The aircraft that billed itself as having the world’s longest range can fly even farther. The Gulfstream G800, which made its first transatlantic flight in June 2022, has underwent a testing program with three test aircraft for the last three years. It received type certification yesterday from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and EASA, the European Union counterpart.
Originally, Gulfstream said the G800 would have a range of 8,000 nautical miles, but the company has upped that to 8,200. That extra mileage matters to aircraft owners willing to pay between $70 million and $100 million (or much more with options) for the new breed of ultra-long-range aircraft, including Gulfstream’s G700, Bombardier’s Global 7500 and new Global 8000, and Dassault Falcon’s 6X and upcoming 10X, expected to be certified in 2027.
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The new G800, scheduled to be delivered to its first launch customer soon, is smaller than its G700 sibling by about 10 feet; it’s for owners who may not need the extra space, but want the added range.
The first G800 test flight happened in June 2022. Three test aircraft and many international flights later, it has been FAA certified.
The 8,200-nautical-mile range happens at a long-range cruise speed of Mach 0.85. It can travel 7,000 nautical miles at Mach 0.90. At Mach 0.87, its range is 8,000 nautical miles. Beyond the extra range, the G800’s maximum speed was also upped to Mach 0.935 from Mach 0.925. Its takeoff and landing distances—critical for aircraft that want to land on short-field airports—also improved to 5,812 feet and 3,105 feet, respectively.
“With the certification of the G800, Gulfstream has again exceeded expectations thanks to the expertise and rigor of our flight test, certification, and manufacturing teams,” said Mark Burns, Gulfstream’s president, in a statement.
The media area and lounge zone.
The G800’s numbers include the industry’s lowest cabin altitude of 2,840 feet when flying at 41,000 feet and 100 percent fresh air, thanks to a plasma ionization air-purification. The interior can be configured with four living areas or three living areas and a dedicated crew compartment.
Gulfstream is halting production of the G650 in June when deliveries of the G800 begin. In January the company said it expects to deliver about 150 aircraft this year.
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