Gulfstream G250 Takes to the Air

Only days after the Gulfstream G650 made its second flight, Gulfstream Aerospace and Israel Aerospace Industries have announced completion of an "extremely smooth" first test flight of the G250 super-midsize business jet. Performance objectives for the aircraft include maximum altitude of 45,000 feet and 3,400-nautical-mile NBAA IFR range at Mach 0.80. The jet's new transonic wing, T tail, Rockwell Collins PlaneView 250 cockpit and two additional cabin windows (19 total) are among the features that set it apart from its predecessor, the G200. Elimination of the G200's aft-fuselage fuel tank increases usable cabin volume and provides in-flight access to the baggage compartment. According to Gulfstream, the G250 will have a base price of $24 million (2008 dollars) and remains on schedule for FAA validation and entry-into-service in 2011.