Gulfstream delivered its first all-new ultra-long-range G650ER business jet to a private owner on 19 December.
Up to this point, Gulfstream had only completed a $2 million ER retrofit of a baseline G650.
The G650ER was launched in May 2014, securing US approval five months later. The $66.5 million aircraft is the longest-legged in production business jets, boasting a range of 7,500nm (13,900km) at Mach 0.85 – 500nm more than the standard G650, which entered service two years ago. This extra mileage allows the G650ER to connect to more city pairs than its stablemate, such as Hong Kong to New York and Los Angeles to Melbourne nonstop.
These long distances are made possible by an extra 1,810kg (4,000lb) of fuel carried in the G650ER's wings. Gulfstream has updated the type’s software for fuel-quantity measuring and flight management systems to account for the added fuel and performance gains.
The G650ER's closest rivals are Bombardier’s in-development Global 7000 and 8000, which are projected to have a range of 7,300nm and 7,900nm when they enter service in 2016 and 2017, respectively.
Source: Flight International
