SAVANNAH, Ga., Oct. 14, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Gulfstream
Aerospace Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics
(NYSE: GD), today introduced an all-new family of business jets:
the Gulfstream G500 and G600. The two new aircraft optimize speed,
wide-cabin comfort and efficiency to offer customers best-in-class
performance with advanced safety features.
Gulfstream announced the clean-sheet aircraft before a crowd of
approximately 3,000 people. During the event, the first G500 taxied
up under its own power, and General Dynamics chairman and CEO
Phebe Novakovic revealed a nearly
70-foot mockup of the G600.
"Today's announcement demonstrates the power of General
Dynamics' consistent and disciplined investment in both
Gulfstream's research and development and manufacturing
facilities," said Novakovic. "The effect of that investment is
manifest in the two airplanes we announced today."
The G500 can fly 5,000 nautical miles/9,260 kilometers at Mach
0.85 or 3,800 nm/7,038 km at Mach 0.90. The G600 is capable of
traveling 6,200 nm/11,482 km at Mach 0.85 or 4,800 nm/8,890 km at
Mach 0.90. The maximum operating speed for both aircraft is Mach
0.925, the same speed as Gulfstream's G650 and G650ER.
"This is another extraordinary day in the storied history of
Gulfstream," said Larry Flynn,
president, Gulfstream. "I could not be more pleased to announce the
next generation of Gulfstream aircraft. The G500 and G600 build
upon the technology present in our G650 and our latest aircraft,
the G650ER. Once again, our customers played a major role in the
development and creation of these aircraft. The G500 and G600
continue the long Gulfstream tradition of being the first original
equipment manufacturer to ensure an optimal combination of speed,
range, wide-cabin comfort and fuel burn."
Wide-Cabin Comfort
The cabins for the G500 and G600
are distinguished by their wide cross-sections, which maximize
passenger comfort and aircraft performance.
The finished cabin of each aircraft, which measure 91 inches/213
centimeters wide and 74 in/188 cm tall, provide wide-cabin comfort
with considerable head room and shoulder room for passengers.
Carrying up to 19 passengers each, the G500 has three living areas,
and the G600 has up to four, as well as an optional crew rest. Both
aircraft have forward and aft lavatories and include a full-size
galley that can be located in either the forward or aft portion of
the aircraft. Ample storage space is also prevalent in the baggage
compartment, which has 175 cubic feet/5.0 cu meters of usable
volume.
Both aircraft feature an industry-leading cabin altitude of
4,850 ft/1,578 m at FL510 and 100 percent fresh air that boosts
mental alertness and productivity while reducing fatigue. The
quietest cabins in the industry provide an ideal environment for
work-related discussion or social conversation. Large oval windows,
the same size as those on the G650, allow natural light to pour
into the cabins.
All-New Symmetry Flight Deck With Touchscreens And Active
Control Sidesticks
Gulfstream's revolutionary new SymmetryTM Flight Deck is
the most advanced, stylish, comfortable and intuitive in business
aviation. The cutting-edge technology comes in the form of active
control sidesticks (ACSs), integrated touchscreen controllers, a
next-generation enhanced vision system (EVS) and Honeywell Primus
Epic avionics.
The industry-first ACSs offer enhanced safety and situational
awareness over passive sticks through tactile feedback. With
electronic linking of the ACSs, the pilot and co-pilot can see and
feel each other's control inputs, which helps improve pilot
coordination in the cockpit.
"The active control sidesticks enable both pilots to be
consistently on the same page, enhancing safety," said Dan Nale, senior vice president, Engineering,
Programs and Test, Gulfstream. "No other business aircraft on the
market has this feature."
Adding to the pilots' more intuitive interaction with the
aircraft are 10 integrated touchscreens, which will be used for
system controls, flight management, communication, checklists and
monitoring weather and flight information.
The G500 and G600 incorporate a third-generation Gulfstream EVS,
the Synthetic Vision-Primary Flight Display system and Head-Up
Display II.
Similar to the G650 and G650ER, the G500 and G600 offer a full
three-axis digital fly-by-wire system with benefits that include
flight-envelope protection, stability augmentation, increased
redundancy and reduced maintenance.
Performance
Speed is one of the biggest
differentiators. The G500 and G600 can fly at a high-speed cruise
of Mach 0.90, saving operators up to an hour per flight versus
flying at Mach 0.80.
The G500 and G600 are powered by versions of the new Pratt &
Whitney Canada PW800 series engine.
The PW800 delivers excellent fuel efficiency, fewer emissions and
engine noise, and has a 10,000-hour time between overhaul with no
midlife inspection for lower operating cost.
The combination of the new PW800 engines and the
Gulfstream-designed wing result in industry-leading fuel efficiency
for both the G500 and G600.
Program
Manufacturing for the G500 and G600 will be
done at two new purpose-built facilities in Savannah. Gulfstream will produce the wings
and the vertical and horizontal stabilizers for each aircraft.
The first flight of the G500 is scheduled for 2015. Gulfstream
projects it will receive type certification from the U.S. Federal
Aviation Administration and European Aviation Safety Agency in 2017
and begin deliveries in 2018.
The G600 flight-test program is expected to begin approximately
12 to 18 months after the G500's, and entry-into-service is
projected to be in 2019.
"The G500 and G600 are tremendous additions to our family of
aircraft, filling a niche in an already extensive product line,"
Flynn said. "In 2008, we introduced two game-changers in business
aviation, the G650 and G280. Now, six years later, we're
introducing another pair of revolutionary aircraft, the G500 and
G600. Thank you to all of our employees for making this possible.
Those who build, design, develop, sell, market, service and support
our aircraft — you are the best in the business."
Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation designs, develops,
manufactures, markets, services and supports the world's most
technologically advanced business-jet aircraft. Gulfstream has
produced more than 2,200 aircraft for customers around the world
since 1958. To meet the diverse transportation needs of the future,
Gulfstream offers a comprehensive fleet of aircraft, comprising the
Gulfstream G150TM, the Gulfstream G280TM, the
Gulfstream G450TM, the Gulfstream G550TM, the
Gulfstream G500 TM, the Gulfstream G600 TM,
the Gulfstream G650TM and the Gulfstream
G650ERTM. Gulfstream also offers aircraft ownership
services via Gulfstream Pre-Owned Aircraft SalesTM. The
company employs more than 15,000 people at 12 major locations. We
invite you to visit our website for more information and photos at
www.gulfstreamnews.com.
More information about General Dynamics is available at
www.generaldynamics.com.
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20141011/151609
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20141011/151610
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20141011/151611
SOURCE Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation