Gulfstream Aerospace says its flagship new business jet, the G700, has made significant progress in its flight-test programme, completing 1,100 hours of flying and tests within the first year.
After its maiden voyage on 14 February 2020, the G700 successfully completed several critical phases-of-flight tests, including:
- Envelope expansion
- Flutter
- Aerodynamic stalls
- Flying qualities
- Flight control systems
- Air-data testing.
The test fleet then went on to conduct winglet and wing-ice shape stall testing, loads testing and initial cold-weather testing at the McKinley Climatic Laboratory at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. The test aircraft have performed avionics testing in Chicago, as well as Van Nuys, San Jose and Oakland, California.
More recently, the G700 began flight-into-known-icing (FIKI) testing and successfully completed high-altitude engine-performance testing at Telluride Regional Airport in Colorado, at an altitude of 9,078 feet/2,767 metres. The aircraft is also undergoing high-intensity radiated fields/indirect effects of lightning (HIRF/IEL) testing.
“Thanks to the outstanding Gulfstream team, the G700 flight-test programme is going remarkably well,” said Mark Burns, president, Gulfstream.
“The aircraft itself has been performing flawlessly, whether going to extreme speeds and heights or running through its paces in the high-altitude environment at Telluride.
“We have spent the past year rigorously testing this mature, high-performing aircraft for our customers, and I look forward to continuing to do that and more in the coming months as we steadily move toward certification and customer deliveries.”
Since the flight-test programme launched in February 2020, four additional test aircraft have joined. During envelope expansion testing, the aircraft safely performed well beyond its maximum operations speed and cruise altitude, flying perfectly at Mach 0.99 and at 54,000 ft/16,459 m.
[envira-gallery id=”86398″]Gulfstream is also testing the G700’s enhanced Symmetry Flight Deck, including the Predictive Landing Performance System. The system gives pilots advanced warning of potential runway excursions to allow them to adjust approaches or go around.
The G700 Symmetry Flight Deck also includes Gulfstream’s Enhanced Flight Vision System and Synthetic Vision on dual head-up displays.
In addition to the five test aircraft flying, the G700 flight-test programme will include a fully completed production test aircraft to evaluate the interior elements throughout the aircraft’s up to five living areas, including all-new seating and Gulfstream’s new ultra high-definition circadian lighting system.
The G700 interior also features an ultra-galley, the industry’s largest; a grand suite with optional shower; a six-place conference and dining table; 20 panoramic windows; and the Gulfstream Cabin Experience with 100% fresh, never recirculated air, low cabin altitude and whisper-quiet noise levels.
