Gulfstream Flies Second G700 Production-Test Aircraft

Company will use fully outfitted jet to test the lighting system and other cabin features.

Gulfstream has added a second G700 aircraft to its test program. [Courtesy: Gulfstream Aerospace Corp.]

Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. said it has flown a second G700 production-test aircraft that it will use to evaluate a number of cabin features introduced when the company launched the new ultralong-range jet in 2019.

The fully-outfitted airplane follows a similar test model that has set eight international city-pair speed records. The earlier test aircraft also received the 2022 International Yacht & Aviation Award in the category of private jet design.

Among the systems the latest G700 will test is a new ultrahigh-definition dynamic circadian lighting system, which is an optional feature capable of replicating sunlight, Gulfstream said. The system, which the company designed, uses a mix of warm white, cool white, and amber LED lights in a range of brightness to simulate lighting levels from sunrise to sunset. The lights can be adjusted individually to different zones in the cabin and to suit a variety of activities, including working and dining.

City-pair speed record from Savannah, Georgia, to Geneva lasted 7 hours, 37 minutes at an average of Mach 0.90. [Courtesy: Gulfstream]

The latest G700 test aircraft also includes a “grand suite” and a new lavatory design that includes natural light, a full vanity, and a shower. The cabin’s six-place dining area features an expandable, self-contained table. 

“With its combination of cabin size and technological enhancements, the G700 interior presents an abundance of opportunity for customization,” said Mark Burns, president of Gulfstream. “As part of our goal to exceed customer expectations, we are testing even more G700 cabin elements to ensure interior comfort and reliability,” he added.

The list of features available on the G700 includes configurations for up to five living areas. The company said the airplane also has the longest galley in the industry with 10 feet of counter space, and a pressurization system that gives it the lowest cabin altitude among its competitors.

“With two outfitted G700 test aircraft now flying, we can showcase even more of the interior flexibility of this aircraft and the passenger benefits gained from the award-winning comfort and signature cabin environment the G700 provides on globe-spanning flights,” Burns said.

Jonathan Welsh is a private pilot who worked as a reporter, editor and columnist with the Wall Street Journal for 21 years, mostly covering the auto industry. His passion for aviation began in childhood with balsa-wood gliders his aunt would buy for him at the corner store. Follow Jonathan on Twitter @JonathanWelsh4

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get the latest FLYING stories & special offers delivered directly to your inbox

Subscribe to our newsletter
By entering your email, you agree to receive communications from FlyingMag.