News Release
GULFSTREAM V BUSINESS JET FLIES MORE THAN 300 HOURS IN ONE YEAR AS AIR CHARTER IN JAPAN
Japanese Business Travelers Appreciate the Ultra-Long-Range and ‘Sophisticated Cabin’
SAVANNAH, Ga., August 9, 2005 -Introduced to the Japanese air charter market in April 2004, a Gulfstream V (GV) business jet has flown more than 300 flight hours from Japan to destinations as far as Europe and the United States. Gulfstream Aerospace, which manufactured the GV, is a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD).
Jon Winthrop, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Air Group, Inc. of Van Nuys, Calif., which manages and operates the Tokyo-based GV, says Japanese travelers appreciate the ultra-long-range business jet.
“Because Japanese users tend to fly long distances, the GV’s ultra-long range is suitable for this market,” Wintrop said. “Additionally, Gulfstream has a great reputation in Japan for quality, safety and comfort. In fact, a number of our clients have commented that they prefer Gulfstream’s sophisticated cabin over cabins of competitive aircraft.”
Marubeni Aerospace Corporation provides GV charter sales in Japan and The Air Group in North America.
“We find that our clients who have flown the GV on a charter flight have enjoyed the experience so much, they have become regular clients,” added Shingo Ueda, General Manager, Commercial Business Aircraft, Sales & Marketing Group, Marubeni.
The predecessor of the large-cabin, ultra-long-range Gulfstream G550, the GV can fly 6,500 nautical miles nonstop and reach a maximum cruise altitude of 51,000 feet at speeds up to Mach 0.85.
The GV entered service in 1997, the same year the aircraft won the prestigious Robert J. Collier Trophy. Today, the in-service fleet includes some 190 aircraft that have logged more than 450,000 flight hours and completed more than 200,000 cycles. While the GV is no longer produced, its dispatch reliability rate is 99.7 percent.
The robust construction, versatility and reliability of the Gulfstream V make it also highly desirable for use as a special mission aircraft. Today, more than 160 government and special mission Gulfstream aircraft are in service, in completions or on order with 34 nations, including Japan, where two GV aircraft are operated by the Japan Coast Guard for maritime search and rescue missions.
NOTE TO EDITORS
Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation , a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), designs, develops, manufactures, markets, services and supports the world’s most technologically advanced business-jet aircraft. Gulfstream has produced more than 1,500 aircraft for customers around the world since 1958. To meet the diverse transportation needs of the future, Gulfstream offers a comprehensive fleet of aircraft, comprising the mid-cabin, high-speed Gulfstream G100 ™; the wide-cabin, high-speed Gulfstream G150 ™; the large-cabin, mid-range Gulfstream G200 ™; the large-cabin, mid-range Gulfstream G350 ™; the large-cabin, long-range G450 ™; the large-cabin, ultra-long-range Gulfstream G500 ™ and the large-cabin, ultra-long-range Gulfstream G550 ™. Gulfstream also offers aircraft ownership services via Gulfstream Financial Services Division and Gulfstream Pre-Owned Aircraft Sales ®. The company employs more than 7,200 people at seven major 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 70,800 people worldwide and had 2004 revenue of $19.2 billion. The company is a market leader in mission-critical information systems and technologies; land and expeditionary combat systems, armaments and munitions; shipbuilding and marine systems; and business aviation. More information about the company can be found at www.generaldynamics.com.
