Wide-Cabin, High-Speed G150 Test Aircraft Achieves Maximum
Speed and Altitude
Gulfstream and IAI have completed
all company flight tests on the new wide-cabin, high-speed
Gulfstream G150 business jet. With this accomplished, Gulfstream
and IAI now progress to the certification flight testing phase in
conjunction with the Civil Aviation Administration of Israel.
“The flight testing of this new aircraft is progressing
flawlessly,” said Pres Henne, senior vice president,
programs, engineering and test, Gulfstream.
“The flight envelope has been completely opened –
reaching maximum altitude of 45,000 feet and a maximum speed of
0.882 Mach. Maximum endurance has already exceeded five hours. The
aircraft handling qualities at forward and aft of the center of
gravity have been evaluated and the pilots report the aircraft is
very stable.”
In January of this year, the first
G150 rolled out of the IAI manufacturing facility in Tel Aviv. Four
months later, on May 3, it successfully completed its first flight.
The G150 remains on schedule for type certification by the Civil
Aviation Administration of Israel in the first quarter of next
year, followed shortly thereafter by validation from the FAA,
and entry into service in the third quarter of 2006. After the G150
receives certification, it 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. Like all Gulfstream customers, G150 customers
can choose from a wide selection of fine leathers, upholstery
fabrics, wood finishes and floor coverings. And like all Gulfstream
business jets, the G150 is backed by Gulfstream’s
award-winning product support.
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.