G400, the industry’s first new large-cabin aircraft in more than a decade,” said Gulfstream President, Mark Burns during the presentation.

Both the G800 and G400 are equipped with the Gulfstream Symmetry Flight Deck featuring electronically linked active control sidesticks — an industry first — and the industry’s most extensive use of touch-screen technology with 10 touch-screen displays.

GULFSTREAM’S LONGEST-RANGE AIRCRAFT

With its 8,000-nautical-mile (14,816-kilometer) range at Mach 0.85 and 7,000-nm (12,964-km) range at Mach 0.90, the G800 provides customers the longest range in all of the manufacturer’s fleet.

Powered by high-thrust Rolls-Royce Pearl 700 engines, the G800 also features enhanced fuel-efficiency and more city-pair capabilities along with the Gulfstream-designed wing and winglet that were introduced on the Gulfstream G700.

“We designed the ultra-long range G800 to extend our customers’ reach to more people and places around the world,” said Burns. “The G800 redefines what it means to go farther faster in a Gulfstream and offers even more time savings with its impressive range at high speed.”

The G800 is designed to seat up to 19 passengers and offers up to four living areas or three living areas with crew compartment. It also features the signature Gulfstream Cabin Experience with 100 per cent fresh, never recirculated air, whisper-quiet noise levels, industry-leading low cabin altitude and 16 Gulfstream panoramic oval windows.

G800 CUSTOMER DELIVERIES ARE ANTICIPATED TO BEGIN IN 2023 AND G400 DELIVERIES ARE ANTICIPATED TO BEGIN IN 2025

The company boasts the Gulfstream G800 to be their new long-distance leader, combining high-speed range, and next-generation technology with unmatched comfort in a cabin based on the ultra-long-range G700. The G700 that is currently on a world tour was introduced in 2019 and has recently set a speed record by flying from Doha to Paris, covering a distance of 2,953 nm in six hours and 15 minutes at an average speed of Mach 0.90, or 1,111.3 kph.

THE NEW LARGE-CABIN LEADER

Long-range, high-speed performance; cabin comfort; and environmental efficiency unrivaled in its class are all packaged in the all-new G400. The G400 ramps up environmental performance by reducing fuel consumption, emissions and noise through its use of Gulfstream’s aerodynamic clean-wing design and advanced Pratt & Whitney PW812GA engines. The aircraft would fly 4,200 nm/7,778 km at its long-range cruise speed of Mach 0.85. Three floorplans are offered, with options for seating up to nine, 11 or 12 passengers. The G400 also provides the signature Gulfstream Cabin Experience and 10 Gulfstream panoramic oval windows.

“The G400 was conceived and designed with direct customer input. It features revolutionary reliability and safety features we pioneered with our award-winning Symmetry Flight Deck and the largest cabin in its class, making it an outstanding addition to our next-generation fleet. The aircraft re-envisions this market segment with its maximum operational flexibility and enhanced cabin comfort,” said Burns.

To showcase the extraordinary features of this aircraft, Gulfstream has expanded the customer showroom located at its Savannah-based worldwide headquarters to include the all-new Gulfstream G400. The innovative G400 experience features a full-size mock-up of the aircraft, immersive multimedia content and an interior design display. The full-scale G400 mock-up also has a 2.5-living-area floorplan configured for up to 11 passengers on display. A dedicated interior designer will be available to guide visiting customers through a carefully curated selection of upholstery, leathers, textiles and custom carpeting ideally suited for the G400 cabin.

NEXT-GENERATION TECHNOLOGY

G800 customer deliveries are anticipated to begin in 2023 and G400 deliveries are anticipated to begin in 2025.

Gulfstream also informed that both of the aircraft come with additional health and safety enhancements that include 100 per cent fresh, never recirculated and never re-filtered air; the lowest cabin altitude in their respective classes; a plasma-ionising clean air system neutralising 99.9 per cent of airborne bacteria, spores and odors; and the company’s award-winning Predictive Landing Performance System (PLPS), providing pilots advanced warning of potential runway excursions so they can adjust approaches or go around.

THE G800 IS DESIGNED TO SEAT UP TO 19 PASSENGERS AND OFFERS UP TO FOUR LIVING AREAS OR THREE LIVING AREAS WITH CREW COMPARTMENT

Dual head-up displays in the G800 feature Gulfstream’s new Combined Vision System (CVS) that unites the Enhanced Flight Vision System (EFVS) and Synthetic Vision System (SVS) into a single image, increasing pilot situational awareness and access to more airports worldwide.

Burns also stressed during the presentation that the two new aircraft are the culmination of Gulfstream’s focus on continuous R&D (Research & Development) spending and answers the question of what’s next for the business jet manufacturer. He further added that the G400 and G800 also mark the development of the fifth and sixth new aircraft over the past eight years at Gulfstream.