Gulfstream G650

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Gulfstream G650

Conception of the new G650
Type Business jet
National origin United States
Manufacturer Gulfstream Aerospace
Maiden flight to be made in 2009
Status Under development, to enter market in 2012
Unit cost US$58.5 million
Developed from G550

The Gulfstream G650 is a twin-engine business jet aircraft under development by Gulfstream Aerospace.[1] It was formally launched as an internal company project in May 2005, and publicly unveiled on March 13, 2008. At the public announcement occasion, company executives stated the new airplane would become Gulfstream's largest, fastest and most expensive business jet when it enters the market.[2]

Contents

[edit] Design and development

The G650 will fly at cruise speeds of Mach 0.85 to 0.90, with maximum speed of Mach 0.925 and will have a range of up to 7,000 nmi (13,000 km). It will be equipped with a full kitchen and bar and may be equipped with a variety of entertainment features including satellite phones and wireless Internet. The new jet will use the new Rolls-Royce BR725 engine producing a maximum thrust of 17,000 pounds-force (75.6 kN).[3] Gulfstream states that with a weight of less than 100,000 pounds (45,360 kg), it will be able to land at small airports avoiding the busy airports around the world.

To provide better usage of the internal volume, Gulfstream designers rejected the usual circular fuselage cross-section in favor of a complex oval which uses four distinct radii. The cabin is to be 8.5 feet wide and 6 feet 5 inches high and of metal construction (composite construction will be used in empennage, winglets, rear pressure bulkhead, engine cowlings, cabin floor structure and many fairings). The sixteen oval cabin windows are 28 inches (71 cm) wide.

The wing uses greater sweep (33 degrees) than previous Gulfstream products (for example, the G550 wing has 27 degrees of sweep). It does not use leading-edge high-lift devices, and tracks for rear-mounted flaps are completely enclosed within the airfoil contour. The wing's leading edge is a continuously-changing curve, and the airfoil varies continuously from root to tip (the tip incorporates winglets).

The aircraft controls will be completely fly-by-wire, with no mechanical control between pilot and flight surfaces. The surfaces will be moved by a dual hydraulic system. Most airliners today use fly-by-wire, but only one current business jet (the Falcon 7X) is so equipped.

[edit] Proposed development schedule

First flight of the prototype is planned for the second half of 2009. Joint certification from the US Federal Aviation Administration and the European JAA will be pursued and is expected to be completed during 2011. Customer deliveries are expected to commence in 2012. The wing design was completed in 2006. Models have been wind-tunnel tested, with a total of 1,400 hrs of testing planned before the end of 2008. A pressure-test fuselage has been built and tested, including an ultimate-pressure test of 18.37 lb/in2.[4]

[edit] Specifications (G650)

Data from Gulfstream release[1] G650 Specifications[5] Flightglobal cabin details[6]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 2 pilots
  • Capacity: 11 - 18 passengers
  • Payload: 6,500 lb (2950 kg)
  • Length: 99 ft 9 in (30.41 m)
  • Wingspan: 99 ft 7 in (30.36 m)
  • Height: 25 ft 4 in (7.72 m)
  • Wing area: 1,283 ft2 (119.2 m2)
  • Max takeoff weight: 99,600 lb (45,200 kg)
  • Powerplant: 2× Rolls-Royce Deutschland BR725 turbofan, 16,100 lbf (71.6 kN) each

Performance

All data are estimated based on company design review and analysis.

[edit] See also

Related development

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b "Gulfstream Introduces the All-New Gulfstream G650", Gulfstream, March 13, 2008.
  2. ^ New Gulfstream, Flying Magazine, Vol. 135., No. 5, May 2008, p. 52
  3. ^ "Rolls-Royce presents BR725 engine to power new Gulfstream G650", Rolls-Royce, 13 March 2008.
  4. ^ Flying May 2008, p. 56
  5. ^ Gulfstream G650 page, Technical Specifications tab, Gulfstream
  6. ^ Warwick, Graham. "Gulfstream G650 - in the cabin", Flightglobal.com, 13 March 2008.

[edit] External links

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