After a turbulent couple of months, Gulfstream has rolled out the G700.
The aerospace corporation just delivered the first two examples of its flagship business jet to customers, following what Gulfstream president Mark Burns has labeled “the most rigorous certification program in company history.”
Gulfstream had expected to receive Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) type certification for the G700 by late 2023, with the goal of delivering 15 G700s last year. By the end of 2023, Gulfstream reportedly had 50 G700s nearly ready for delivery. But certification was delayed until last month, primarily due to internal changes to the FAA’s type certification processes.
The interior.
Stephanie Lipscomb
The process for certifying new aircraft in the U.S. has become more stringent following two fatal crashes of Boeing 737 Max planes in October 2018 and March 2019, respectively. The G700 underwent what Burns says were “the highest certification standards our industry has ever seen,” notching two performance improvements along the way. (The takeoff and landing distances are both shorter than originally anticipated.) The G700 earned additional FAA certifications in late April, paving the way for customer deliveries and entry into service.
“Beginning G700 customer deliveries less than one month after achieving Federal Aviation Administration type certification marks an incredible milestone in Gulfstream’s history of raising the bar for the business aviation industry,” Burns said in a statement.
The interior.
Sitting at the pinnacle of business aviation alongside Bombardier’s Global 7500, the G700 has the most spacious cabin in the industry, according to Gulfstream. It is also the fastest aircraft in the Gulfstream fleet. The ultra-long-range jet can fly 7,750 nautical miles at Mach 0.85 (652 mph) or 6,650 nautical miles at Mach 0.90 (690 mph) and can also reach Mach 0.935 (717 mph) at full tilt. Demonstrating that power, the aircraft set more than 50 speed records before entering service. (The soon-to-be certified G800 is expected to be even faster.)
The interior is the real draw, though. The flexible cabin can be outfitted with up to five living areas, including a new “ultra galley” and a grand suite with a shower. Owners can tailor everything from the floor plan and palette to the upholstery and metal trim. The sky is the limit in terms of customization: The aircraft’s livery could be matched to your favorite sports car, for example. (To learn more about the detailed design process, Robb Report visited Gulfstream’s Beverly Hills office to create our on bespoke jet.)
Burns says Gulfstream looks forward to continuing G700 deliveries in the weeks ahead. If you’re curious about getting your own, prices start at $75 million.
