G500, G600 Introduce Industry-Leading Safety Technologies

Gulfstream has introduced an all-new family of business jets: the Gulfstream G500 and G600. The two new aircraft optimize speed, wide-cabin comfort and efficiency to offer customers best-in-class performance with advanced safety features.

The clean-sheet aircraft were introduced before a crowd of approximately 3,000 people. During the event, the first G500 taxied up under its own power, and General Dynamics chairman and CEO Phebe Novakovic revealed a nearly 70-foot/21-meter mockup of the G600.

“Today’s announcement demonstrates the power of General Dynamics’ consistent and disciplined investment in both Gulfstream’s research and development and manufacturing facilities,” said Novakovic. “The effect of that investment is manifest in the two airplanes we announced today.”

The G500 can fly 5,000 nautical miles at Mach 0.85 or 3,800 nm at Mach 0.90. The G600 is capable of traveling 6,200 nm at Mach 0.85 or 4,800 nm at Mach 0.90. The maximum operating speed for both aircraft is Mach 0.925, the same speed as Gulfstream’s G650 and G650ER.

“This is another extraordinary day in the storied history of Gulfstream,” said Larry Flynn, president, Gulfstream. “I could not be more pleased to announce the next generation of Gulfstream aircraft. The G500 and G600 build upon the technology present in our G650 and our latest aircraft, the G650ER. Once again, our customers played a major role in the development and creation of these aircraft. The G500 and G600 continue the long Gulfstream tradition of being the first original equipment manufacturer to ensure an optimal combination of speed, range, wide-cabin comfort and fuel burn.”

Gulfstream’s revolutionary new Symmetry Flight Deck is the most advanced, stylish, comfortable and intuitive in business aviation. The cutting-edge technology comes in the form of active control sidesticks (ACSs), integrated touchscreen controllers, a next-generation enhanced vision system (EVS) and Honeywell Primus Epic avionics.

The industry-first ACSs offer enhanced safety and situational awareness over passive sticks through tactile feedback. With electronic linking of the ACSs, the pilot and co-pilot can see and feel each other’s control inputs, which helps improve pilot coordination in the cockpit.

“The active control sidesticks enable both pilots to be consistently on the same page, enhancing safety,” said Dan Nale, senior vice president, Programs, Engineering and Test, Gulfstream. “No other business aircraft on the market has this feature.”

Adding to the pilots’ more intuitive interaction with the aircraft are 10 integrated touchscreens, which will be used for system controls, flight management, communication, checklists and monitoring weather and flight information.

The G500 and G600 incorporate a third-generation Gulfstream EVS, the Synthetic Vision-Primary Flight Display system and Head-Up Display II.

Similar to the G650 and G650ER, the G500 and G600 offer a full three-axis digital fly-by-wire system with benefits that include flight-envelope protection, stability augmentation, increased redundancy and reduced maintenance.

Speed is one of the biggest differentiators. The G500 and G600 can fly at a high-speed cruise of Mach 0.90, saving operators up to an hour per flight versus flying at Mach 0.80.

The G500 and G600 are powered by versions of the new Pratt & Whitney Canada PW800 series engine. The PW800 delivers excellent fuel efficiency, fewer emissions and engine noise, and has a 10,000-hour time between overhaul with no midlife inspection for lower operating cost.

The combination of the new PW800 engines and the Gulfstream-designed wing result in industry-leading fuel efficiency for both the G500 and G600.

Manufacturing for the G500 and G600 will be done at two new purpose-built facilities in Savannah. Gulfstream will produce the wings and the vertical and horizontal stabilizers for each aircraft.

The first flight of the G500 is scheduled for 2015. Gulfstream projects it will receive type certification from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration and European Aviation Safety Agency in 2017 and begin deliveries in 2018.

The G600 flight-test program is expected to begin approximately 12 to 18 months after the G500’s, and entry-into-service is projected to be in 2019.

“The G500 and G600 are tremendous additions to our family of aircraft, filling a niche in an already extensive product line,” Flynn said. “In 2008, we introduced two game-changers in business aviation, the G650 and G280. Now, six years later, we’re introducing another pair of revolutionary aircraft, the G500 and G600. Thank you to all of our employees for making this possible. Those who build, design, develop, sell, market, service and support our aircraft — you are the best in the business.”

(Images provided by Gulfstream)

FMI: www.gulfstream.com