The Gulfstream G280 super-midsize business jet has received full FAA type certification, the manufacturer announced on Tuesday, nearly four years after Gulfstream first announced the follow-on to the G200.
The G280 has since flown more than 2,000 hours over the course of nearly 800 test flights, during which the airplane stretched its legs from its initial projected range of 3,400 nm to 3,600 nm at Mach 0.80, and in the process set four city-pair speed records.
The secret to the G280’s better performance specs lies in its combination of a new aerodynamically improved wing – one that borrows key design features from the Gulfstream GV and G550 – and new Honeywell engines that provide 7,445 pounds of thrust apiece.
With full certification now in hand, the G280 brings a wealth of advancements, in addition to range and speed, to the super-midsize bizjet category. The model is the first in its class to feature auto braking as well as automatic descent as a standard feature. Additionally, its nearly 26-foot-long cabin and its quieter engines bring further improvements over its predecessor.
Last week Flying became the first outside of Gulfstream and the FAA to fly the G280. Look for a full review of the new super-midsize marvel in our November issue.
