Another milestone has been reached in the Gulfstream G600 program with the maiden flight of the fourth test aircraft.
Meanwhile, the fifth test G600 has arrived at Gulfstream’s Savannah Completions center in Georgia, USA. Upon its transformation into a fully outfitted production aircraft, this jet will be used to validate interior elements and “ensure the successful integration of aircraft systems with the passenger experience”.
“To have four first flights and fly more than 570 hours in less than six months is a remarkable achievement,” said Dan Nale, senior vice president, programs, engineering and test, Gulfstream.
“The rapid maturity of this program is due to the work we did before the flying even started – the strategic planning, the research, the lab development – combined with the success we’ve had in the similar G500 program. Thanks to our concurrent flight-test programs, we can apply lessons learned from the more mature G500 program to the G600, resulting in a more streamlined certification effort.”
Gulfstream expects to gain FAA type certification for the G500 in the fourth quarter of 2017, and in 2018 for the G600.
June 28, 2017
