New Gulfstream G700 Beats Projections During Testing

The company’s flagship jet flies farther with lower cabin altitude than expected.

Gulfstream’s G700 surpassed certain company performance projections. [Courtesy: Gulfstream Aerospace]

Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. said its new G700 jet will perform better while providing more cabin comfort than previously expected. During certification flight testing the airplane achieved increased range and speed while improving cabin altitude compared with figures announced earlier.

The company said its G700’s range has increased to 7,750 nm or 14,353 kilometers at Mach 0.85 or 6,650 nm or 12,316 km at Mach 0.90. This marks a gain of 250 nm or 463 km at both speeds compared with original projections. The G700’s maximum operating speed also increased to Mach 0.935 from Mach 0.925, giving the G700 the highest speed in the Gulfstream fleet.

The aircraft’s cabin altitude, which Gulfstream calls the lowest in business aviation, was further reduced to 2,840 feet while flying at 41,000 feet.

“We are undertaking one of the most extensive flight test programs as the G700 is the first business aircraft to undergo Federal Aviation Administration certification following the passage of the 2020 Aircraft Certification, Safety, and Accountability Act,” said Mark Burns, president of Gulfstream. “As a result, we will be delivering an extremely mature, rigorously tested aircraft that will outperform expectations in speed, range and cabin comfort. Our certification efforts continue to advance, and we look forward to delivering the G700 to customers around the world.”

During the G700’s flight test program, two fully outfitted aircraft have traveled the world testing the interior and letting customers experience the spacious, low-noise cabin, which features 20 Gulfstream Panoramic Oval Windows and 100 percent fresh air. These two aircraft have flown about 246,000 nm while setting more than 45 city-pair speed records.

The G700’s flight test program is almost complete, with five flight-test aircraft logging more than 4,100 test hours, in addition to the two outfitted production-test models.

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 delivered directly to your inbox

Subscribe to our newsletter