Progress on Gulfstream’s latest line in biz-jets – the G800 – has been racing ahead. Less than three weeks after the type’s maiden flight on 28 June, the G800 made its inaugural transcontinental voyage to debut at the Farnborough International Airshow. GlobalAir.com caught up with this “marvel of performance and efficiency” on the static line to find out more about the technological advancements that set this latest model aside from its competitors.
Nestled neatly at the end of Gulfstream’s static line-up sits an airframe a little different from its adjacent cohort. Admittedly, the distinctive nose-mounted probe – an integral part of the ongoing testing program– imparts a unicorn-esque element to this airframe, although I’m assured the record-breaking timings involved in even getting the type here are in no way mythical.
Powered by two all-new Rolls-Royce Pearl 700s, Gulfstream claims the G800 is the longest-range business aircraft in the industry, with a range of up to 8,000nm (when cruising at 0.85M) or around 7,000nm (traveling at 0.9 Mach). This lighter design is “really what differentiates us from our competitors”, explains Charlie Gray, vice president of flight test and engineering laboratories, noting that the lightweight design allows the type to “stay high and go fast.”
Following the G800’s first flight (achieved – in keeping with every Savannah flight test – using a blend of sustainable aviation fuel), a long-duration flight simulated the airborne hours ahead of the transatlantic ferry flight itself. This milestone mission across the Atlantic, flown at a conservative speed, was achieved in 6 hrs 59 mins.
Although no photos are permitted inside the body of the fuselage – which is still crammed with flight test equipment in place of luxurious soft leather – we’re allowed up front to take a look at arguably the best two seats in the house. Inside the cockpit, the next-generation technological advancements continue – from active control sidesticks to ten touch-screen displays – including the data concentration network that runs throughout the airframe representing a “world of continuous improvement”.
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The need to manually test 12 or 13 different systems has been replaced by just one button; these same systems are also constantly self-monitoring whilst in flight. Not only does this make for what Gray describes as a “very nice-looking cockpit”, but it helps cut the time from climbing into taxiing to just 7.5 minutes – around a third of its predecessors’ time.
However, this increased “self-awareness” offers more than speed: It’s a vital feature that reduces pilot workload and offers additional safety enhancements. “The airplane will know what you want it to do,” explains Gray. Another new element is the facility for the Symmetry Flight Deck to automatically pull up checklists pertinent to any problem faced in-flight, alongside running through integrated automatic checklists as standard.
With type certification anticipated for 2023, Gulfstream intends to return the aircraft to their Savannah facility to complete the “around 35 different disciplines of flight testing” required. “We did enough to bring the aircraft to Farnborough”, explains Gulfstream, although note their intentions to follow up with a series of “complete onboard expansion testing,” including surpassing the 0.925M the airframe is currently certified to.
And if you’d like to get your hands on one, Gulfstream cites they’ve definitely “got demand” – examples start at around £72.5M and can seat up to 19 passengers, so get those orders in!
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