Geneva, Switzerland – Reported by Elite Traveler, the private jet lifestyle magazine
Gulfstream Aerospace Corp.’s super mid-sized Gulfstream G280 arrived in Geneva today to participate in the European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (EBACE 2012). The aircraft will be part of Gulfstream’s static display.
The G280, which is undergoing flight test and certification in preparation for entry-into-service later this year, set two unconfirmed city-pair records en route to Switzerland: one from Dallas to Washington, D.C., and another from Washington, D.C., to Geneva.
The super midsized aircraft left Dallas Love Field at 7:44 p.m. local time March 10, weighing 35,500 pounds, 4,600 pounds below its maximum takeoff weight of 39,600 pounds. It climbed directly to 43,000 feet (13,106 m) and cruised at a speed of Mach 0.75, then Mach 0.80 to accomplish acoustic tests, meeting sound-level objectives. It then accelerated to a cruise speed of Mach 0.84 for the remainder of the flight, landing with NBAA IFR reserves at Dulles International Airport in Washington, D.C., 2 hours and 20 minutes after takeoff.
The aircraft departed Dulles at 8:12 p.m. local time March 11 with full fuel, immediately climbing to 43,000 feet (13,106 m). The aircraft covered 3,682 nm ground distance, arriving in Geneva at 9:58 a.m. local time March 12 for a total flight time of 7 hours and 47 minutes. The aircraft cruised at its long-range speed of Mach 0.80.
The aircraft accomplished both flights squawk-free.
The aircraft was piloted from Dallas to D.C. by Chip Leonard, senior international captain, Gulfstream, and from Dulles to Geneva by Brett Rundle, chief demonstration pilot, Mid-Cabin Aircraft, Gulfstream. Butch Allen, senior production test pilot, Mid-Cabin Aircraft, Gulfstream, was also on board along with Jeanette Brewer, manager, Flight Crew Cabin Operations, Gulfstream. There were five passengers on board the Dallas to D.C. flight and three from D.C. to Geneva.
This is the third air show for the aircraft (Serial Number 2004), which also made an appearance at the National Business Aviation Association Convention & Exhibition (NBAA) in 2010 and 2011. The aircraft will be in Geneva until May 16, when it returns to the Gulfstream mid-cabin completions center in Dallas. Once certified, S/N 2004 will be used to support marketing and demonstration flights.
Gulfstream confirmed in October 2011 that the G280 exceeded the major performance capabilities announced at the program’s public launch in 2008. Following extensive flight testing, Gulfstream demonstrated that the G280 flies 3,600 nm (6,667 km) with four passengers at Mach 0.80 with NBAA IFR reserves.
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In addition to more range, the aircraft offers a shorter balanced field length. Its balanced field length has been reduced from 4,960 feet (1,512 m) to 4,750 feet (1,448 m). This field length is an improvement of more than 1,300 feet compared to the G200 it replaces.
The two city-pair speed records are pending approval by the National Aeronautics Association.
