Briefing: December 2014

In October, Gulfstream announced it will add two new wide-cabin business jets to its line: the Gulfstream G500 and G600. The first G500 is already built, and taxied to the unveiling event in Savannah, Georgia. The company also revealed a 70-foot-long mockup of the G600, which it displayed a week later at the NBAA convention. Both jets carry up to 19 passengers in extra-wide cabins, and both can fly up to Mach 0.925, the same top speed as Gulfstreams G650 and G650ER. The cockpits feature active control sidesticks and touchscreen avionics. The G500 will start deliveries in 2018, with the G600 to follow a year later, the company said.

Editorial Staff

Friday, November 14, 2014 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

Gulfstream unveiled two new wide-cabin business jets, the G500 and G600, with deliveries starting in 2018 and 2019, alongside other manufacturers debuting new aircraft and upgrades at the NBAA expo.
Lockheed Martin announced the development of a compact fusion reactor that could power aircraft with virtually "unlimited range" as early as 2024.
DHL launched the first commercial drone deliveries in Europe, transporting pharmaceuticals, while the FAA revised rules to allow a second qualified pilot during initial test flights of home-built aircraft to enhance safety.

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In October, Gulfstream announced it will add two new wide-cabin business jets to its line: the Gulfstream G500 and G600. The first G500 is already built, and taxied to the unveiling event in Savannah, Georgia. The company also revealed a 70-foot-long mockup of the G600, which it displayed a week later at the NBAA convention. Both jets carry up to 19 passengers in extra-wide cabins, and both can fly up to Mach 0.925, the same top speed as Gulfstream’s G650 and G650ER. The cockpits feature active control sidesticks and touchscreen avionics. The G500 will start deliveries in 2018, with the G600 to follow a year later, the company said.

The annual NBAA Business Aviation Expo, held in Orlando, Florida, in October, had plenty of news besides Gulfstream’s surprise announcement. The Citation Latitude, Cessna’s newest midsize business jet, made its public debut, with one of the flight-test fleet on display. Beechcraft announced upgrades to the latest King Air model.Embraer debuted its mid-sized Legacy 450, and Piaggio Aero, builder of the Avanti P180 twin turboprop, announced a name change to Piaggio Aerospace. The company said it will fly a prototype of its Hammerhead unmanned aerial system by the end of the year.