Led by Gulfstream Aerospace, US business aircraft manufacturers have announced record orders for 2000. Gulfstream booked orders for 82 aircraft - 42 in the fourth quarter alone - including 27 of its new top-of-the-line GV-SPs, launched three months ago.
Gulfstream's year 2000 orderbook also included 35 GIV-SPs and 20 GVs. The Savannah, Georgia- based manufacturer delivered 70 completed aircraft last year and ended 2000 with a $3.5 billion order backlog.
Cessna Aircraft booked orders for 415 Citation business jets last year, an increase of 14% over 1999. The Wichita, Kansas-based company's year 2000 orderbook also included 116 Caravan single-turboprop utility aircraft and 1,010 piston singles. Cessna ended the year with a $6.6 billion backlog, delivering a total of 1,258 aircraft.
Raytheon Aircraft does not report orders, but saw deliveries jump 31% last year to 525 aircraft while its year-end backlog climbed to $4.4 billion. The biggest increases in orders were for the mid-size Hawker 800XP and the Premier I light business jet.
Source: Flight International
