Gulfstream Aerospace has announced its G300 has made its first flight, officially launching its flight test program.
The first G300 took off from Ben Gurion International Airport at 8:05am local time and flew for 2 hours and 25 minutes at a speed of Mach 0.75 and an altitude of 30,000ft (9,144m). The aircraft was introduced on September 30 in Savannah, Georgia.
“With its combination of safety, technology, performance and cabin comfort, the G300 is a game changer for the super-midsize category,” said Mark Burns, president at Gulfstream. “This investment, designed to exceed our customers’ expectations for large-cabin features in a mid-cabin aircraft, brings another category leader to our next-generation fleet. Achieving first flight at this stage in the program is an achievement.”
The G300 features the largest interior in the super-midsize segment. Natural light from 10 Gulfstream Panoramic Oval Windows enhances the cabin, which can seat up to 10 passengers and includes two living areas, a galley and room for baggage.
The G300 features a cabin altitude of 4,800ft (1,463m) when flying at 41,000ft (12,497m), along with 100% fresh air, a plasma air ionization system and whisper-quiet sound levels. According to Gulfstream, the aircraft has the lowest cabin altitude in its class.
The G300 can fly 3,600nm (6,667km) at Mach 0.80 or 3,000nm (5,556km) at Mach 0.84. The aircraft features fuel efficiency through its combination of the Gulfstream wing and Honeywell HTF7250G engines.
The G300 Harmony Flight Deck features six touch screens paired with Phase-of-Flight intelligence, a Synthetic Vision-Primary Flight Display that depicts runways and terrain in 3D imagery, and Gulfstream’s Predictive Landing Performance System. The system enhances safety.
Prior to first flight, the G300 program completed more than 2,000 ground test hours. The program includes two additional test aircraft already in production.
Gulfstream Aerospace is based in Savannah, Georgia, and is a subsidiary of General Dynamics. The company manufactures business aircraft including the G300, G400, G500, G600, G700 and G800.
