Wide-Cabin, High-Speed G150 On Schedule for First Customer
Delivery in 3Q/06
Gulfstream Aerospace
has roiled out the first wide-cabin, high-speed G150 business jet
aircraft. First announced in September 2002, the G150 remains on
schedule for customer deliveries in the third quarter of 2006.
The G150 rolled out of the Israel Aircraft industries (IAI)
manufacturing facility in Tel Aviv, Israel. in attendance were
certifying authorities, supplier representatives and members of
Gulfstream's G150 development team, many of whom work inTel Aviv to
oversee the building of the Gulfstream-designed aircraft in
collaboration with the IAI development team. Once built and
certified by both the Federal Aviation Administration and the
Israel Civil Aviation Authority - which is scheduled for the first
quarter of 2006 - the G150 will be flown to Gulfstream's Dallas
facility for the final phase of its manufacturing.
"Our Gulfstream team in
Israel has done an excellent job managing the design and build of
the first G150," said Bryan Moss, president, Gulfstream. "They've
sacrificed time away from their families to ensure this project is
on budget and on schedule. Additionally, I want to thank the folks
at IAI for their continuing cooperation and collaboration with our
Gulfstream team in Tel Aviv, as well as with our management team
from Savannah during their regular visits to the IAI facility."
At the ceremony, Moshe Keret, the president and chief executive
officer of Israel Aircraft industries said, "Over the years, IAI
has established an excellent reputation in designing and
manufacturing business jet aircraft. Once again, we have proven our
technological capabilities, both in engineering and in
manufacturing in this exclusive branch of our industry.
"We wish to express our appreciation and thanks to the dedicated
team that has performed all of the work and has presented us today
with a high-quality aircraft while upholding a very demanding
schedule. IAI will continue to protect its reputation as a world
leader in the development and manufacturing of new aircraft," Keret
said.
The G150 is an entirely new cabin design for Gulfstream. The
G150's cabin height is just three inches shorter than in the
large-cabin G450 and G550 series aircraft. The resulting effect is
the G150's spacious cabin, designed and outfitted by the same team
of professionals who design and install interiors for Gulfstream's
larger aircraft.
"We designed this aircraft to meet the needs of specific
customers who use their aircraft primarily to transport eight or
fewer passengers between cities within a continent," added Moss.
"G150 owners will appreciate the operating efficiencies associated
with this aircraft as well as the benefits of Gulfstream's
world-renowned standard of excellence in product design, innovation
and product support."
To offer customers a better look at the G150, Gulfstream
developed a true-to-size replica of the G150 cabin and cockpit to
take on the road to cities throughout the United States. According
to Moss, the G150 has been well received by business-jet operators
and prospective customers who have visited the G150 mock-up.
Inside the 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.
Powered by two Honeywell 731-40AR 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, longer than any other aircraft in its class. That's
the equivalent of Los Angeles to New York, London to Moscow, or Rio
de Janeiro to Santiago.