Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. announced the first flight of its second Gulfstream G800 flight test aircraft. During the flight, which began at the company’s Savannah, Georgia, headquarters, the airplane flew for 3 hours and 26 minutes and reached a top speed of Mach 0.935 while running on a 30/70 blend of sustainable aviation fuel.
Gulfstream said the flight marked a new phase of testing aimed at certifying the G800 and beginning deliveries to customers.
“Gulfstream’s flight test team continues to make advanced strides forward for our company,” said Mark Burns, president of Gulfstream. “The G800 will bring the industry’s longest range to customers around the world, and we are seeing strong demand for this capability alongside the cabin comfort and quality Gulfstream is known for.”
The evaluation program for the second G800 flight test aircraft focuses on environmental control systems, avionics and flight controls, expanding on the areas covered by the first test aircraft, the company said.
“Thanks to the design philosophy behind our next-generation fleet, the G800 is also benefiting from the excellent progress we continue to make in the Gulfstream G700 flight test program,” Burns said. “This commonality helps us enhance efficiency and reliability for our customers, who are already seeing firsthand how well these aircraft perform.”
The G800 can fly 8,000 nm at Mach 0.85 and 7,000 nm at Mach 0.90. The company attributed the aircraft’s performance to its high-speed wing and winglet design and new Rolls-Royce Pearl 700 engines. The G800 is designed to seat up to 19 passengers and can be configured with as many as four living areas.
