Gulfstream G700s Smash 25 Speed Records

Two production G700s amassed 25 speed records during a world tour to showcase the ultra-long-range jet, Gulfstream Aerospace recently announced. The twinjets logged a combined 180 hours of flight time on the tour, covering 53,882 nautical miles and more than 20 countries across six continents.

“The G700 world tour was a success,” said Gulfstream president Mark Burns. “We knew the aircraft would perform well, and they exceeded even our own high expectations for both reliability and performance across a variety of routes. Showcasing the outfitted aircraft to our customers and prospects around the world bolstered the [aircraft’s] already strong demand.”

Notable record runs include Savannah, Georgia, to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in 12 hours 36 minutes; Istanbul, Turkey, to Vietnam’s Van Don International Airport in 9 hours 2 minutes; Riyadh to Melbourne, Australia, in 13 hours 39 minutes; and Christchurch, New Zealand, to Los Angeles in 12 hours 13 minutes. The former two were flown at Mach 0.90, while the latter two were at Mach 0.87. The 25 speed records are pending approval by the National Aeronautic Association and Fédération Aéronautique Internationale.

Meanwhile, the G700 is on track to receive Federal Aviation Administration certification “this summer,” said Phebe Novakovic, chairman and CEO of Gulfstream parent company General Dynamics, during a recent quarterly investor call. Its G800 sibling will follow with FAA approval about six months later, she added.