Page 60 - Aviation News - September 2017

Gulfstream IV HB-ITX of the Geneva-based charter company,
PrivatAir. The type made its debut in 1985. Key-Alan Warnes

converted to this G-1159B Gulfstream GIIB new Honeywell SPZ 8000 system – later certification followed on April 22, 1987. The
configuration. upgraded to the SPZ 8400 package. At this GIV became the basis for a range of variants
The GIII also started to penetrate the point, the original Grumman type number that have remained in production since
US military market. The GII had already was abandoned and G-1159 was dropped in the mid-1980s. The first upgrade was the
seen service with the US Coast Guard as a favour of the designation GIV. GIV-SP, which was announced in 1993 with
Washington-based executive transport, but The prototype GIV (N404GA, c/n 1000) a redesigned main cabin, increased useful
the US Air Force started to adopt the GIII was flown on September 19, 1985 and FAA load and some performance improvements,
as the C-20A, C-20B and C-20C for a wide including a shorter landing distance.
range of missions with the C-20D and C-20E GULFSTREAM GUIDE This was followed in 2001 by the G450
serving with the US Navy and US Army. It is far from easy telling one Gulfstream model (introducing a new Gulfstream designation
The type was also acquired by many from another, but there are some features that system) which had 12in (0.3m) added to the
foreign governments including Italy, Ireland, help identification. All models, other than the GII fuselage and a repositioned main entry door
Oman and Saudi Arabia for general official have winglets – although some GIIs have been giving more space behind the cockpit.
transport. In 1983 Gulfstream sold three retrofitted with them. The GII is identified by the The G450’s performance was again
examples, designated SMA-3, to the Royal cockpit glazing, which has two side windows, improved by the use of Rolls-Royce Tay
Danish Air Force equipped with an APS-127 while later models from the GIII onwards have 611-8C engines in new nacelles and with
search radar for maritime patrol and fishery streamlined single-piece windshields and one redesigned thrust reversers. It had an
protection duties. The Indian Air Force window on each side and sleeker noses. increased 4,350nm (8,056m) range, but
also acquired two fitted with long-range The GII and GIII have five cabin windows on Gulfstream also offered the G350, which
surveillance camera installations. each side, the GIV and -450 have six, the GV was a shorter-range, economy model
(and G550) seven and the G650/G650ER eight. although very few of these were sold. One
MAJOR REDESIGN – The new G500 (starting with serial number of the most significant features of the G450
seven) has seven windows as does the G600.
THE GULFSTREAM IV Some individual Gulfstreams, particularly military was the Honeywell PlaneView advanced
In 1983, Gulfstream initiated a major versions, have fewer windows to fit in with the cockpit display, which set a new benchmark
redesign of the aircraft. The GIV had a internal cabin equipment. The GV and G550 for the business jet industry. The G450
further fuselage stretch (of 4ft 6in [1.37m]) have a noticeably longer fuselage than the GIV/ remains in production and will be replaced
but the principal change was a completely G450 and have a distinctive fairing on the tip of by the G500 when that model comes into
new wing with a much lighter structure. It the fin. However, to complicate matters further service later this year.
also had new 13,850lb/st Rolls-Royce some other Gulfstreams have been fitted with With customers continually demanding
RB.183 Tay Mk611-8 turbofans, which met avionics antennas on the fin tip. When it comes more range and more cabin comfort,
to engines, the nacelles on the GII and GIII are
the new noise rules, were significantly more noticeably slimmer than those of later models. Gulfstream initiated its GV programme in
fuel efficient – and were recognisably larger Finally, the shaping of the nose section of the 1982 using the basis of the GIV airframe
than the earlier Speys. G650, G500 and G600 is noticeably similar and married to a new, longer-span wing and a
The GIV was the first Gulfstream to distinctly different from earlier models. fuselage stretched by 8ft 1in (2.46m). It
have a glass cockpit and was fitted with the was also recognisable by the redesigned

A stretched fuselage, longer range and Rolls-Royce BR710
engines differentiated the GV over the GIV. Key Collection

60 Aviation News incorporating Jets September 2017

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