Page 58 - Aviation News - September 2017

GULFSTREAM

EVOLUTION

Rod Simpson examines the different variants of Gulfstream
business jets, some of which are used for special missions roles.

he name Gulfstream is synonymous Above: The G650 is the agship model in GULFSTREAM II AND III
with business aviation. More than Gulfstream’s range. Prototype, N650GA (c/n The emergence of a new breed of jet
2,360 Gulfstream business jets have 6001) rst ew in November 2009. Gulfstream aircraft such as the Hawker Siddeley
Tbeen built since 1958 and large HS125, Lockheed JetStar, North American
numbers are in service around the world with Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation is Sabreliner and Dassault Falcon 20 overtook
major corporations, wealthy individuals and part of the General Dynamics group, but the the turboprop Gulfstream and prompted
governments. They have also found a key role origins of its business jets lie with Grumman Grumman into designing a new and
for special missions with military operators. Aerospace, which moved into civil aviation advanced business jet. It would be larger
In 2016, Gulfstream, based in Savannah, in the post-war era with the glamorous and have longer range than some of the new
Georgia, celebrated the 50th anniversary Mallard amphibian, designed as an air competitors.
of the rst ight of the original Gulfstream yacht for wealthy private owners. This led The Gulfstream II was an elegant aircraft
GII. The model line has gone through many on to the turboprop Gulfstream I, which was with considerable ramp presence. The
upgrades and improvements over the years. a modern executive aircraft, powered by a fuselage dimensions were similar to those
Today’s G650, with its glass cockpit and pair of Rolls-Royce Dart turboprops, 200 of the Gulfstream I, but the cabin was longer
state-of-the-art avionics, is a very different of which were built for America’s leading and Grumman retained the large oval cabin
machine from the GII. corporations. windows that had been such a popular

Libya’s government took delivery of this Gulfstream II, then registered 5A-DDR, in December 1979 and it originally ew in the colours of Libyan
Arab Airlines. Later sold to the Republic of Chad, it was re-registered TT-AAI and tted with an engine hush kit. Key Collection

58 Aviation News incorporating Jets September 2017

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