We Fly: Gulfstream G650

Isabel Goyer

Tuesday, September 10, 2013 at 12:24 AM ET

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** Gulfstream G650**

Key Takeaways:

The Gulfstream G650 is touted as the most capable and advanced civil airplane, setting new industry standards as Gulfstream's fastest, longest-range (7,000 nm at Mach .87), and most technologically sophisticated business jet.
Developed with extensive customer input, it boasts superior passenger comfort due to innovative bonded-skin manufacturing resulting in an exceptionally quiet cabin and the lowest cabin altitude in its class (e.g., 4,100 ft at 45,000 ft).
It features a pioneering three-axis fly-by-wire flight control system for smooth handling and envelope protection, integrated with a state-of-the-art PlaneView cockpit, including head-up display with enhanced vision and synthetic vision, making it remarkably easy and safe to fly.

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In the driving rain, I taxied the big Gulfstream G650 across the ramp, being careful to keep it at a crawl on the slightly downhill grade. The line guy in optic-green rain gear directed me to nose up to the slab-sided metal hangar, its proud Gulfstream logo just visible through the fast-moving streaks of water on the big windscreen obscuring my view. After we ran the short post-flight list and shut down, I sat there in silence, taking in the most remarkable flight of my life in what just might be the most capable and advanced civil airplane ever produced.

Gulfstream G650 at a Glance

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It had been a good morning, something for which I was ready but which nothing could have sufficiently prepared me. It had all started with what sounded like a softball question.