SAVANNAH,
Ga., July 18, 2002 - 2002
-The Gulfstream V-SP (GV-SP), Gulfstream Aerospace
Corporation's most technologically advanced
ultra-long range business jet, successfully
completed a historic, record-breaking first
flight today. Taking off from the Savannah
International Airport at 8:10 a.m., the first
production GV-SP, number 5001, lifted off
the runway at a mere 2,800 feet and silently
soared into the morning sky.
The flight lasted five
hours and one minute - the longest-duration
first flight of a new type aircraft in Gulfstream
history. The flight of the first production
GV-SP comes exactly 16 days after the 100th
flight of the GV-SP test article.
Crewing the airplane
were its chief test pilot John O'Meara; SN5001
project pilot Al Morros; Jim Winkleman, flight
test engineer; and Bill Osborne, flight test
engineer.
"This GV-SP aircraft
flew the best test flight I have experienced
in my career," said O'Meara. "We
covered the full flight envelope - flying
up to 51,000 feet and out to Mach Dive .955.
This aircraft performed like it was ready
for customer delivery."
The flight team took
the aircraft through the usual first flight
checklist and began flight test of the enhanced
GV-SP systems.
"The aircraft
performed flawlessly, as we would have expected
given its superior design and engineering,"
said O'Meara, Gulfstream's director of flight
test operations.
At 51,000 feet and
speeds up to .88 Mach, the GV-SP can fly eight
passengers and four crewmembers 6,750 nautical
miles - the longest range available in a business
jet. In effect, the GV-SP can fly directly
from New York to Tokyo in 14 hours, 30 minutes
without having to stop to refuel.
Gulfstream is The
World Standard™ in business aviation.
With the introduction of the GV-SP PlaneView™
cockpit and its integrated avionics suite,
it marks another first in business aviation
- the Gulfstream Enhanced Vision System™
(EVS). The revolutionary EVS is the first
system of its kind to be certified by the
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) The
Gulfstream EVS significantly improves a pilot's
situational awareness during conditions of
reduced visibility and at night by providing
the pilot an optical image that includes runway
markings, taxiways, adjacent roads and surrounding
landscape. The Gulfstream EVS, which was developed
by Gulfstream and Kollsman, will be standard
equipment in all GV-SPs and will be available
as a retrofit in both GVs and GIV-SPs.
The state-of-the-art
PlaneView™ advanced flight deck comprises
four large liquid crystal displays that significantly
improve the readability of terrain maps, navigational
and weather information and primary flight
data. Ergonomically designed, the cockpit
features Gulfstream designed pilot and co-pilot
cursor control devices that allow pilots to
more easily access and input flight data.
In addition to performance
and safety, the GV-SP was designed to even
further improve passenger comfort. Compared
to its predecessor, the Gulfstream V (GV),
the GV-SP provides passengers up to four distinct
living areas, 25 percent more baggage space
and two additional signature oval windows,
enhancing the passenger's view and increasing
the amount of natural light in the cabin.
"For more than
40 years, Gulfstream has designed, engineered
and produced the best-performing, most technologically
advanced business jets available," said
Bill Boisture, president, Gulfstream Aerospace.
"Following today's successful first flight,
the GV-SP is now the new standard for intercontinental
business aircraft."
The GV-SP is expected
to receive FAA certification during the fourth
quarter this year. Following outfitting, the
first GV-SP customer delivery is expected
to occur in the fourth quarter of 2003.
(Two photos are available at www.gulfstream.com,
press room)
###
NOTE
TO EDITORS
Gulfstream
Aerospace Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics,
designs, develops, manufactures, markets and
services the world's most technologically
advanced business jet aircraft. Gulfstream
has produced more than 1,300 aircraft for
customers around the world since 1958. To
meet the aviation needs of its customers,
Gulfstream offers a full range of aircraft
products and services, including the Gulfstream
100®, Gulfstream 200®, Gulfstream
IV-SP®, the ultra-long range Gulfstream
V® and Gulfstream V-SP®, Gulfstream
Financial Services Division and Gulfstream
Pre-Owned Aircraft Sales®. The company
employs more than 7,800 people at eight locations.
We invite you to visit our Web site for more
information and photos of Gulfstream aircraft
at www.gulfstream.com.
General Dynamics, headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia, employs
approximately 54,000 people worldwide and
had 2001 revenues of $12 billion. The company
has leading market positions in land and amphibious
combat systems, mission-critical information
systems and technologies, shipbuilding and
marine systems, and business aviation. More
information about the company can be found
on the World Wide Web at www.generaldynamics.com.
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