G550 Flies Nonstop From Seoul, South Korea, to Teterboro, N.J.;
From San Francisco to Seoul; and From Beijing to Bedford,
Mass.
A Gulfstream G550
recently set three transcontinental speed records between cities in
Asia and North America on two separate trips, establishing the
19th, 20th and 2lst G550 city-pair record since it first entered
service two years ago. Gulfstream Aerospace is awaiting official
recognition of these records from the National Aeronautic
Association.
During the first trip, a G550 took oft from Inchon International
Airport in Seoul, South Korea, at 6:04 p.m. on Oct. 28th. With
average tailwinds of 20 knots, it flew 6,534 nautical miles at an
average airspeed of Mach 0.80, and landed at Teterboro Airport in
Teterboro, N.J., 13 hours, 45 minutes later, establishing the 19th
G550 city-pair speed record. Larry Mueller, Gulfstream senior
international captain, served as pilot-in-command while Roc Miles,
Gulfstream director, flight operations-demonstration, was
co-captain. Also on board were Karin O'Kelly, flight attendant, and
two passengers.
The same G550 aircraft set two more city-pair records on the
first and final legs of a subsequent trip. On the first leg, the
G550 took off from San Francisco International Airport at 8:12a.m.
local time on Oct. 29th. With an average headwind of 26 knots, it
flew 5,510 nautical miles at an average speed of Mach 0.81, landing
12 hours and 35 minutes later at Inchon International Airport in
Seoul at 12:47 p.m. local time the next day.
On the trip's return flight, the G550 took oft from Beijing
Capital International Airport in Beijing, China, flew 5,946
nautical miles with average tailwinds of 4 knots and at an average
airspeed of Mach 0.80. It landed 12 hours and 55 minutes later at
Hanscom Field in Bedford, Mass. The G550 departed Beijing at 3:26
p.m. local time, crossed the International Dateline and 10 time
zones, and landed the same day in Bedford at 3:21 p.m. local time,
appearing to land 5 minutes before it took off.
On this double record-setting trip, Gulfstream International
Captain Ray Wellington served as pilot-in-command for the first
flight and as co-captain on the return flight. Gulfstream Senior
International Captain Skip Wilkerson was co-captain on the first
flight and pilot-in-command on the return flight. Gulfstream
Captain Wendi Sparks, who joined the flight in Beijing, served as
relief pilot on the return flight. Flight Attendant Marianne Pruner
and two passengers flew both legs.
Through the end of September, Gulfstream has delivered 66 G550
business jets.