Business Aviation

The Gulfstream G650 is a twin-engine business jet aircraft under development by Gulfstream Aerospace. It 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 airplane would become Gulfstream's largest, fastest and most expensive business jet when it enters the market.

The G650 will fly at cruise speeds 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). 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. The cabin is to be 8 feet 6 inches wide and 6 feet 5 inches high. 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 (Falcon 7X) is so equipped. The G650 will share yoke and column and with the G550 in an effort to receive a common type rating.

First flight of the prototype was planned for the second half of 2009. 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.

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. The G650 taxied under its own power for the first time on September 26, 2009. A public rollout ceremony was later held on September 29, 2009. First flight for the G650 occurred on November 25, 2009.

Flight testing for the maximum operating speed of Mach 0.925 was announced as completed on May 4, 2010.