THE FIRST GULFSTREAM V fuselage was joined in late-May, marking the start of final assembly of the firm's next-generation long-range business aircraft.
Fred Breidenbach, Gulfstream Aerospace president and chief operating officer says: "We are on track toward first flight in November." Certification and the beginning of production deliveries by Gulfstream are still scheduled for late 1996.
With the fuselage basic structure complete, Gulfstream is beginning to install the flight controls, hydraulic lines and other systems to support the first flight. The fuselage will be joined to the wing in July.
The GV wing is produced by risk sharing partner Northrop Grumman's Vought Center, Dallas, Texas. Fokker Aircraft, Gulfstream's other partner, is providing the empennage, the first of which will arrive in Savannah later this month.
Meanwhile, BMW Rolls-Royce BR710-48 engine development continues, with five engines now being run on company testbeds. Two additional power plants will be added to the development programme within a month.
More than 900h of testing has been achieved to date, including several critical engine tests. The first AlliedSignal RE220 auxiliary power unit was delivered to Gulfstream at the end of May.
Gulfstream has delivered the first of seven GIV-SPs ordered by Executive Jet International late last year.
Source: Flight International
