GULFSTREAM G280 FLIES PARIS TO NEW YORK IN LESS THAN EIGHT HOURS

Super Mid-Sized Aircraft Carrying Two Pilots and Five Passengers Applies for Speed Record

SAVANNAH, Ga., May 30, 2012 — Gulfstream Aerospace Corp.’s super mid-sized Gulfstream G280 recently set an unconfirmed city-pair speed record from Paris to White Plains, N.Y., making the flight in 7 hours, 40 minutes. Official recognition of this city-pair speed record by the National Aeronautic Association (NAA) is pending.

The G280, which is nearing certification and entry-into-service later this year, took off from Paris Le Bourget Airport on May 17 and flew nonstop to Westchester County Airport in White Plains, N.Y., at an average speed of Mach 0.80 against an average 32-knot headwind.

At maximum takeoff weight, the aircraft climbed to 43,000 feet in 22 minutes. The aircraft landed with an excess of NBAA IFR fuel reserves.

Piloting the G280 were Brett Rundle, chief pilot, mid-cabin; Chip Leonard, senior international captain, mid-cabin; and Butch Allen, senior production test pilot. On board the aircraft were Jeanette Brewer, manager of flight crew operations, and three additional passengers.

Gulfstream confirmed in October 2011 that the G280 would perform better than originally promised at the program’s public launch in 2008. Following extensive flight testing, Gulfstream demonstrated that the G280 flies 3,600 nm (6,667 km) with four passengers at Mach 0.80 with NBAA IFR reserves.

In addition to more range, the aircraft offers a shorter balanced field length. Its balanced field length has been reduced from 4,960 feet (1,512 m) to 4,750 feet (1,448 m). This field length is an improvement of more than 1,300 feet compared to the G200 that the G280 replaces.

 

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 2,000 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 new large-cabin, mid-range Gulfstream G280®; 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 11,500 people at 11 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 93,000 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.