You Can Never Have Too Many Gulfstreams...

Gulfstream tells ANN that only one year after the large-cabin, long-range G450 business jet accomplished its first flight, Gulfstream remains on schedule for certification by the FAA in the third quarter of this year. They expect customer deliveries to commence in the second quarter of 2005.

Since the official start of the G450 flight-test program one year ago, four G450 test aircraft have accumulated more than 1,250 flight hours during approximately 500 flights. By employing the four test aircraft, Gulfstream has been able to test and evaluate multiple aspects of the aircraft simultaneously in a relatively short amount of time.

"I'm pleased and proud to report that we are on schedule and on budget," said Pres Henne, senior vice president, programs, engineering and test, who has overseen all new Gulfstream aircraft development for a decade. "Now that we've completed all company testing, we are concentrating our efforts to ensure we meet all certification requirements of the FAA, the Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA) and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA)."

To date, Gulfstream has completed all development tests for aerodynamic performance, handling qualities, propulsion, systems and avionics. As part of its current certification testing, the G450 team has successfully completed the following tests:

• Flutter
• Engine inlet distortion
• Fire extinguishing concentration
• Fluid drainage and ingestion
• Engine margins
• Field performance (including demonstrating stopping performance with 95-percent worn brakes at 100 percent maximum energy)
• Hydraulics, flight controls and electrical system
• Part 36 Fly-over noise tests

Additionally, Gulfstream’s Flight Operations personnel are working with the FAA Flight Standards and JAA Operations Evaluations Boards to evaluate pilot type rating for the G450. Earlier this month, the FAA/JAA team members completed the first phase of the evaluation process, where they observed and evaluated the G450 training program as experienced Gulfstream pilots - those who have one or more Gulfstream type ratings - completed the course. The FAA/ JAA team has moved into the second phase of the process, which involves evaluating the G450 training of pilots who are not type-rated on Gulfstream aircraft. The FAA/JAA team’s findings, which are expected in early May, will identify possible areas of improvement in the G450 pilot training course and determine whether the operations of G450, G550 and GV business-jet models are similar enough to share pilot type ratings, with completion of differences coursework.

Developed concurrently with Gulfstream’s large-cabin, ultra-long-range G550, the G450 was formally introduced this past October at the National Business Aviation Association’s Annual Meeting and Convention in Orlando, Fla. In February of this year at Asian Aerospace 2004 in Singapore, Gulfstream announced the new G350, which the company anticipates will share the same type rating with the G450, G500 and G550. Gulfstream expects to receive FAA certification of the G350 in the fourth quarter of this year, while the first customer delivery is expected in the third quarter of 2005.

FMI: www.gulfstream.com