Gulfstream on track with G650 program

Gulfstream Aerospace has completed several flight-testing milestones in its G650 business jet program.

En route to the G650’s anticipated type certification later this year by both the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), Gulfstream’s four aircraft in the flight-test program have accumulated more than 1760 flying hours over more than 535 flights to July 16.

Aircraft Number 6004, the first Gulfstream test aircraft to have a fully outfitted interior, finished certification testing of the aircraft’s water and waste systems, its traffic collision avoidance system (TCAS) and its enhanced ground proximity warning system (EGPWS). Aircraft Number 6003 has completed certification dry-air testing for the wing and cowl ice protection systems.

Additionally, the four flight-test aircraft have accomplished several rounds of company testing in preparation for the FAA evaluations that are part of the certification process. Aircraft 6004 performed hydraulics overpressure testing and satellite communications testing, and it has also handled testing of the Gulfstream’s aircraft health and trend monitoring system.

The company tested the aircraft’s hydraulics and brakes using Aircraft 6001, the first aircraft to join the flight-test program in 2009. Aircraft 6003 performed company tests of the environmental control system, cabin pressure control system and oxygen system.

“We’re on track and moving steadily toward certification later this year,” said Pres Henne, senior vice president, Programs, Engineering and Test, Gulfstream. “We’ve accomplished a great deal in the past two months. The aircraft continue to perform extremely well.”

The largest and fastest biz jet in the Gulfstream fleet, the G650 is capable of travelling 7000 nautical miles (12,964km) at Mach 0.85 and has a maximum operating speed of Mach 0.925, which will see it challenge the Cessna Citation X, which has long held the title of fastest civilian aircraft in the world, in the speed department.

Since announcing the program in March 2008, Gulfstream had enjoyed a faultless testing program for the aircraft, including setting an unofficial speed record by reaching Mach 0.995 in August 2010.

However, the program suffered a major setback on April 2 when an incident during testing resulted in four Gulstream employees (two pilots and two test engineers) losing their lives in the resulting fire. Gulfstream resumed its flight-testing program two months later, and says the G650 remains on schedule to enter service in 2012.