GULFSTREAM SUPPORTING NTSB IN INVESTIGATION OF G650 CRASH

SAVANNAH, Ga., April 7, 2011 - Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. has flight-test and engineering department personnel on site in Roswell, N.M., participating in the National Transportation Safety Board's (NTSB) investigation of the April 2 crash of a Gulfstream G650 aircraft.

Immediately following the accident, Gulfstream elected to temporarily suspend the flight activities of its four remaining G650 flight-test aircraft as the NTSB, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the company and suppliers work together to analyze the accident. All other certification and production work on the G650 program continues, and all other activities at the company are proceeding normally.

“We are participating fully in the aircraft investigation,” commented Pres Henne, senior vice president, Programs, Engineering and Test, Gulfstream, “and will only resume flying the G650 when we and the Federal Aviation Administration are satisfied it is safe to do so.”

The crash of G650 Serial Number 6002 occurred during takeoff-performance testing.

Serial Number 6002 first flew in February 2010. As of March 31, 2011, the aircraft had accumulated more than 425 hours of flight-test time, involving tests of performance and systems. The G650 flight test fleet has accumulated more than 1,570 flight test hours.

Gulfstream, in consultation with the NTSB, will provide further status updates on the G650 flight-test program appropriate with the pace of the investigation.

 

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 1,900 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 new large-cabin, mid-range Gulfstream G250®; the large-cabin, mid-range Gulfstream G350®; the large-cabin, long-range Gulfstream G450®; the large-cabin, ultra-long-range Gulfstream G500®; the large-cabin, ultra-long-range Gulfstream G550® and the ultra-large-cabin, ultra-long-range G650®. Gulfstream also offers aircraft ownership services via Gulfstream Pre-Owned Aircraft Sales®. The company employs more than 10,000 people at 10 major locations. We invite you to visit our website for more information and photos of Gulfstream aircraft at www.gulfstream.com.

General Dynamics, headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia, employs approximately 90,000 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 on the Internet at www.generaldynamics.com.