Third Aircraft First Flew June 28
The third and final Gulfstream G250 test aircraft has joined the
flight-test program, Gulfstream announced last week. The aircraft
completed its first flight on June 28, taking off from Ben Gurion
airport at 1030 local time. During the 2 hour, 56 minute flight,
the aircraft reached a maximum speed of 250 knots and a top
altitude of 20,000 feet.
All three aircraft that are part of the 1,300-hour flight-test
campaign have now entered the flight-test program, beginning with
the first, S/N 2001, on Dec. 11, 2009. Each aircraft has been
assigned a specific series of tests to perform, with S/N 2001
focused on in-flight performance and handling, S/N 2002 on avionics
and S/N 2003 on systems functionality and reliability.
"It's exciting to have all three test aircraft in the air," said
Pres Henne, senior vice president, Programs, Engineering and Test,
Gulfstream. "What's even more exciting is the response we're
getting from the pilots. They've told us that the aircraft's
handling qualities are excellent, rivaling those of our large-cabin
aircraft. That's something we like to hear, because it means we hit
the mark with our design. And we have our operators to thank for
that, because they played a major role in creating this jet. This
aircraft represents what they told us they wanted."
David Dagan, corporate vice president and general manager,
Commercial Aircraft Group, IAI, said, "What we're witnessing today
in the G250 flight-test campaign is the synergy of advanced
engineering with skilled manufacturing and assembly. The hours of
flight testing we are able to produce are exactly as we planned.
The tests are executed exactly as we planned with the full
completion of each test card, a true sign of the maturity of the
design the teams brought forth."
The test aircraft have flown over 200 hours on more than 70
flights. S/N 2001 has reached its maximum speed of Mach 0.85 and
altitude of 45,000 feet (13,500 m). The G250 made its longest test
flight today with a duration of seven hours and one minute. Powered
by twin Honeywell HTF7250G engines, the business jet is capable of
traveling 3,400 nautical miles at Mach 0.80. Its initial cruise
altitude is 41,000 feet.
The first G250 rolled out of the IAI manufacturing facility in
Tel Aviv under its own power on Oct. 6, 2009. It is on schedule for
type certification in 2011. The aircraft will be completed at the
Gulfstream Mid-Cabin Center of Excellence in Dallas.