Gulfstream G650 family surpasses 75 speed records, demonstrates steep-approach capabilities

Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. announced the Gulfstream G650 family has now achieved more than 75 city-pair records, just a few weeks after the ultra-long-range aircraft demonstrated steep approach capabilities at London City Airport.

"Even with more than 315 G650ER and G650 aircraft in service around the world, we continue to enhance the utility, flexibility and real-world performance of these already class-defining aircraft," said Mark Burns, president, Gulfstream.

The G650ER demonstrated its performance advantage with the following records, pending approval by the National Aeronautic Association:

- Keflavik, Iceland, to Foz do Iguacu, Brazil, in 11 hours and 46 minutes at an average speed of Mach 0.90

- Beijing to Paris in nine hours and 18 minutes at an average speed of Mach 0.90

- Tel Aviv, Israel, to Kiev, Ukraine, in two and 41 minutes at an average speed of Mach 0.90

- Kiev, Ukraine, to London in two and 50 minutes at an average speed of Mach 0.90

The G650 flew several takeoffs and landings in September as part of the London City Airport Operations and Control Department's evaluation of the aircraft family's steep-approach capabilities. Aircraft that operate at London City require steep-approach certification and operational validation due to the airport's short runway and Central London's stringent noise abatement requirements. The airplane must demonstrate capability to perform the 5.5-degree approach and be able to operate on the short runway — 4,327 feet/1,319 meters for landing. On average, most airport runways have an approach angle of 3 degrees and a length of at least 6,000 ft/1,828 m.

Once approved for London City, the G650 family will be the fastest, largest, longest-range business aircraft to operate at the airport.