The US-based business jet manufacturer Gulfstream Aerospace introduced two new aircraft. These will expand the existing manufacturer’s large-cabin aircraft portfolio currently consisting of four models, namely the G500, the G600, the G650ER, and G700 business jets.
The G800 is set to be the longest-range business jet Gulfstream has ever built, while the G400 will be the first newcomer to the company’s large-cabin class in more than a decade.
New G800 business jet – the longest-range aircraft in Gulfstream history
Powered by two Rolls-Royce Pearl 700 turbofan engines that provide 18,250 pounds of thrust (81.18 kN), the new ultralong-range business jet Gulfstream G800 will be capable of carrying 19 passengers onboard while flying as far as 8,000 nautical miles (14,816 kilometers) range at its cruise speed of Mach 0.85. Since the new aircraft will have a lower maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) capacity reaching around 105,600 pounds (47,899 kilograms) with a maximum payload of 6,200 pounds (2,812 kilograms), the business jet will be able to operate to and from weight-restricted airports.
Even though the G800 fuselage and the cabin will be identical to the G650ER in size, equaling to 2,138 cubic feet (60.5 cubic meters) of cabin volume, the manufacturer will apply some design details from the G700. For instance, the wings and winglets of the G800 will be the same as their predecessors. The new business jet will feature enhanced fuel efficiency and more city-pair capabilities and will come as an extension of the G650ER and G700, providing the longest range in the Gulfstream aircraft portfolio.
The G800 will be equipped with the Gulfstream Symmetry Flight Deck featuring electronically linked active control sidesticks, which are considered as the industry’s most extensive use of touch-screen technology with 10 touch-screen displays. The jet will also have an innovative Predictive Landing Performance System (PLPS) installed, which will provide the flight crew advanced warning of potential runway excursions so they can adjust approaches or go around. To increase pilot situational awareness, Gulfstream will set up its new Combined Vision System (CVS), which unites the Enhanced Flight Vision (EFVS) and Synthetic Vision (SVS) systems, providing the flight crew with an enhanced vision of the scene and object in it.
Gulfstream Aerospace
The ultralong-range jet will also stand out for its space in the cabin. It will feature 16 panoramic oval windows and will offer options of either four living areas or three living areas with a compartment for the crew. The new entrant will feature the company‘s signature Gulfstream Cabin, which comes as the lowest cabin altitude in its respective class. The health and safety enhancements of the G800 cabin will include a plasma-ionizing clean air system, which neutralizes almost 100% of airborne bacteria, spores, and odors and provides never-refiltered airflow into the cabin.
“The G800 redefines what it means to go farther faster in a Gulfstream and offers even more time savings with its impressive range at high speed,“ the president of Gulfstream Mark Burns was quoted saying in the company’s statement.
The G800 is scheduled to enter passenger service in 2023 at a list price of $71.5 million.
The G400 – a combination of long-range, high-speed, and largest cabin in its class
The other entrant among Gulfstream business jets, the G400, will give customers a combination of long-range and high-speed performance with the largest cabin in its class.
Even though the G400 will not operate such long journeys as the G800, the aircraft will offer a range falling between the capabilities of the G280 and the G500 jets. Powered by two Pratt & Whitney 800 engines, the G400 will have a range of 4,200 nautical miles (around 7,800 kilometers) at the cruise speed of Mach 0.85.
Customers of the G400 jet will have three seating options for up to 9, 11, or 12 passengers. In terms of its size, the new aircraft will be 5 feet (1.5 meter) shorter in length and 1 feet (30 centimeters) shorter in wingspan when compared to the G500. The cabin of the new business aviation aircraft will be as much as 42.5 feet (12.95 meters) long, 6.25 feet (1.9 meters) high, and 7.6 feet (2.3 meters) wide, bringing the total cabin space of the jet to 1,441 cubic feet (40.8 cubic meters).
Gulfstream Aerospace
Like the G800, the G400 jet will be equipped with the Gulfstream Symmetry Flight Deck and advanced PLPS and CVS systems. However, the G400 will distinguish itself from other jets of the class by its environmental performance. To reduce emissions, cut fuel consumption levels, and lower noise, Gulfstream Aerospace will make use of its aerodynamic clean-wing design. The G400 will be equipped with 10 panoramic oval windows.
“The G400 was conceived and designed with direct customer input. It features revolutionary reliability and safety features we pioneered with our award-winning Symmetry Flight Deck and the largest cabin in its class, making it an outstanding addition to our next-generation fleet. […] The aircraft re-envisions this market segment with its maximum operational flexibility and enhanced cabin comfort,” Burns said.
Gulfstream Aerospace
With a price tag of $34.5 million for the aircraft, Gulfstream estimates that deliveries of the G400 business jet will start in 2025.
The flight crew of both the G800 and the G400 business jets will be required to have a single type rating.