Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation has announced the second and third G700 test aircraft have taken flight.
The Georgia (US)-based company celebrates the milestone as competition intensifies with Canada’s Bombardier, which produces the Global Express 7500, the G700’s main rival in the long-distance business jet space.
Both flagships are among the largest and most sought-after wide-cabin private jets on the market, and have been downselected by charter giants like FlexJet and VistaJet.
First unveiled in October last year, Gulfstream Aerospace president Mark Burns said that the flagship G700, priced at US$75 million, would be the “tallest, widest cabin in our industry”.
At 17.35 metres, its cabin measures slightly longer than the Global 7500. According to Gulfstream. The model is also capable of flying at Mach 0.90 for 11,853 kilometres or at its long-range cruise of Mach 0.85 for 13,890 kilometres.
“The G700 flight-test program is running very well, a reflection of the extensive testing we conducted in our ground labs,” said Gulfstream president Mark Burns.
“All three flight-test aircraft are performing exactly as we expected them to, and that helps us ensure a safe and thorough certification of the highest performing, most spacious and technologically advanced aircraft in business aviation.”
The model was lauded by FlexJet CEO in a recent interview with Business Insider.
“The G700 is an incredible aircraft,” said Michael Silvestro. “The ability to circumvent the globe in one stop in that kind of efficiency and luxury is really exactly who we are and where we’re taking our program.”
Silvestro’s company has placed an order for an unspecified number of G700s with Gulfstream, slated for delivery in 2022.
