Gulfstream G280 Sets Three City – Pair Speed Records
Gulfstream Aerospace Corp.’s new best-in-class G280 aircraft set three new city-pair speed records in June flying from Dallas to Teterboro, N.J., Teterboro to Jacksonville, Fla., and Jacksonville to Dallas. Gulfstream’s new super mid-sized aircraft has now established seven speed records since setting its first in May.“These new speed records demonstrate the G280’s exceptional range and performance for our customers,” said Larry Flynn, president, Gulfstream. “We anticipate that it will set many, many more in the months and years to come.”
The G280 flew from Love Field in Dallas to Teterboro Airport in 2 hours and 47 minutes. Its average speed was 493 miles per hour. On board were Chip Leonard and Brett Rundle, Gulfstream international demonstration captains; Rhonda Eschete, senior international flight attendant; and two passengers.
With the same crew and just one passenger, the aircraft flew from Teterboro to Jacksonville in 2 hours and 7 minutes at an average speed of 438 miles per hour. The group continued the flight from Jacksonville back to Dallas in 2 hours and 2 minutes, traveling at an average speed of 446 miles per hour. All three flights were at altitudes of 43,000 feet. The National Aeronautic Association has confirmed the records and forwarded them to the Federation Aeronautique Internationale in Switzerland for approval as world records.
The G280 set four city-pair speed records earlier this year: White Plains, N.Y., to Dallas in 2 hours and 51 minutes; Dallas to Washington, D.C., in 2 hours and 20 minutes; Washington, D.C., to Geneva in 7 hours and 47 minutes; and Paris to White Plains, N.Y., in 7 hours, 40 minutes.
The G280 is certified to fly 3,600 nm (6,667 km) with four passengers at Mach 0.80 with NBAA IFR reserves, some 200 nm farther than the company announced at the program’s launch in 2008. In addition to more range, the aircraft’s 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, the aircraft the G280 replaces.
Source and photo: Gulfstream
