Gulfstream G450 orders heat up in Q1

Gulfstream displayed this G450 at this years ABACE (Photo: Alud Davies)

Gulfstream has revealed that it is starting to see a shift towards orders for its G450 private jet.

Gulfstream displayed this G450 at this years ABACE (Photo: Alud Davies)

Gulfstream’s parent company General Dynamics chairman and CEO Phebe Novakovic revealed during its first quarter investor’s call that the company is seeing a shift towards G450 orders.

Gulfstream delivered 39 aircraft during the first quarter, up 10 aircraft from the 29 deliveries in the first quarter of 2013.

Although Gulfstream does not break down deliveries by individual types, the total includes 33 large-cabin jets and six mid-size jets.

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But if Novakovic’s comments regarding increased interest in the G450 are true, it could leave Gulfstream with a bit of a headache.

With the first G450 delivering in 2005 and a further 300 units delivered since, Gulfstream is rumoured to be unveiling its successor, based on the P42 platform, later this year.

Novakovic’s remarks could be an attempt to start talking up the market for a G450-sized aircraft before the replacement announcement.

Either way, Gulfstream says that 60 per cent of current orders are split between the G450 and G550, representing a 12-15 month backlog for those types.