News Release
Gulfstream Flight-Test Team Logs More Than 1,000 Flight Hours During 2005
Gulfstream’s Last Test Flight is 'One for the Books'
SAVANNAH, Ga., Jan. 11, 2006 -- Gulfstream’s large-cabin experimental aircraft fleet flew 1,002 flight-test hours that spanned 416 separate test missions in 2005. Additionally, Gulfstream’s Flight Test team ended the year with an extraordinary test flight.
On Dec. 16, an experimental GV business-jet aircraft flew nonstop from the company’s headquarters in Savannah , Ga. , to Shannon , Ireland , and then back to Savannah . The flight lasted nearly 15 ½ hours and covered a distance of 6,940 nautical miles (7,986 statute miles) – an unofficial record for the airplane class. The flight was used primarily to conduct avionics validation tests. The Gulfstream G550 currently holds the class record for a Dec. 6, 2003 flight from Savannah to Dubai , United Arab Emirates , which covered 6,557 nautical miles (7,546 statute miles).
In 2005, Gulfstream experimental aircraft were used to evaluate advanced vision technologies, product enhancements and reliability improvements to existing aircraft models. In addition, the test fleet evaluated aerodynamic modifications and internal provisions installed on special mission aircraft. These activities are vital to the aircraft manufacturer's development process and enable the company to secure approvals from foreign and domestic regulatory agencies.
"Our experimental aircraft were in high demand," said Pres Henne, senior vice president, programs, engineering and test, Gulfstream. "We spent a significant amount of our flight-test efforts on improving reliability of our current models and exploring new technologies and their possible applications to business jets."
In 2004, the Flight Test program exceeded 2,000 flight hours for the first time in its 45-year history. During the year, the Flight Test team supported two new product development programs that resulted in the Federal Aviation Administration certification of the G450 and the G350 business jets, as well as follow-on certification programs for the PlaneView ® flight deck.
Since 2001, Gulfstream test aircraft have logged more than 6,000 flight-test hours.
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 7,900 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 71,900 people worldwide. 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.
