Model Thriving After 20 Years After its Debut

Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. announced on 02 August 2023 that the global fleet of G550 aircraft has logged one-million landings, thereby underscoring the model’s robustness, longevity, and enduring viability.

To date, the worldwide G550 fleet has logged upwards of 2.6-million flight-hours.

Gulfstream president Mark Burns set forth: “Two decades after the aircraft entered service, the G550 continues to achieve in-service milestones and add to its impressive list of accolades as evidenced by this one-millionth landing.”

Mr. Burns added: “This is a testament to the quality of the G550 and the technology that Gulfstream introduced on this aircraft, which paved the way for our next-generation fleet. The G550 is also backed by Gulfstream’s Customer Support worldwide network, which helps ensure continued service achievements like this one.”

The G550 pioneered Gulfstream’s Enhanced Vision System, now known as Enhanced Flight Vision System (EFVS), and was recognized for its contributions to the advancement of humankind’s aerospace endeavors by the National Aeronautic Association, which awarded the G550—and by extension, Gulfstream—2003’s Collier Trophy.

Named for former Aero Club of America president Robert J. Collier and administered by the U.S. National Aeronautic Association (NAA), the Collier Trophy is presented to the individual or institution determined to have made "the greatest achievement in aeronautics or astronautics in America, with respect to improving the performance, efficiency, and safety of air or space vehicles, the value of which has been thoroughly demonstrated by actual use during the preceding year."

Introduced on the G550, the aforementioned EFVS is available for the G280, G650, G650ER, G400, G500, and G600. To further enhance pilot situational awareness, Gulfstream’s new G700 and G800 models feature EFVS and Synthetic Vision System on Gulfstream’s new Combined Vision System. Moreover, Gulfstream was the first aircraft Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) to gain Federal Aviation Administration approval for the use of EFVS during touchdown and rollout by operators so certified.

Equipped with two Rolls-Royce BR710 engines, the G550 can fly a class-leading 6,750 nautical miles at Mach 0.80. The G550’s cabin can be configured to seat as many as 19 passengers and sleep as many as eight.

Additionally, Gulfstream’s G550 has proved eminently suited to special missions. Purpose-modified specimens of the aircraft have been plied to a variety of government and military applications including: aeromedical evacuation, head-of-state transport, airborne early warning, atmospheric research, and maritime patrol.

The G550 entered service in 2003. Twenty years on, the global G550 fleet numbers north of six-hundred aircraft.

FMI: www.gulfstream.com