Gulfstream has received FAA provisional type certification for its G650 ultra long range business jet, the company announced.
The approval puts Gulfstream on target to begin deliveries what it claims is the world’s fastest non-military aircraft during the second quarter of 2012 as originally planned, Gulfstream said.
A quartet of G650 test aircraft, including one with a fully outfitted interior, have flown more than 2225 hours on 675 flight. The aircraft has topped 14 hours of continual flight with test data confirming a range of 7000 nm (12,964 km) at Mach 0.85. With a top speed of Mach 0.925, the G650 is the world’s fastest civilian jet, Gulfstream says.
All four members of a Gulfstream flightcrew were killed in April when G650 test aircraft N652GD crashed after its right wingtip hit the runway during takeoff. Gulfstream resumed test flying the following month.
