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GULFSTREAM G550 BUSINESS JET SETS FOUR CITY-PAIR SPEED RECORDS IN THREE WEEKS
Demonstration G550 Aircraft, Serial Number 5097, Stretches Its Legs As It Flies Across Three Continents
SAVANNAH , Ga. , Dec. 11, 2006 – A Gulfstream G550 business jet aircraft, serial number 5097, has set four city-pair speed records in three weeks, connecting cities in Asia , North America and Europe . This ultra-long-range G550 is used to demonstrate the aircraft’s performance to potential customers.
On Oct. 31, the G550 took off from Edinburgh Airport in Scotland and flew 4,494 nautical miles east with light tailwinds at an average airspeed of 0.87 Mach. It landed 8 hours and 47 minutes later at China ’s Beijing Capital International Airport . Gulfstream senior international demonstration captains Sean Sheldon served as pilot in command and Paulo Jancitsky served as second in command. Onboard the aircraft were flight attendant Susie Gunn and four passengers.
The same flight crew and passengers boarded the G550 for the return flight on Nov. 2. The plane took off from Beijing and flew 4,407 nautical miles into headwinds as strong as 95-knots. Flying at an average airspeed of Mach 0.85, it landed at Edinburgh Airport 10 hours and 1 minute later. As a result of country-specific airspace restrictions, particularly over Russia , the G550 was flown at lower, less efficient altitudes during a portion of each of the trip’s flights, making the accomplishment of these two world-record flights even more challenging.
A week after establishing the two Beijing-Edinburgh speed records, the G550 set another city-pair speed record after flying 6,216 nautical miles between Beijing and Louisville, Ky., in 13 hours and 27 minutes.
On Nov. 10, the G550 took off from Beijing Capital Airport at 1:31 p.m. local time, and flew at an average speed of 0.80 Mach. With an average tailwind of 10 knots and with 3,000 pounds of fuel remaining, it landed at Louisville International Airport at 3:58 p.m. the same day. Piloting the G550 were Gulfstream Flight Operations personnel David E. Smith, senior international demonstration captain; Raymond D. Wellington, senior international demonstration captain; and Wilson A. “Roc” Miles, director of flight operations. Linda Barr, flight attendant, and five passengers were onboard.
The fourth city-pair speed record was established on a transcontinental flight from Guatemala City to Madrid . Piloted by Gulfstream senior international demonstration captains Jaime Bahamon, who served as pilot in command, and Craig Wilkerson, who was second in command, the G550 took off from La Aurora Airport in Guatemala City at 4:27 p.m. local time on Nov. 19. It flew 4,849 nautical miles at an average airspeed of 0.87 Mach, landing 9 hours and 11 minutes later at Torrejon Airport in Madrid at 8:28 a.m. local time. On board were flight attendant Karin O’Kelley and four passengers.
Gulfstream has submitted applications to the National Aeronautic Association to confirm each of these new city-pair records.
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 1,600 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 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 81,100 people worldwide and expects 2006 revenues of approximately $24 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 is available online at www.generaldynamics.com.
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Document last modified Wednesday, January 03, 2007 |