Gulfstream G600: Airborne luxury without compromises
Today, we will have a closer look at the Gulfstream G600 aeroplane unveiled a few days ago in Paris.
It’s been a long time since I last wrote a post about aircraft so taking the opportunity of the recent Paris Air Show 2019 I decided to do a post about the Gulfstream G600 aircraft. This jet that the market had been waiting for was premiered in Paris and in all likelihood, it will soon get certified and will be available for sale.
The first ever G600 was flown in December 2016, Gulfstream manufactured 5 such machines which operated around 850 flights over the past 2.5 years. For example, last month, a G600 flew to Geneva using alternative aviation fuel.
Today, the G600 is undergoing the final tests aimed to demonstrate that all the assemblies are working properly and the aircraft is safe and reliable. The aeroplane my be used both in low and high temperatures, in high and low humidity, it operates daytime and night-time flights at different altitudes.
Performance
The G600 has a lot to boast in terms of performance. The relatively small jet can fly 5,500 sea miles (over 10,000 km) at the maximum cruising speed of 0.90 Mach (approx. 1,100 km/h). With the standard speed of 0.85 Mach (almost 1,050 km/h) the reach increases by 1,000 sea miles (approx. 1,700 km), which means that the G600 can fly from Vienna to Hong Kong or from Los Angeles to Paris without refuelling with 8 passengers onboard.
The aircraft is powered by 2 Pratt & Whitney Canada engines capable of generating take-off thrust of 15,680 pounds. Maximum cruising altitude is 15.5 km!
The cabin
The spacious cabin can be arranged into up to three separate zones and additional space for the crew. This is possible to its relatively wide fuselage for such a small jet – it is over 2 m wide. It is also quite long (approx. 14 m) this is why the aircraft can seat up to 19 passengers and if they are lying down – 9 people. A shower can be installed in the bathroom.
As regards the finishing, in fact the sky, or the content of your waller is the limit. Bamboo floor? No problem. Hand weaved carpeting. It’s yours. Upholstery in the most fancy colour. Absolutely.
Advanced technologies
The comfort of the passengers and the crew is secured by a Cabin Management System controlling light, shutters in the windows, temperature and in-flight entertainment. All this can be easily set via touch screens. Replacement of air for clean air is done every 2 minutes 14 seconds and large windows, which help prevent jetlag.
The G600 was equipped with advanced avionics technology, owing to which the pilot has even better control over the aircraft.
The price tag for the flying gem? Roughly USD 58 million.
