Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. recently announced details on the progress of the test program for its G500 and G600 family of business jets, which are expected to hit the market in 2018 and 2019 respectively. The G500 took to the skies for the first time on May 18. Since then, company test pilots have completed five test flights totaling 15 hours of flight time. The longest flight was four hours, and the G500 has reached a maximum altitude of 38,500 feet and shown a top speed of Mach 0.80. The targeted max operating speed for both the G500 and its sibling, the G600, is Mach 0.95.
Gulfstream G500, G600 Programs Make Progress
Key Takeaways:
- Gulfstream's G500 business jet has successfully completed its initial test flights, totaling 15 hours over five flights, demonstrating promising performance and exceeding expectations.
- The G500 and G600 development programs are progressing concurrently, with the G600's first test bed now in production and over 36,000 hours of combined lab testing completed.
- A significant positive for both new jets is that their respective Pratt & Whitney engines (PW814GA for G500, PW815GA for G600) have already been certified, which is expected to prevent common program delays.
- Both the G500 and G600 remain on track for their anticipated market entries in 2018 and 2019, respectively.
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