Gulfstream delivers 100th G150 aircraft
As well as the delivery milestone, G150 set four city pairs records and company announces that an auto-throttle system is now avialable of the G150 business jet.
Gulfstream Aerospace announced a number of enhancements and accomplishments for its wide-cabin, high-speed G150 aircraft: four new city-pair speed records, the 100th customer delivery and the availability of an automatic throttle system.
The G150 set the four city-pair speed records in September, flying from Savannah to Barbados; Barbados to Cape Verde, Sal; Cape Verde to Libreville, Gabon; and Libreville to Cape Town, South Africa. The aircraft was on its way to the 2012 Africa Aerospace and Defence Show in Cape Town when it set the multiple records.
“These speed records demonstrate the G150’s exceptional range and performance for our customers,” said Larry Flynn, president, Gulfstream. “The G150 is a midsize workhorse and is ideal for both short- and long-range trips.”
On Sept. 11, the G150 flew 1,723 nm (3,191 km) from Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport to Grantley Adams International Airport in Seawell, Christ Church, on the island of Barbados. Its average cruise speed was Mach 0.80, resulting in a flight time of 3 hours and 54 minutes. Piloting the aircraft were demo pilots Nicholas Rose and Stephanie Ruyle.
Later that same day, the same crew flew the G150 from Barbados to Amilcar Cabral International Airport in Cape Verde on Sal Island. The 2,243-nm (4,154-km) trip took 5 hours and 9 minutes at an average cruise speed of Mach 0.80.
On Sept. 12, Rose and Ruyle piloted the aircraft 2,298 nm (4,256 km) from Cape Verde to Libreville Leon M’ba International Airport in Libreville, Gabon, in 5 hours and 13 minutes, at an average cruise speed of Mach 0.80. The following day, they flew 2,099 nm (3,997 km) from Libreville to Cape Town, South Africa, in 4 hours and 44 minutes at an average cruise speed of Mach 0.78.
In addition to the city-pair speed records, Gulfstream also announced that the 100th G150 has been delivered. The aircraft was sold to an overseas customer and operates in Europe.
Recently, Gulfstream received Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Supplemental Type Certification for Safe Flight’s Enhanced AutoPower automatic throttle system.
When the G150 entered service in 2006, it was the first Gulfstream business jet to be certified by the FAA for Stage 4, the industry’s most stringent noise standards. All Gulfstream current production aircraft are Stage 4-compliant. The G150 is also certified to meet the steep approach landing criteria at London City Airport.
