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Aviation History
2004
2004-09 - 2030.PDF
Corporate strategy weight than the G550, which results in less range, but also a. shorter take-off distance and higher initial cruise altitude. The PlaneView cockpit is standard in both air craft, but HUD/EVS is an option on the G500. And whereas the G550 interior is customisable, the 'G500 is offered with a choice of optional floor plans. The G450 began life in 2001 as the GIV- X, an upgrade of the GIV-SP/G400. Changes include the PlaBeView cockpit, with HUD/EVS as standard; a 305mm longer fuselage with repositioned main entry door for a longer cabin and larger cockpit; and uprated Rolls-Royce Tay 611-8C engines. The G450 has 460km more range than the G400 and better hot-and-high performance. Flight testing began in secret in April 2003 and the G450 was unveiled at NBAA in October last year. Certification was received in August this year, with deliveries to begin in the second quarter of next year. Large cabin line-up Completing Gulfstream's large-cabin line up, the G350 was introduced in February as the replacement for the G300, with certifi cation set for the fourth quarter of this year and first deliveries for the third quarter of 2005. The G350 has the same size cabin as the G450, and the uprated Tay engines, but has a lower take-off weight and less range. The PlaneView cockpit is standard, but HUD/EVS is an option. As with the G500, optional floor plans are offered rather than customisable interior of the G450. Installation of the PlaneView cockpit across its large-cabin range will allow Gulfstream to offer a common pilot type rating from the G350 to the G550, with minimal differences to training. Gulfstream's penetration of its expanded market space has been as projected, Moss says, although the GlOO and G200 remain relatively slow sellers. The company now has several customers that operate fleets of mixed Gulfstream and Galaxy heritage, Netjets among them. "When we made the decision to acquire Galaxy, we knew we had to do the same with those products as with our own. We have stepped up and done what we should," says Moss. Steps were taken to integrate the GlOO and G200 into the Gulfstream product line. One move was to bring operators of the IAI-built aircraft into the customer advisory group. "We had three distinct committees for flight operations, mainte nance, and product and reliability enhancements," says Moss. "We created a fourth for the G100/200 family, including the Astra and Galaxy." This gives operators "instantaneous input", he says, on issues such as manuals, spares, training and ser vice bulletins. The biggest benefit for Astra and Galaxy owners has been in product support, where IAI did not enjoy a strong reputa tion. "There was a question whether Gulfstream would step up support for those aircraft, and we did," says Moss. "There is no difference in how any cus tomer is handled from our view." Gulfstream has been able to improve the performance and reliability of the IAI-built aircraft, particularly the super mid-size G200. "We have added leverage with vendors and suppliers, and on train ing and service," says Moss. "We are light years ahead of where we were when we started the process." Gulfstream has intro duced a new interior and reduced weight by more than 200kg to improve perfor mance. Dispatch reliability now exceeds 99%, the company says. "The G200 is a legitimate member of the Gulfstream fam ily," adds Moss. Announced in 2002, and scheduled for delivery in 2006, the G150 is the first IAI- built aircraft over which Gulfstream has had a dominant influence, says Moss. "The GlOO has good range, good performance and low operating cost. The one area need ing change is the cabin." The G150 has the same wing and engines, but a wider cabin and new nose. "The GlOO would win no beauty contest, so we have improved the aerodynamics and aesthetics at the front of the aircraft while preserving the good speed and range performance," he says. G200 next? With updating of its large-cabin range complete, and the G150 set to replace the GlOO as Gulfstream's mid-size offering, the company is known to be looking at a derivative of the super mid-size G200 with larger wing and bigger engines. "There is speculation the G200 is the next candidate, and with 100 aircraft out there we are getting a lot of input from cus tomers," says Moss. "The cabin is the main selling point. If there is any shortfall it is in range and performance." Two years on, Moss is comfortable with the logic - and nomenclature - of the rebranding. "Yes, there was some risk, but I am delighted we took the decisions we did," he says. "We are a little bit ahead of where we guessed we would be in recogni tion and respect from the industry. Long time 'roman numeral' Gulfstream cus tomers now know what we are talking about when we talk GlOO and G200." • G550 CUTAWAY P64 Top: The G300 has been replaced in the line-up bytheG350. Above: The G550 now sits at the top of a seven-model range www.flightinternational.com FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 12-18 OCTOBER 2004 63
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