G650 reaches Mach 0.995
Gulfstream Aerospace today said that its first Gulfstream G650 test aircraft recently reached Mach 0.995 during flutter testing.
Gulfstream Aerospace today said that its first Gulfstream G650 test aircraft recently reached Mach 0.995.
The aircraft was flutter testing where manufactures see how aircraft can damp vibrations from an external test device.
As part of one test the pilots pitched the aircraft’s nose 16-18 degrees below the horizon. At the same time flutter exciters introduced a range of vibrations to different parts of the aircraft. Gulfstream says the aircraft performed well.
“The airplane is very predictable,” said Tom Horne, senior experimental test pilot, Gulfstream. “It’s very easy to control and to get precise control at those speeds. The airplane response has matched the expectations of our engineers, and we’ve been able to easily fly the test conditions and march through the test plan.”
Gulfstream is now engine testing the fifth and final test aircraft.
