G550 Flies Nonstop from Tokyo to W Palm Beach, FL

Gulfstream Aerospace tells ANN that its newest large-cabin, ultra-long-range G550 business jet has established a new city-to-city record between Tokyo and West Palm Beach (FL) flying 6,619 nautical miles nonstop at an average cruise speed of Mach .83.

The record flight commenced at 11:58 p.m., November 9, when the G550 took off from Haneda Airport in Tokyo. It flew for 12 hours and 32 minutes crossing the International Dateline and landing the same day at 10:30 p.m. at the West Palm Beach International Airport.

"With this record-setting flight, the G550 continues to establish its leadership position in its business jet class," said Bryan Moss, president, Gulfstream. "Certified just three months ago, the G550 is already exceeding all our expectations. With its sheer power, sleek design and ease of operation, pilots enjoy flying the G550 almost as much as passengers enjoy traveling in it. With its ability to fly exceptionally long distances without the need to refuel, the G550 gives back to international passengers more of what they need most - time to conduct business and time to spend with loved ones."

Captain Sean Sheldon and pilots Neil Vernon and John MacKay flew the Tokyo-to-West Palm Beach G550 flight with chief flight attendant Sally Greer and two passengers on board.

The National Aeronautical Association has recognized the Tokyo-to-West Palm Beach flight as a world record for Speed Over a Recognized Course. In October, the G550 also set four city-pair speed records during a five-day, five-leg journey around the world. The 7,301 nautical miles flown in the last leg of that trip, from Seoul, South Korea, to Orlando, Fla., eclipsed the ground distance record of 6,132 nautical miles set by a Gulfstream V in 1997.

Introduced in 2002, the G550 comes fully equipped and includes the state-of-the-art PlaneView cockpit, Head-Up Display and Federal Aviation Administration-certified Gulfstream Enhanced Vision System (EVS). The flagship of the Gulfstream business jet fleet, the G550 can accommodate up to 18 passengers, fly at a maximum speed of .885 Mach and cruise at a maximum altitude of 51,000 feet.

FMI: www.gulfstream.com, www.generaldynamics.com