Gulfstream Aerospace performed the first flight of the new Gulfstream G700, demonstrating the maturity of the program and officially launching the rigorous flight test program of the industry's most spacious jet, with the longest range at the fastest speeds.
The G700 departed Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport at 13:19 pm and landed 2 hours and 32 minutes later. The aircraft flew on a 30/70 blend of biofuel.
The G700 seats 19 and uses Rolls-Royce Pearl 700 engines, and with specifications that align with the Bombardier Global 7500.
The first aircraft should be delivered in 2022, and promises to have excellent performance, with a cruising speed of Mach 0.9 and a range of 13900 km.
Gulfstream also points out that it is investing in an even larger cabin compared to the competitor's jet, the Global 7500. The aircraft, however, will be compatible with the type classification and technologies of the G500 and G600, planes recently launched by Gulfstream.
The range of the G700 will match that of the G650ER. But the G700 will be bigger, at nearly 33,5 m long, about 3 meters longer than the G650ER and about 0,3 meters shorter than the Global 7500, in line with Gulfstream and Bombardier specifications.
The G700 cabin, excluding the baggage compartment, will be 17,4m long and 2,5m wide, while the Global 7500 cabin is 16,6m long and 2,4m wide. The cabin of the G700 will be 1,9 m high – a fraction more than the cabin of the 7500, according to the manufacturers' specifications.
The G700 will have five cabin areas, or four plus a crew rest area.
The cabin altitude will be 4850 feet at the maximum cruising altitude of 51000 feet, which is almost equivalent to the altitude of some cities, such as Brasilia, and the G700 will have a maximum takeoff weight of 48800 kg.
The G700's Pearl 700 turbofans are designed specifically for the aircraft and share the common core of the Pearl engine family, Gulfstream said. Up to 3% lower fuel consumption is expected compared to the same engine in the G650ER.
It will be able to take off from a runway of 1905 meters at maximum takeoff weight, and land at 762 meters at typical landing weight.
Highlights in avionics for Honeywell's Primus Epic system, integrated with touch screens, a Full-Fly-By-Wire system and sidesticks with command . Automation allows the plane to be ready to start flying, and with engines running, in just 10 minutes of work by a pilot.
#NEWS: Love is in the air — the #G700 has completed its first flight, officially launching the flight-test program. Details on the historic maiden voyage here: https://t.co/GAybtS23sA pic.twitter.com/m2IS5dp3l3
ADVERTISING — Gulfstream Aerospace (@GulfstreamAero) February 14, 2020
