Thales takes flight on the all-new Gulfstream G650

The all-new Gulfstream G650 ultra long-range business aircraft successfully completed its first flight in Savannah on November 25, 2009.

This notable milestone takes place three years after Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation selected Thales to develop the full three-axis Fly-By-Wire (FBW) flight control computer system for the new Gulfstream G650 business jet. While Thales has provided FBW solutions on other aircraft platforms, the successful first flight of the G650 demonstrates that Thales is a committed partner with the ability to design and deliver full FBW solutions.

Thales's Fly-By-Wire solution for the Gulfstream G650 aircraft consists of supplying two digital flight control computers and one backup flight control unit. Thales uses the latest evolution of its Quad-Dual Flight Control Computer architecture along with modular packaging design to ensure that all stringent safety, certification and operational dispatch requirements are met using four channels packaged into two cabinets.

The development phase is carried out in the Gulfstream Research and Development Center and the aircraft manufacturing in Gulfstream facilities in Savannah Georgia. The system level engineering and software development for Thales's FBW flight control computers and backup flight control unit takes place in Montreal, Thales's center of excellence, while the core computing system is developed by Thales's airborne computer unit located in France.

Mr. Alain Boursier, General Manager of Thales's aerospace business activities in Canada, commented: "We have been working in close cooperation with Gulfstream for several years and we are proud to be part of the G650 development programmme and to contribute to the success of the G650's first flight. Being part of the G650's development is very exciting and we will continue our efforts towards the next major milestone, aircraft certification."