First Flight Pilots Report 'G150’s Flying Qualities Are Outstanding'

Gulfstream's newest business-jet aircraft, the wide-cabin, high-speed Gulfstream G150, has successfully completed its first flight. Gulfstream designed and built its first true mid-size business jet in collaboration with Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) in Tel Aviv, Israel.

Flown by IAI chief test pilot Ronen Shapira and G150 project test pilot Yoram Geva, the G150 took off from Ben Gurion International Airport today at 10:25 a.m. local time. During the flight, which lasted 4 hours, 13 minutes, the pilots tested the business jet’s flight handling qualities and characteristics, performed initial checks of all aircraft systems and cycled the landing gear and flap/slat system.

The airplane was flown to 20,000 feet and achieved a maximum speed of 250 knots. Chief Test Pilot Shapira commented that the flight went “very smoothly with no issues noted.”

IAI’s Flight Telemetry System enabled IAI and Gulfstream flight-test engineers on the ground to monitor on a real-time basis all of the G150 aircraft systems during the flight as well as record the data from the first flight test point.

“The G150 has exceeded our expectations. Based on the pilots’ initial reports, the G150’s flying qualities were outstanding and all systems were fully operational,” said Pres Henne, senior vice president, programs, engineering and test, Gulfstream. “With flying characteristics similar to the highly maneuverable and successful Gulfstream G100, and with its significantly roomier cabin, we’re confident the G150 will exceed our customers’ expectations as well.”

In January of this year, the G150 rolled out of the Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) manufacturing facility in Tel Aviv. It remains on schedule for type certification by the Israel Civil Aviation Authority in the first quarter of next year, followed shortly thereafter by validation from the Federal Aviation Administration, and entry into service in the third quarter of 2006. Following certification, the G150 will be flown to Gulfstream’s Dallas facility for the final phase of its manufacturing.

Powered by two Honeywell TFE731-40AR engines, the G150 can reach speeds of up to Mach .85 and altitudes of 45,000 feet, well above commercial traffic and weather. At a long-range cruise speed of Mach .75, the G150 can fly four passengers nonstop up to 2,700 nautical miles, farther than any other aircraft in its class at this speed. That’s the equivalent of New York to Los Angeles, London to Moscow, or Rio de Janeiro to Santiago.

The G150 is an entirely new cabin design for Gulfstream. The G150’s cabin height is just five inches shorter than in the large-cabin G350, G450, G500 and G550 aircraft models. The resulting effect is a spacious G150 cabin, designed and outfitted by the same team of professionals who design and install high-quality interiors for Gulfstream’s larger aircraft.

The G150 can accommodate six to eight passengers in a choice of several cabin configurations. Its wide-body fuselage provides stand-up headroom, ample aisle space and generous legroom and headroom when seated. To offer customers a better look at the G150, Gulfstream developed a true-to-size replica of the G150 cabin and cockpit that is currently being displayed in cities throughout the United States.

FMI: www.gulfstreamg150.com