Gulfstream G650: A Ramp King

During its first decade in service, Gulfstream Aerospace’s G650 and even longer-range G650ER set more than 120 speed records and logged more than 500 deliveries worth an estimated $32 billion. The Rolls-Royce BR725-powered jet, which first flew in 2009, received FAA certification in September 2012 and EASA validation three months later. It won the National Aeronautic Association’s 2014 Robert J. Collier Trophy for "significant technological advancements in aircraft performance, cabin comfort, and safety." 

The G650, which has a top cruising speed of Mach 0.925, has a range of 7,000 nautical miles while the G650ER, introduced in 2014, can fly nonstop 7,500 nautical miles (both at Mach 0.85 with eight passengers and NBAA reserves). Most users fly faster—generally Mach 0.90, which drops the range of the G650 to 6,400 nautical miles.

That model can be upgraded via a service bulletin to the G650ER, which is heavier and therefore needs a little more runway and climbs a bit slower than the G650. The Rolls engines, 16,900 pounds of thrust each, have a combined average fuel burn of 480 gallons per hour at cruise altitude and can get you to that elevation in as little as 22 minutes after takeoff. Maximum altitude is 51,000 feet and—thanks to the use of metal bonding on the fuselage skins and thermoplastics—weight is reduced and cabin pressure is comfortably low: 4,100 feet at 51,000 feet, just 3,290 feet at 41,000 feet, and sea level at up to 31,900 feet. Gulfstream’s 100 percent fresh-air system replaces all the cabin air every two minutes, further reducing passenger fatigue on long flights.  

Cabin Comforts

Both aircraft feature a cabin that is more than eight feet wide, just over six feet tall, and nearly 47 feet long, yielding more than 2,100 cubic feet of space. It can be configured for up to 19 passengers in any of 12 floorplans with up to four zones, with either ample forward or aft galleys and with or without a dedicated crew rest area. The spacious high-tech galley features appliances housed in an attractive aluminum stack as opposed to being hidden behind cabinet doors, saving space. It is large enough to accommodate a full-size refrigerator/freezer.

The entire cabin can be managed via a touchscreen controller in the galley. A forward lav is proximate to the crew rest area. The cabin conference area is expandable from four seats to six by replacing the center cabin credenza with two single executive seats, and an optional private stateroom can be installed just forward of the aft lav to create an en suite area that can be equipped with optional supplemental wardrobes and a shower. Passengers can access the 195-cubic-foot baggage hold in flight through the aft lavatory.

Everything about the cabin is solid and stately—from the electrically deployed sidewall tables to the extra-wide single executive seats with amply wide arms trimmed in veneer. At cruise power, cabin noise is less than 40 decibels—far quieter than a luxury sedan at highway speeds. Ample natural light filters through eight large signature oval windows per side that measure 28 by 20.5 inches, and it is supplemented by adjustable LED lights throughout the cabin.

The cabin features art deco curved cabinets and is an understated oasis of calm with clean lines, soothing neutral colors, and a notable absence of visible switchology and techno-clutter. Passengers can adjust their environment via individual control units at each seating position as well as with an app on their mobile devices. They also can use the aircraft’s CabinView system to receive briefings, view flight progress, and see the external environment through optional high-definition cameras. Connectivity options include high-speed, Ka-band satcom.   

A Smooth Ride

On the flight deck, the aircraft features digital controls, including fly-by-wire (FBW) technology, and enhanced- and synthetic-vision systems viewable through a head-up display (HUD). The avionics are built around Honeywell’s Primus Epic system with 14-inch displays. The FBW system is decidedly first-generation, and the cockpit features traditional control yokes as opposed to the more modern sidesticks; however, it still delivers the main benefits of the technology: a smoother ride for passengers and enhanced safety by defaulting to keep the aircraft within its approved flight envelope. It uses electric hydraulic backup actuators to provide redundancy in case of hydraulic failure. Indeed, the entire system features a variety of backups. The G650 is a very safe airplane.

It also is a large one, with a length and wingspan both just under 100 feet and a height of nearly 26 feet. Fully laden with 48,200 pounds of fuel, the G650ER has a hefty maximum takeoff weight of 103,600 pounds and requires 6,299 feet of runway to take off (sea level, standard temperature). Maximum payload with full fuel is 1,800 pounds, which means you won’t come close to filling those 19 passenger seats.

While the G650 and G650ER currently hold 80 percent of the large-cabin, long-range business jet market among aircraft with a range of 7,000 nautical miles or more, a new crop of larger and slightly faster long-haul bizjets is coming online with prices approaching $80 million—including the Falcon 10X, Gulfstream’s own G700 (featuring a cabin that is 10 feet longer), and the in-service Bombardier Global 7500. Consequently, the number of used G650s on the market is finally starting to grow and prices are beginning to come down.

In 2012, a new G650 was listed for $64.5 million, and by this year that number had inflated to $69 million for a new G650ER. But there are used bargains out there in listings on the AircraftExchange (available via our sister publication, AIN). Recent listings have included a 2017 G650 with only 3,179 hours total time for $48 million and a 2019 G650ER with just 649 hours total time for $53.9 million. You can have a 10-year-old model for as little as $33 million for a G650 and $36 million for a G650ER.

Now into its second decade of service, the G650 still smacks of A-list imprimatur and remains a ramp king wherever it goes. And now you can have one—for less.

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Mark Huber has reviewed aircraft for BJT since 2005.

2017 Gulfstream G650ER at a Glance

Price (typical): $42.4 million

Engines: 2 Rolls-Royce BR725 A1-12 (16,900 lb of thrust each)

Avionics: Honeywell Primus Epic in Gulfstream PlaneView II

Crew: 3

Passengers: Up to 19

Range: 7,500 nm at Mach 0.85 (488 kt)

High-speed cruise: Mach 0.90 (516 kt)

Cabin (finished): 8 ft 2 in (W), 6 ft 3 in (H), 46 ft 10 in (L)

Baggage: 195 cu ft