The Gulfstream G500 and G600 flying in tandem. Photo courtesy of Gulfstream
Gulfstream paired their upcoming G500 and G600 jets for a record-setting flight from Shanghai to Honolulu.
Flying together, the jets averaged Mach 0.90, according to Gulfstream, with the G500 taking 8 hours 34 minutes and the G600 clocking in one minute slower. The next day, the two aircraft linked Pacific and Atlantic, traveling from Honolulu to Savannah, again at Mach 0.90. The planes took 7 hours 44 minutes and 7 hours 49 minutes, respectively.
The city-pair records are pending confirmation with the National Aeronautic Association.
“Gulfstream customers are accustomed to flying practically anywhere in the world at record speeds, and the G500 and G600 have been doing just that as they near certification,” said Gulfstream President Mark Burns. “Our flagship G650ER has proven itself time and again as the highest-performing aircraft in the industry, and the G500 and G600 are performing equally well in their classes.”
In the fall of 2017, Gulfstream announced extended ranges for the G500 and G600 after both aircraft demonstrated better performance than originally promised. The G500 can fly 5,200 nm at its long-range cruise speed of Mach 0.85 and 4,400 nm at the high-speed cruise of Mach 0.90. The G600 can fly 6,500 nm at Mach 0.85 and 5,100 nm at Mach 0.90.
The G500 is on track for certification mid-year, with the G600 following later this year.