Gulfstream's G400 Begins Flight-test Program

Gulfstream has officially begun the flight test program for its G400, successfully completing its first flight on August 15. The large-cabin twinjet departed Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport (KSAV) at 9:04 a.m. and returned just under three hours later having reached a top speed of Mach 0.85 and an altitude of 41,000 feet. The flight was conducted using the manufacturer’s supply of blended sustainable aviation fuel.

The G400 was announced in 2021, along with the ultra-long-range G800, in a move that expanded the airframer’s product lineup to six models. Powered by a pair of Pratt & Whitney Canada PW812GA engines, the G400 will be able to fly 4,200 nm at Mach 0.85. It features the advanced high-speed wing and winglet design as used by its G500 and G600 siblings, along with the Symmetry flight deck and predictive landing performance system.

Prospective customers can view full-scale cabin mockups of the airplane—which can seat up to 12 passengers—by visiting the Gulfstream’s showroom at its Savannah headquarters or the company's sales and design center in Los Angeles.

“The completion of the first flight marks a significant milestone for the G400,” said Gulfstream Aerospace president Mark Burns. “It demonstrates, yet again, the maturity of Gulfstream’s new aircraft programs and the advantages created by the intentionally designed commonalities shared across our next-generation fleet."