Gulfstream resumes G650 flight testing

Gulfstream Aerospace has resumed its G650 flight test program following a temporary suspension after a major accident.

On April 2 Gulfstream suffered a major setback to its G650 testing when one of the five test jets crashed at Roswell International Air Center in New Mexico while conducting brake testing. The aircraft had just taken off when the right wing hit the ground, causing the aircraft to crash hard on the runway, which collapsed the landing gear. The aircraft was destroyed by fire and the two test pilots and two flight-test engineers on board suffered fatal injuries.

While Gulfstream continues to cooperate with the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in its investigation into the incident, the manufacturer resumed testing on May 28 with one of the test G650s flying for 99 minutes without incident.

Gulfstream senior vice president, programs, engineering and test, Pres Henne said the company conducted all the necessary reviews to ensure the G650 flight test program can be resumed safely.

“We have worked closely with the Federal Aviation Administration in this process and received the agency’s concurrence to resume flight testing,” Henne said. “It is our responsibility to move forward with the flight test program, and we will do so in a safe and prudent manner. The G650 will enter service as the flagship of our product line, where it will represent the very best in business aviation technology.”

To date, the G650 flight-test program has accomplished 470 flights, accumulating 1560 hours towards the estimated 2200 hours required for FAA certification. Gulfstream resumed flying with the four remaining flight test aircraft. The company says it’s still on track to achieve certification for the impressive business jet this year, with first customer deliveries to commence in 2012.

As we’ve previously reported here, Gulfstream is looking to push the Cessna Citation X for the title of fastest civilian aircraft in the world with the G650, which last year reached a speed of Mach 0.995 during testing. And as we reported here, the G650 flight test program was going full steam ahead until the April 2 incident.