Private jet service provider Duncan Aviation has unveiled a Gulfstream V fully customized interior refurbishment with a nautical twist and design features inspired by a seaplane.
This newly refurbished Gulfstream V was completed at Duncan Aviation’s maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facility at Provo Airport (PVU) in Utah for an owner who “values creativity”.
“Some of the details include two-tone leather seats with a fabric insert, port hole window surrounds, vinyl-wrapped sidewalls, carbon fiber table boxes, and a stone look used throughout the aircraft that really makes it a one-of-a-kind masterpiece,” a spokesperson for Duncan Aviation said.
According to Duncan Aviation, the owner was “willing to take the plunge into a unique design” and at one stage was considering an “old-school ‘60s aviation theme with velvets, oranges, and purples, to trying to capture aspects of different decades of aviation in sections of the interior”.
One apparent source of inspiration was the interior installation on a Grumman G-111 Albatross that Duncan Aviation completed in 2015.
Gulfstream V Refurbishment | A Show Piece ✈️
— Duncan Aviation (@DuncanAviation) November 19, 2024
Featuring two-tone leather seats with fabric inserts, porthole-style window surrounds, vinyl-wrapped sidewalls, carbon fiber table boxes, and a sleek stone look, this aircraft is truly a one-of-a-kind masterpiece.#DuncanAviation pic.twitter.com/FdaLQLBew5
“He was searching the internet for inspiration and came across photos of the Albatross. He loved how the wood tone and green looked together,” said Senior Lead Designer Molly Pfeiffer.
Pfeiffer described the Gulfstream V’s seats as resembling a “custom-tailored men’s suit with clean lines, pull details, and hidden seams” and explained that the headrests are larger normal.
Duncan Aviation collaborated with designer Carlo Borromeo, owner of BorromeodeSilva, who had worked previously for the aircraft owner.
Borromeo had previously designed the owner’s yacht and wanted to incorporate some of the same design aspects into the aircraft.
To achieve this, Duncan Aviation modified the windows to resemble a porthole and installed Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT) flooring in the entryway and lav.
Duncan Aviation’s creative team used 2.5”-wide LVT planks that resemble the teak wood often used in yachts and strips of aluminum that were powder-coated black and placed between each row to achieve the nautical look.
“The final look was great. The smooth walls with the portal surrounds sitting proud on them, completed with the nickel trim and gold screws is very stunning. Once all the design elements came together on this project, it was just so unique. I have never seen another like it. We are all very proud of the results,” said Clay Witte, Duncan Aviation’s Interior Completions Team Leader.
Soundproofing blankets were added as well as thicker carpet pad to absorb extra sound for the owner who wanted a quiet cabin, and the conference table area was prioritized since he used that area the most to rest.
The Duncan Aviation team also refurbished the entire flight deck. The seats consisted of the same dark green leather that was used in the cabin, and they painted the frames to match the light green leather.
The carpet throughout the aircraft is handmade and 100% silk with yarns laid in different directions creating a marbling effect.
A Starlink high-speed, in-flight internet connectivity system was also installed after recently being certified for use on a Gulfstream V.
“At the end of the day, my design is nothing without the craftsmanship of our teams being able to bring it to life,” Pfeiffer said. “It’s not your standard aircraft; it has so many unique details woven throughout the interior and everyone here was so patient and really executed those details perfectly. I couldn’t have been happier with how the final product turned out. It was even better than I envisioned.”