Gulfstream G650 moves closer to entry into service
Company now has three aircraft moving towards final phase manufacturing
The Gulfstream G650 has moved closer to its
anticipated certification later this year after completing tests of its
fly-by-wire system, engine inlet compatibility and operation in hot weather,
among other tests.
As of 5 October, the four aircraft in the
flight-test program had accumulated more than 2,077 hours on more than 626
flights.
“On 15 September, we had five G650 aircraft
in the air at once,” said Pres Henne, senior vice president, Programs,
Engineering and Test, Gulfstream. “Four of the aircraft were conducting
flight-test activities, while the fifth aircraft completed a post-production
test flight. The level of flight activity speaks to the maturity of the product
at this point in the flight-test program. We are moving at a prudent pace
toward our certification objective later this year. We are pleased by
everything we see.”
Gulfstream has now flown four production
aircraft in preparation for induction into final-phase manufacturing, where the
aircraft are outfitted and painted. Fourteen aircraft are in the production
process.
