Gulfstream G650
Role	Business jet
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	Gulfstream Aerospace
First flight	November 25, 2009
Status	In testing
Number built	5[1]
Unit cost	US$65 million (2011)[2]

The Gulfstream G650 is a twin-engine business jet aircraft under development by Gulfstream Aerospace.^[3] Gulfstream began the G650 program in 2005 and revealed it to the public in 2008. The G650 is the company's largest and fastest business jet with a top speed of Mach 0.925.

Design and development[link]

The Gulfstream G650 was formally launched as an internal company project in May 2005, and publicly unveiled on March 13, 2008. At the public announcement occasion, company executives stated the new model will become Gulfstream's largest, fastest and most expensive business jet when it enters the market.^[4]

The G650 has a cruise speed of Mach 0.85 to 0.90, with maximum speed of Mach 0.925 and will have a range of up to 7,000 nmi (13,000 km). It will be equipped with a full kitchen and bar and may be equipped with a variety of entertainment features including satellite phones and wireless Internet. The new jet will use the new Rolls-Royce BR725 engine producing a maximum thrust of 17,000 pounds-force (75.6 kN).^[5] Gulfstream states that with a weight of less than 100,000 pounds (45,360 kg), it will be able to land at small airports avoiding the busy airports around the world.

To provide better usage of the internal volume, Gulfstream designers rejected the usual circular fuselage cross-section in favor of an oval which uses a flatter lower portion.^[6] The cabin is to be 8 feet 6 inches (2.59 m) wide and 6 feet 5 inches (1.96 m) high.^[7] The fuselage is of metal construction and composite construction is used for empennage, winglets, rear pressure bulkhead, engine cowlings, cabin floor structure and many fairings. The sixteen oval cabin windows are 28 inches (71 cm) wide.

The wing uses greater sweep (36 degrees) than previous Gulfstream aircraft (for example, the G550 wing has 27 degrees of sweep). It does not use leading-edge high-lift devices, and tracks for rear-mounted flaps are completely enclosed within the airfoil contour. The wing's leading edge is a continuously-changing curve, and the airfoil varies continuously from root to tip (the tip incorporates winglets).

The aircraft controls will be completely fly-by-wire, with no mechanical control between pilot and flight surfaces. The surfaces will be moved by a dual hydraulic system. More airliners today are using fly-by-wire, but only one current business jet (the Falcon 7X) is so equipped. The G650 will share yoke and column with the G550 in an effort to receive a common type rating.^[8]

The wing design was completed in 2006. Models have been wind-tunnel tested, with a total of 1,400 hours of testing planned before the end of 2008. A pressure-test fuselage has been built and tested, including an ultimate-pressure test of 18.37 psi.^[9]

First flight of the prototype was planned for the second half of 2009. The G650 taxied under its own power for the first time on September 26, 2009.^[10] A public rollout ceremony was later held on September 29, 2009.^[11] The G650 took its maiden flight on November 25, 2009.^[12] Joint certification from the US Federal Aviation Administration and the European Aviation Safety Agency is being pursued and expected to be completed during 2011. Customer deliveries are expected to begin in 2012.

Flight testing for the maximum operating speed of Mach 0.925 was announced as completed on May 4, 2010.^[13] Gulfstream reported on August 26, 2010 that the G650 hit a maximum speed of Mach 0.995 during a dive as part of its 1,800-hour flight test program.^[14] In April 2011, a G650 crashed during flight testing. The G650 test aircraft were grounded and returned until May 28, 2011, when the remaining test aircraft were allowed to return to flight testing. The NTSB and Gulfstream will continue the investigation into the crash.^[15]

Incidents and accidents[link]

On April 2, 2011, the second G650 test aircraft crashed after takeoff, from the Roswell International Air Center, New Mexico, killing the four people on board (two pilots and two test engineers, all from Gulfstream). The aircraft was conducting a takeoff-performance test with one of the two engines turned off, simulating an engine failure. It became airborne briefly at a high angle of attack before its right wingtip hit the runway, then slid on the ground and caught fire. The accident remains under investigation; its cause has not been determined.^{[1][16][17][18]}

Specifications (G650)[link]

All data are estimated based on company design review and analysis.

Data from Gulfstream data,^[3][7][19] Flightglobal cabin details^[6]

General characteristics

• Crew: 2 pilots
• Capacity: 11–18 passengers
• Payload: 6,500 lb (2,950 kg)
• Length: 99 ft 9 in (30.41 m)
• Wingspan: 99 ft 7 in (30.36 m)
• Height: 25 ft 4 in (7.72 m)
• Wing area: 1,283 ft² (119.2 m²)
• Aspect ratio: 7.7
• Max. takeoff weight: 99,600 lb (45,200 kg)
• Powerplant: 2 × Rolls-Royce Deutschland BR725 turbofan, 16,100 lbf (71.6 kN) each
• Maximum landing weight: 83,500 lb (37,876 kg)
• Wing sweep: 36 degrees

Performance

• Maximum speed: Mach 0.925 (530 kn, 610 mph, 982 km/h)
• Cruise speed: Long range cruise: Mach 0.85 (488 kn, 562 mph, 904 km/h) Fast cruise: Mach 0.90 (516 kn, 595 mph, 956 km/h)
• Range: Long range cruise: 7,000 nautical miles (8,050 mi, 12,960 km) Fast cruise: 5,000 nmi (5,750 mi, 9,260 km)
• Service ceiling: 51,000 ft (15,500 m)
• Wing loading: 77.7 lb/ft² (3.72 kPa)
  
• Cabin pressurization: 10.7 psi (73.8 kPa)

Notable appearances in media[link]

Many have speculated the "G6" in the Far East Movement song "Like a G6", refers to the G650.^{[20][21][22][23]} However, the songwriter, Niles Hollowell-Dhar, has said "G6" was made up for hyperbolic and rhythmical reasons, and is not a G650 reference. ^[24] The aircraft appearing in the music video was actually a G-IV.

See also[link]

Related development

• Gulfstream G550
  

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

• Bombardier Global Express
• Dassault Falcon 7X
• Embraer Lineage 1000
  

References[link]

External links[link]

• G650 page on Gulfstream.com
• "Gulfstream Introduces the All-New Gulfstream G650", Gulfstream
• "Gulfstream launches 'biggest, furthest, fastest' G650 business jet", Flightglobal.com
• "Honeywell International gets $3 billion pact for Gulfstream G650 aircraft", CNN
• "Goodrich to Provide Key Systems for New Gulfstream G650 Large Business Jet", Goodrich
• "G650: As good as it gets?", Flight International