News Release
GULFSTREAM G550 SETS TWO NEW CITY-PAIR SPEED RECORDS, FLYING 11,694 NAUTICAL MILES IN THE PROCESS
G550 Connects Auckland to Hong Kong and Hong Kong to Las Vegas
SAVANNAH , Ga. , May 1, 2007 – In two separate flights, an ultra-long-range Gulfstream G550 business jet flew a total of 11, 694 nautical miles and established two new city-pair speed records in the process.
The G550 took off from Auckland International Airport , New Zealand , at 10:25 a.m. local time (NZST) on March 26. Piloted by Gulfstream senior international captains Sean Sheldon and Larry S. Mueller and Gulfstream demonstration captain Edward Faciszewski, the G550 flew 5,097 nautical miles with average headwinds of 13 knots and at an average cruise speed of 0.83 Mach. The plane, with 5,690 pounds of fuel remaining, landed at Hong Kong International Airport at 5:57 p.m. local time (HKT), 11 hours and 32 minutes after it took off. Also onboard were flight attendant Karin O’Kelly and one passenger.
Four days later with Faciszewski, Mueller and Sheldon again serving as the flight crew, the G550 took off from Hong Kong International Airport at 11:26 a.m. , flying 6,597 nautical miles with an average tailwind of 52 knots and at an average cruise speed of 0.80 Mach. The plane had 4,000 pounds of fuel remaining when it landed 13 hours, 9 minutes later at McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas. O’Kelly and one passenger were also on board.
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 some 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 82,600 people worldwide. The company is a market leader in business aviation; land and expeditionary combat systems, armaments and munitions; shipbuilding and marine systems; and information systems and technologies. More information about the company is available online at www.generaldynamics.com.
