Gulfstream G500 enters final testing stage

Gulfstream G500

Gulfstream’s G500 business jet has entered the final stage of testing it needs to gain its US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) type certificate.

Deliveries of the new $43.5 million business jet will be able to get underway once the type certificate is received.

The G500 made its maiden flight on May 18, 2015. Since then, Gulfstream has added a further four aircraft to the test program. Between them they have amassed over 4,250 flight hours during 1,175 flights.

Gulfstream had planned to delivery the first G500 into its aircraft-demonstration fleet before the end of 2017. However, this slipped due to unidentified supplier “misjudging” the paperwork requirements for European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) certification.

Gulfstream said at the time that the first G500 delivery to a customer had always been scheduled for the first half of 2018, and the certification slip would not affect it.

The last stage of testing for the G500 revolves around function and reliability. For this, aircraft number four (MSN 72004 / N504GS) will be used in a 300-hour test phase that is used evaluate how the aircraft behaves in normal operating conditions, including hot and cold environments.

As well as the G500, Gulfstream is also progressing with the certification efforts for the larger G600.
“Both programs remain on track and are methodically moving toward their respective type certifications,” said Mark Burns, president, Gulfstream. “The five aircraft in each program continue to exceed our expectations. Given the recent announcement about our range increases, this is pretty remarkable, even for Gulfstream.”

Gulfstream increased the range of the G600 by 300nm in October 2017, extending the maximum range to 6,500nm.

Both the G500 and G600 are scheduled to enter service with their first customers before the end of 2018.