Gulfstream: March 2008 Archives

UPDATE 10:01 AM: Say hello to the all new Gulfstream G650.

Image Credit to Gulfstream
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12:49 AM: Cat's out of the bag - playing with Google this evening I found this:

http://gulfstreamg650.com

The website gives you a coy message asking, "What's Going On at Gulfstream?"

G650 it is. More in the morning.

UPDATE 8:15 AM:

G650 Confirmed! UBS Investment Research has penned an investment note shedding more light on the subject:

G-Wiz – Introducing the G650

• First flight 2H 2009; EIS 2012

  Tomorrow morning [General Dynamics] will introduce its new G650, the longest range and fastest bizjet. The G650 has been in development since early 2005 with first flight targeted for 2H 2009 and entry into service in 2012 (all new certification). Despite the G650 investment, GD has been able to increase Gulfstream margins by 300+ bps since 2005.

• 7,000 nm range; Mach 0.925 top speed

  Significant specs include 7,000 nm range at Mach 0.85 cruise and Mach 0.925 top speed making it the longest range and fastest bizjet. This compares to the G550 at 6,750 nm range at Mach 0.80 cruise and Mach 0.885 top speed. The G650 will have a 14 inch wider cabin along with bigger windows and will have 50% fewer parts than the G550.

• [Spirit Aerosystems] gets wing and nacelle

  Significant G650 suppliers include [Honeywell] for avionics and auxiliary power unit, [Spirit Aerosystems] for wing and nacelles and [Goodrich] for landing gear. Rolls Royce will supply new 16,000 lbs thrust engines.
  

With anticipation growing, Gulfstream is set to make, “a major announcement which will have far-reaching effects on both the future of Gulfstream and the future of the business-aviation industry.”

Sounds pretty exciting, eh?

The March 13 announcement is an unveiling of a new aircraft. I’ve spoken with several sources, including one analyst who has tried out the seats destined for the new aircraft at a supplier. General Dynamics CEO Nicholas Chabraja was asked in November of last year at the Credit Suisse Aviation Week Aerospace Conference, “I think, people are interested in is your product development plans. Any further update there?”

Chabraja responded, “No, but you're going to hear from us in 2008. We'll have some announcements for you. We've kind of kept the veil on this long enough. I think, certainly, in the first half of 2008. We'll have to say something. Unlike some competitors, we don't talk about an airplane and then announce that we're going to go ahead with it. When we announce it, it's in the works, we've started to build it.”

What do we know?

Gulfstream is working on a larger-cabin, longer-range business jet powered by a derivative of the Rolls-Royce BR710 engine.

What must it do?

Get in and out of tough airports.

• Teterboro Airport just outside of New York City has a max takeoff weight cap of 100,000 lbs.
  
• Aspen-Pitkin County Airport in Colorado has a wingspan cap of 95 feet.

• Range: 6,150 nm
  
• Mach .85
  
• 8’ 2” cabin width, 6’ 3” cabin height
  
• Max seating: 3 crew + 19 passengers

• Range: 5,950 nm
  
• Mach .85
  
• 7’ 8” cabin width, 6’ 2” cabin height
  
• Max seating: 3 crew + 19 passengers

Gulfstream, what do you call your new jet?

Well, let’s work backward. What isn’t it going to be called?

Gulfstream has repeatedly denied any knowledge of a G600 or a G6000 and the company holds trademarks for the G625 and G675. The company's current range goes from the G150 to the G550 in steps of 50 with a few gaps. If Gulfstream's keeps up with this sequence then we'd see a designation above G600.

If the G600 is out, what's next?

More Thursday morning.