Gulfstream’s G800 Jet Makes First Flight
The Gulfstream G800 ultralong-range jet has taken its first flight at the Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport (KSAV) in Georgia, Tuesday morning.
The G800 debuted in October 2021 with an aggressive development schedule based on corollary testing completed on the G700. [Courtesy: Gulfstream]
Last September, FLYING took an invitation to preview the newest—and largest—member of Gulfstream’s lineup of modern business jets, the G800. Now the ultralong-range platform has taken flight from the company’s headquarters in Savannah, Georgia (KSAV).
The maiden test flight departed the airport at 9 a.m. local time.
The G800 logged a two-hour flight from Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport, flying on a blend of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and traditional jet-A. When it hits the market, Gulfstream projects that the G800 will have the longest range of any business jet in the class.
“When the first G800 test aircraft rolled out at our announcement last fall, we changed the game once again for our industry,” said Mark Burns, president of Gulfstream, in a statement. “At Gulfstream, working closely with our customers allows us to continuously build on our successes and develop aircraft that exceed their expectations.
“The G800 pushes the boundaries of performance even further with Gulfstream-designed aerodynamics and cabin technology, and we look forward to our customers benefiting from the longer range at higher speeds in our exceptional cabin environment.”
G800 By the Numbers
The G800 will likely stretch the boundaries of the current fleet, with the following specs released by the company:
- Extended Range: 8,000 nm at Mach 0.85
- Normal Range: 7,000 nm at Mach 0.90
- Powerplants: Rolls-Royce Pearl 700 engines (2)
- Power rating: 18,250 lbs. per side
- Takeoff distance: less than 6,000 feet at max takeoff weight
- Maximum cruise altitude: 51,000 feet
- Seats: Up to 19 passengers
- Windows: 16 of the “largest in the industry”
The passengers will benefit from 100 percent fresh, never-recirculated air, with what the company says will be the lowest cabin altitude in the class.
Up front, pilots will find the latest version of the Symmetry Flight Deck, featuring two heads-up displays (HUDs) and the proprietary Combined Vision System—a blend of enhanced vision system (EVS) and synthetic vision system (SYS) imagery.
On Track?
The aircraft officially debuted on October 5, 2021, and at that time, the company committed to an aggressive schedule, with two test aircraft already produced by the time of the announcement. Gulfstream had planned to leverage testing already performed on the G700 to accelerate the G800’s development—along with its smaller sister ship, the G400.
With a projected price starting at $71.5 million, the G800 should still be on track to enter into service in 2023, to meet the company’s stated targets.
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