One-Stop Trip From Savannah To Russia

A Gulfstream G200 business jet recently set two city-pair speed records, connecting Savannah to Keflavik, Iceland, and Keflavik to Vnukovo, Russia. The  G200 took off from Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport on Sept. 13 and flew 2,915 nautical miles northeast bound, with 32-knot tailwinds, at an average speed of Mach 0.75. It landed 6 hours and 28 minutes later at Keflavik International Airport.

Gulfstream G200 File Photo

Piloting the G200 were international demonstration captains Erik Kauber and Nicholas Rose. On board the aircraft were flight attendant Jeanette Brewer and four passengers. The same day, the same flight crew and passengers boarded the G200 for a flight of 1,827 nautical miles from Keflavik to Vnukovo, near Moscow. The aircraft left Iceland traveling eastbound at Mach 0.80, arriving 4 hours, 16 minutes later in Vnukovo.

The National Aeronautic Association (NAA) confirmed the flights as U.S. records and forwarded the figures to the Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI) in Switzerland for approval as world records.

Powered by two Pratt & Whitney PW 306A engines, the G200 can reach speeds up to Mach 0.85 at altitudes up to 45,000 feet. Since the delivery of the first G200 in January 2000, the aircraft has amassed 12 city-pair speed records.

FMI: www.gulfstream.com