Gulfstream G-650

Gulfstream is expecting a grand entry later this year as its $65 million flagship G650 ultra long-range business jet, here at EBACE for the first time, enters service with more than 200 orders on the books.

What would be an otherwise triumphant programme conclusion however could be dimmed by an upcoming US National Transportation Safety Board final report on the 2 April 2011 crash of the second of five test aircraft.

Although the NTSB has not yet set a date for publishing the report, where a probable cause and contributing factors are expected to be revealed, documents released to the public in March lay bare a rocky relationship between Gulfstream and the board during the investigation and hint at issues in the test programme.

Of particular note was that the test pilots had experienced two previous wing drops in the accident aircraft 6002, before the wing-drop in Roswell, New Mexico that resulted in a runway excursion and fire. The crew - two pilots and two flight test engineers - did not survive the fire, according to the NTSB documents.

The crew of Flight 153 were performing the ninth flight of the day, a heavy take-off weight field test performance flight with 10˚ of flaps and the right engine at idle, a test used to determine lift-off and climb-out speeds that would later be used for US Federal Aviation Administration certification runs. The data is needed (Sevrien : "are needed") to develop procedures that pilots will follow after engine failure late in a take-off run.

Post-crash analyses of Flight 153 by the NTSB and Gulfstream reveal that the aircraft's right wing had stalled and "rolled-off" just after lift-off, in part as a result of stick-shaker targets that did not give pilots warning of an impending stall. The analysis revealed that the in-ground effect stall angle for the twinjet was significantly lower than Gulfstream had expected.

Along with the technical details, the final NTSB report is likely to discuss Gulfstream's behaviour during the investigation, which the Board has called "obstructive". Gulfstream, though not able to talk to the media as the investigation is not closed, has denied in a letter to the board that it hindered the investigation.

Gulfstream senior vice president of sales and marketing, Scott Neal, says all company flight testing is complete for the G650, with 80% of FAA testing finished. Aircraft number 20 is here at EBACE through Monday.

Le biréacteur d'affaires à très long rayon G650, construit par l'américain Gulfstream, s'est posé pour la première fois en Europe hier. Ce mastodonte de 30 mètres d'envergure a décollé de Washington DC et s'est posé sur l'aéroport international de Genève après un vol particulièrement court, d'une durée de 6 heures et 55 minutes.

Durant cette traversée transatlantique, l'avion a volé à l'altitude de 43 000 pieds (13.106 m), et à une vitesse proche de celle du son (entre Mach 0,90 et Mach 0,92). Pour mémoire, le G650 sera l'avion civil en service le plus rapide du monde. Il devrait rester jusqu'à mardi prochain sur l'exposition statique du salon Ebace, le rendez-vous européen de l'aviation d'affaires.

A l'origine, il n'était pas prévu que cet avion soit présent sur le salon genevois. Le G650 n'est en effet pas encore certifié, et Gulfstream voulait mettre la priorité sur les derniers essais en vol de son avion. Mais finalement, un petit créneau a pu être trouvé dans l'agenda de l'un des 20 exemplaires déjà construits.

Le G650 devrait recevoir sa certification FAA au troisième trimestre 2012, puis sa certification européenne (AESA) en fin de l'année. A ce moment là, Gulfstream estime que 17 exemplaires de son avion seront déjà en service.

GULFSTREAM G650 RECEIVES TYPE CERTIFICATE

SAVANNAH, Ga., September 7, 2012 — Gulfstream Aerospace Corp.’s ultra-large-cabin, ultra-long-range Gulfstream [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] business-jet aircraft received a type certificate today from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

The certification verifies the airworthiness of the aircraft’s design. Gulfstream expects to deliver the first fully outfitted G650 business jets to customers before year-end. The company has received more than 200 orders for the aircraft.

“The G650 is a superlative aircraft with the most technologically advanced flight deck in business aviation and the largest, most comfortable cabin in its class. In short, the G650 speaks to all that is good about business aviation: safety, security, flexibility, comfort, and capability,” said Larry Flynn, president, Gulfstream. “We designed the G650 with significant input from our Advanced Technology Customer Advisory Team, and we’re extremely proud of what our entire organization has accomplished with this aircraft.”

“The G650 sets the new world standard for business-jet performance, range, speed and comfort,” said Jay L. Johnson, chairman and chief executive officer of Gulfstream’s parent corporation, General Dynamics. “The Gulfstream team has done an outstanding job in designing and manufacturing what is already the envy of the global market and is sure to become a milestone aircraft in aviation history.”

Exceptional Systems
The G650 offers a full three-axis, fly-by-wire system that delivers a number of benefits, including flight-envelope protection, passenger comfort, increased redundancy and reduced maintenance. The system is the result of extensive testing, leading to a redundant fly-by-wire system that exceeds certification requirements. It has a separate and dedicated backup flight-control computer that provides an additional level of safety.

To ensure optimum system performance, the G650 uses PlaneConnect HTM™. This Aircraft Health and Trend Monitoring System provides near-real-time aircraft condition monitoring by recording up to 10,000 predefined parameters, including high priority Crew Advisory System (CAS) events and engine health data. The system transmits that information to the operator’s maintenance department with an optional copy to Gulfstream Technical Operations. Gulfstream can, if necessary, request additional data from the plane without any crew interaction. All of the data can be analyzed to identify systems’ condition status, which allows for exceptionally fast maintenance turnaround times and the ability to predict fleet maintenance trends.

The PlaneView™ Cockpit
The G650 is equipped with the most advanced flight deck in general aviation, PlaneView II. The cockpit includes four 14-inch, adaptive, liquid crystal displays; three PlaneBook® subscriptions; a standby multi-function controller that combines current display controller functionality with standby flight instruments; automatic descent mode; wide area augmentation system/localizer performance with vertical guidance (WAAS-LPV), future air navigation system (FANS) 1/A; controller-pilot datalink communications (CPDLC); automatic dependent surveillance-contract (ADS-C); and a fully automatic, three-dimensional scanning weather radar with an integral terrain database for efficient ground-clutter elimination.

In addition, the G650 uses state-of-the-art vision systems to improve pilot situational awareness and flight safety. These standard systems include the Gulfstream Enhanced Vision System (EVS II), the Synthetic Vision-Primary Flight Display (SV-PFD) and the Head-Up Display (HUD II).

“Working together with our supplier partners, we’ve been able to provide a level of safety and situational awareness heretofore unseen in business aviation,” said Pres Henne, senior vice president, Programs, Engineering and Test, Gulfstream.

Cabin Environment
Comfort figures prominently into the G650. The unfinished aircraft cabin measures 102 inches wide and 77 inches high, providing for a longer living area, more seat recline, expanded leg room and increased stateroom capabilities.

The G650’s comfortable and productive cabin environment is the result of a cabin altitude of 4,850 feet at FL510 and 3,300 feet at FL410, which reduces fatigue, increases mental alertness and enhances productivity. The G650’s new 16 cabin windows are the largest in the industry, providing for even more natural light and visually expanding the aircraft’s already spacious interior.

The Gulfstream Cabin Management System serves as the hub of the cabin network. This Gulfstream-designed and -controlled system allows for digital control of the cabin systems, including high-definition audio and video components. The passenger control units are loaded onto an iPod Touch® and provide the floor plan of the aircraft. Intuitive controls are provided for lighting, temperature, entertainment equipment, attendant call and other cabin functions, including the Gulfstream CabinView Passenger Flight Information System.

The cabin adheres to Gulfstream’s Cabin Essential design philosophy. This means the cabin systems (lighting, power, cabin control, cabin entertainment, and the water and waste systems) are designed with redundancy that minimizes the risk of losing cabin functionality.

Program Milestones
Gulfstream announced the G650 on March 13, 2008, five years after it began designing the business jet. The announcement, witnessed by more than 7,000 employees, customers and suppliers, took place in the new G650 manufacturing building at Gulfstream’s headquarters in Savannah, Ga.

The G650 rolled out under its own power on Sept. 30, 2009, and flew for the first time nearly two months later, on Nov. 25, 2009.

Over the next 35 months, seven flight-test aircraft were involved in the flight-test program, accumulating more than 3,889 hours over 1,181 flights.

The G650 demonstrated its exceptional high-speed, fuel-efficient cruising capabilities on May 2, 2010, when it flew at its maximum operating Mach number of 0.925 for the first time. It achieved high-speed cruise in October 2010, when a test aircraft flew a 5,000-nautical-mile (9,260 km) closed circuit at Mach 0.90 over the Atlantic Ocean in 9 hours and 45 minutes.

In February 2011, the G650 flew from Burbank to Savannah, a distance of more than 1,900 miles (3,545 km), in just 3 hours and 26 minutes. The aircraft accomplished the mission at speeds between Mach 0.91 and 0.92 with a brief segment at the aircraft’s maximum operating Mach number of 0.925. The trip set a city-pair speed record and was named a most memorable flight for speed over a recognized course by the National Aeronautic Association.

The aircraft received a provisional type certificate from the FAA on Nov. 18, 2011.

The aircraft made its first trans-Atlantic crossing on May 12 en route to the European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition in Geneva. The G650 flew 3,780 nautical miles (7,000 km) squawk-free in just 6 hours and 55 minutes, setting a city-pair speed record.

“Receiving this type certificate is a testament to the hard work, dedication and ingenuity of the Gulfstream team and our many supplier partners,” Henne said. “We knew the G650 was going to be an incredible aircraft, and it is.”



NOTE TO EDITORS

Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics, designs, develops, manufactures, markets, services and supports the world’s most technologically advanced business-jet aircraft. Gulfstream has produced more than 2,000 aircraft for customers around the world since 1958. To meet the diverse transportation needs of the future, Gulfstream offers a comprehensive fleet of aircraft, comprising the wide-cabin, high-speed Gulfstream G150®; the new large-cabin, mid-range Gulfstream G280®; the large-cabin, long-range Gulfstream G450®; the large-cabin, ultra-long-range Gulfstream G550® and the ultra-large-cabin, ultra-long-range G650®. Gulfstream also offers aircraft ownership services via Gulfstream Pre-Owned Aircraft Sales®. The company employs more than 12,500 people at 12 major locations. We invite you to visit our website for more information and photos of Gulfstream aircraft at [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien].

General Dynamics, headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia, employs approximately 93,500 people worldwide. The company is a market leader in business aviation; land and expeditionary combat systems, armaments and munitions; shipbuilding and marine systems; and information systems and technologies. More information about the company is available on the Internet at [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien].

The Federal Aviation Administration, on 7 September, granted Gulfstream's G650 business-jet a type certificate, clearing the way for the company to deliver the first aircraft before year-end.

"The G650 is a superlative aircraft with the most technologically advanced flight deck in business aviation and the largest, most comfortable cabin in its class," Gulfstream president Larry Flynn claims.

The new aircraft is fitted with a full three-axis, fly-by-wire system and an advanced flight deck with four 14-inch displays and a head-up display. It has both enhanced and synthetic vision as standard features.

The G650 has a cabin measuring 102 inches wide and 77 inches high with a cabin altitude of 4,850 feet at 51,000ft and 3,300 feet at 41,000ft.

The company has accumulated a back-log of 200 orders for the new machine.

Le G650 est le plus gros et le cher avion d'affaires du monde.

Il aura fallu à Gulfstream neuf mois de plus que prévu sur le calendrier initial. Mais le constructeur américain y est arrivé. Il a annoncé hier avoir obtenu le certificat de type (TC) du biréacteur d'affaires G650, des mains de la FAA. Une belle victoire qui va permettre à Gulfstream de revenir en force sur le marché des avions d'affaires haut de gamme, face à Dassault Aviation et Bombardier.

D'autant que le G650 n'est pas un avion comme les autres. Sous ses airs de GV agrandi se cache une véritable machine de course. Cet ultra-bizjet cumule les records. Déjà, parce que c'est le plus gros et le plus cher jet d'affaires du monde. Avec une vitesse de pointe de Mach 0,925, il est également l'avion civil en service le plus rapide du monde, battant d'une courte tête le Citation X de Cessna, et en prenant évidemment en compte le fait que Concorde n'est plus en activité.

Le G650 est aussi un avion capable de parcourir 12964 km sans escale, ce qui le place au niveau d'un Boeing 777 en terme d'autonomie. Ses dimensions n'ont d'ailleurs rien à envier à celles d'un avion de ligne, puisqu'il affiche sans complexe une envergure de 28,5 mètres, pour une longueur de 30 mètres et une masse maximale au décollage de 45 tonnes.

Enfin, l'avion de Gulfstream se paie également le luxe d'être un bijou de technologie. Il est ainsi le deuxième avion d'affaires au monde à être doté de commandes de vol électriques, après le Falcon 7X de Dassault Aviation. Il est également doté d'une avionique dernier-cri et d'une cabine intégrant ce qui se fait de mieux en matière de raffinement et de luxe (sellerie en cuir blanc, écran haute définition, connectivité tous azimuts).

Pour autant, son programme de certification n'a pas été un long fleuve tranquille.

L'avion a fait son premier vol le 25 novembre 2009 et aurait du être certifié en fin d'année dernière. Mais le 2 avril 2011, le deuxième prototype s'écrase sur l'aérodrome de Roswell, tuant son équipage lors d'un essai de performance au décollage particulièrement contraignant, consistant à décoller à pleine charge, avec le minimum de volets et un moteur tournant au ralenti. Au moment de la rotation, l'une des ailes heurte le sol, faisant brutalement s'écraser l'avion qui finira sa course plusieurs centaines de mètres plus loin avant de brûler. A ce jour, le NTSB américain n'a toujours pas publié son rapport définitif sur l'accident.

Cet accident n’empêchera pas l'avion de conclure son programme de certification avec succès, après la réalisation de 3889 heures d'essais au cours de 1181 vols. De même, sa carrière commerciale n'a pas été impactée puisque le G650 affiche un confortable carnet de 200 commandes fermes, sachant que son prix catalogue est de 65 millions de dollars. La première livraison devrait intervenir d'ici la fin de l'année.

Le G650 entre en concurrence avec le Falcon 7X de Dassault et le Global 6000 de Bombardier. Le constructeur canadien prévoit de mettre en service, dans les prochaines années, le Global 8000 : un avion d'affaires encore plus gros et capable de franchir des distances encore plus importantes.