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| Wednesday, 31 March 2010, 10:00 HKT/SGT | |
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Source: Gulfstream | |
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Savannah, GA, Mar 31, 2010 - (ACN Newswire) - Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. announced today that the large-cabin, mid-range Gulfstream G250 has successfully completed its first series of flight tests. Gulfstream, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), designed and built the super mid-size business jet in collaboration with Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) in Tel Aviv, Israel.
The first G250 test article - called serial number (S/N) 2001 - has amassed more than 70 flight hours since its first flight in December, and has already reached its maximum certified speed and altitude - Mach 0.85 and 45,000 feet (13,720 m).
The second test article - S/N 2002 - completed its first flight on March 24. Flown by IAI chief test pilot Ronen Shapira, the test article departed from Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv at 2:45 p.m. local time. The aircraft flew for 1 hour and 57 minutes, reaching an altitude of 20,000 feet (6,096 m) and a speed of 195 knots.
The G250 flight-test and certification plan involves three aircraft and an estimated 1,300 hours of testing. Each aircraft is used for a specific series of tests, with S/N 2001 focused on in-flight performance and handling, S/N 2002 on avionics and S/N 2003 on systems functionality and reliability. Evaluation of the airframe structure and new PlaneView TM 250 avionics package is under way, with testing of the fatigue article to begin later this year.
"We are very pleased with the progress that we've made," said Pres Henne, senior vice president, Programs, Engineering and Test, Gulfstream. "Both aircraft have performed wonderfully. We have a lot of work ahead, but we are excited about where we are."
David Dagan, corporate vice president and general manager, Commercial Aircraft Group, IAI, said, "The successful first flight is an indication of the excellent progress we're making in our path toward certification. The first two aircraft performed exactly as expected. This is a tribute to our use of the most advanced technology, development and production techniques available, not to mention the combined talent of IAI and Gulfstream."
Gulfstream announced the G250 program on Oct. 5, 2008. The first aircraft rolled out of the IAI manufacturing facility in Tel Aviv under its own power on Oct. 6, 2009. It is on schedule for type certification in 2011.
The G250 offers the largest cabin and the longest range at the fastest speed in its class. The aircraft is capable of taking off at max gross weight from fields less than 6,000 feet long. Powered by twin Honeywell HTF7250G engines, the business jet can travel 3,400 nautical miles at Mach 0.80. Its initial cruise altitude is 41,000 feet (12,496 m).
The G250 will be completed at the Gulfstream Mid-Cabin Center of Excellence in Dallas.
Gulfstream's Flagship G650 Winging Toward Entry-into-Service in 2012
The G250 is one of two new Gulfstream aircraft programs in flight test. The - T1 and T2 - in the air. T1 has reached a maximum speed of Mach 0.90 and a top altitude of 47,000 feet (14,326 meters). Test pilots have been testing the aircraft's handling qualities, engine operability, flap operation, pitot-static systems, avionics, hydraulics systems, electrical power generation and distribution, flight controls, and cabin environmental and pressurization controls. The G650 flight-test and certification plan involves five aircraft and an estimated 1,800 hours of testing.
"The concurrent development of these two aircraft reflects our commitment to lead the industry in introducing new technology," Henne said.
Contact:
Peter Hoi
peter.hoi@gulfstream.com
+852-2918-1600
Jeff Miller
Corporate Communications
jeff.miller@gulfstream.com
+1-912-965-7372
Topic: Production report
Source: Gulfstream
Sectors: Travel & Tourism, Aviation
https://www.acnnewswire.com
From the Asia Corporate News Network
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