Gulfstream G400/G500/G600

This article is about the new G400 and G500. For the earlier G400 based on the GIV and G500 based on the GV-SP, see Gulfstream IV and Gulfstream G550.

G400 / G500 / G600
G600 test aircraft in flight
Role	Business jet
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	Gulfstream Aerospace
First flight	G500: May 18, 2015[1] G600: December 17, 2016[2]
Introduction	G500: September 27, 2018[3] G600: August 8, 2019[4]
Status	In service
Produced	2014–present
Number built	G400: 1 prototype, as of April 2023[5] G500: 125+ as of April 2024[6] G600: 130+ as of Feb. 2024[7] G500+G600: 300 as of Nov. 2024[8]

The Gulfstream G400, G500, and G600 (GVII^[9]) are American twin-engine business jets designed and produced by Gulfstream Aerospace. The aircraft are designated Gulfstream GVII-G500 and GVII-G600 in their type certificate.^[9]

The two larger models were unveiled on October 14, 2014 and the smaller G400 was unveiled on October 4, 2021. The G500 was first delivered on September 27, 2018, and the longer G600 was first delivered August 8, 2019. The G500 will replace the G450 while the larger G600 will succeed the G550. The smaller G400 meanwhile has not yet been certified, and is not expected to go into production until 2025.^[10]

Powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada PW800 turbofans, the 79,600 lb (36.1 t)^[11] MTOW G500 has a range of 5,300 nautical miles [nmi] (9,800 km; 6,100 mi) while the 94,600 lb (42.9 t)^[12] G600 can cover 6,600 nmi (12,220 km) at a speed of Mach 0.85.

Development

Both aircraft were unveiled by Gulfstream Aerospace on October 14, 2014^[13] During the second quarter of 2017, 80% of Gulfstream orders were for the G500/G600.^[14]

G500

G500 at EBACE 2018

Gulfstream GVII-G500 interior

The G500 was taxiing under its own power at its unveiling on October 14, 2014,^[13] and it first flew on May 18, 2015.^[1] The model was initially planned to be certified in 2017.^[15][16] In May 2017, the test fleet of four G500 prototypes and the first production aircraft, made over 745 flights in two years for 2,900 flight hours, on track for the certification by the end of the year.^[17]

In August 2017, the FAA issued the G500 a type inspection authorization to allow in flight evaluation. The five G500 test aircraft have logged more than 3,100 hours over 820 sorties and completed cabin systems, brakes, lighting, fly-over noise and fuel systems tests. The fifth G500, with a complete interior, will be the first to enter service, as a demonstrator, before customer deliveries in early 2018.^[14] Through August 20, the G500s had flown 3,460 h over 905 flights, reaching Mach 0.995 and FL530.^[18]

For the October 2017 NBAA show, the five G500s were completing their campaign with 995 flights and 3,690 h - 10 h 19 min for the longest - the first delivery schedule was maintained as certification was pushed until early 2018.^[19] Mach 0.85 range for the G500 was extended by 200 nmi to 5,200 nmi/9,630 km and by 600 nmi/1,111 km to 4,400 nmi/8,149 km at Mach 0.90.^[20]

The 300 flights hours of function and reliability testing required for FAA type certification was to be completed in summer 2018 after 240 were done at the end of May 2018 covering 100,300 nmi in 69 flights, along known icing flight and high-elevation certification tests: the five flight-test G500s made 1,355 flights in 4,955 hours.^[21]

On July 20, 2018, Gulfstream announced it received both its type certification and production certificate from the FAA, before first delivery in the fourth quarter.^[22] As nacelle supplier Nordam filed for bankruptcy on 23 July, initial deliveries will be slowed.^[23] Certification allowed the EFVS to provide the only visual cues for landing down to 1,000 ft (300 m) runway visual range, to touchdown and rollout, after 50 test approaches, and testing to lower visibilities could allow dropping the limit.^[24]

The first G500 was delivered on September 27, 2018.^[3] On October 1, Gulfstream announced the acquisition of the nacelle manufacturing line from Nordam.^[25]

In 2022, its equipped price was $49.5M.^[26]

G600

G600 Final approach

The longer G600 had its first flight at Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport on December 17, 2016.^[2][27] Four flight-test aircraft and a production G600 will be used for the test program for a scheduled 2018 introduction:^[28]

• T1, which flew 311 hours in five months, will test brakes development, flying qualities, stall speeds, air data and RVSM;
• T2, which has 52 flight hours in two months, will focus on loads, climb performance, flyover noise and function and reliability testing;
• T3 first flew on May 5, 2017, and will be used for field performance, ice protection, cabin pressurization and oxygen system testing;
• T4 will test automatic flight control systems, avionics and the fuel system;
• P1, the first production G600, will test cabin systems and the production interior.

In August 2017, the fifth was being outfitted for its third quarter first flight.^[14] Through August 20, the four G600s have logged 780 h in 175 flights, the longest lasting 13 h 5 min, it completed testing for initial flight envelope expansion and flying qualities, flutter, brakes, low speed or stall, loads calibration, parameter identification and climb performance, the fifth test aircraft will fly later in the quarter.^[18]

For the October 2017 NBAA show, five G600s were flying as it was to be introduced in early 2019.^[19] Range for the G600 was extended by 300 nmi/556 km for both Mach 0.85 to 6,500 nmi/12,038 km and Mach 0.90 to 5,100 nmi/9,445 km.^[20] In October 2018, Mach 0.9 range was increased again to 5,500 nmi (10,200 km).^[29]

Certification and introduction for the G600 was to happen in 2018 like for the G500.^[30] The five flight-test G600s accumulated 1,950 hours in 510 flights, were completing mechanical systems certification testing in May 2018 before airfield-performance testing in summer.^[21] By August, 600 flights over 2,290 hours were completed after trials for ice shapes and stall speed testing and before field-performance testing, towards U.S. approval by year-end and deliveries in 2019.^[31] By October, the test aircraft had accumulated 685 flights in over 2,600 hours.^[32] The FAA's rigorous review delayed the certification as the test programme had logged more than 3,150h over 840 flights by the end of April 2019, and approval was targeted before the end of June for a second half of 2019 service entry.^[33]

On June 28, 2019, Gulfstream announced the G600 type and production certificates from the FAA.^[34] The first G600 was delivered on August 8, 2019.^[4] The first EASA-certified G600 was delivered in December 2020 to an Austrian operator.^[35]

In 2022, its equipped price was $59.5M.^[36]

G400

On October 4, 2021, Gulfstream introduced the 4,200 nmi (7,780 km) range G400, powered by Pratt & Whitney PW812GA engines with deliveries planned to start in 2025.^[37] Priced at $34.5 million,^[38] the G400 has a shortened G500 fuselage,^[39] with 2.5 zones and 10 windows,^[40] instead of 3 zones and 14 windows. By March 2022, as the prototype was not yet rolled out, Gulfstream was anticipating a more extensive flight-test and certification campaign for the five test aircraft, as the G400 is powered by a different PW800 variant and the US government strengthened some certification requirements after the Boeing 737 Max groundings, but the 2025 first delivery goal remained.^[10]

Design

The G500 will replace the G450, flying nearly 30 knots (56 km/h) faster and 18% farther with the same fuel burn.^[41] The larger G600 will succeed the G550.^[42]

Airframe

G500 cabin

Both models have a four circular arcs cross-section fuselage, similar to the Gulfstream G650, with a 7 in (18 cm) reduction in width and height. Similar in dimension to the Dassault Falcon, the G500/600 have 2 in (5.1 cm) more headroom, 7 in (18 cm) more cabin width and 8 in (20 cm) more floor width than Gulfstream's G450 and G550.^[43] The fuselage has an external height of 8 ft 4 in (2.54 m), and width of 8 ft 5 in (2.57 m). The production G500 will have 14 windows, two more than the prototype models.^[16] The G600 cabin is 3.7 ft (1.1 m) longer than the G500, allowing up to four passenger zones or three 8.75 ft (2.67 m) long zones, a longer galley and a forward crew rest.^[44]

The wing is a supercritical design with a 0.87 to 0.88 drag divergence Mach number depending upon lift coefficient.^[41] It is based on the G650's wing design with the same 36° sweep. The G600's wingspan will be 8 ft (2.4 m) wider than the G500, allowing for 11,250 lb (5,100 kg)^[12] of additional fuel. Both models have a new tail design based on the aerodynamic shape and systems of the G650's tail.^[45]

The airframe is primarily composed of high strength aluminum alloys with limited use of steel and titanium alloys. The horizontal stabilizer, fairings, main landing gear doors, rudder and elevators, radome, rear pressure bulkhead and winglets are composite materials. The semi-monocoque fuselage structure is made of stressed skin, frame and longeron.^[41]

Engines

PW815 on a G600

The G500/G600 is powered by the Pratt & Whitney Canada PW800 series turbofan engines (PW814GA for G500 and PW815GA for G600) which was originally conceived for the Cessna Citation Columbus program. The PW800 is based on the Pratt & Whitney Geared Turbofan core without the gear reduction. The departure from Rolls-Royce Aero Engines is rare for Gulfstream.^[42] For the G500 in cruise, at FL400, ISA -5°C, total fuel flow is 2,920 lb (1,320 kg)/h at M0.90/510 kn (945 km/h) TAS, 2,400 lb (1,090 kg)/h at M0.85/476 kn (882 km/h) TAS.^[46] At FL450, Mach 0.90/506 kn (937 km/h) TAS and ISA -8°C, it burns 2,600 lb (1,200 kg)/h.^[47]

At Mach 0.90, 512 kn (948 km/h) TAS, the G600 burns 2,960 lb (1,340 kg) per h at FL430, ISA-3°C and a weight of 62,300 lb (28,300 kg), compared to a 3,100 lb (1,400 kg) per h book value. At Mach 0.85 479 kn (887 km/h) TAS, the same G600 burns 2,200 lb (1,000 kg) per h at FL470, ISA-10°C and a weight of 62,000 lb (28,000 kg), below the 2,309 lb (1,047 kg) prediction.^[44]

Systems

G600 flight deck

Electric and hydraulic systems are from the G650, as well as the digital air data computers, secondary power distribution with electronics, cabin acoustical treatment, primary avionics, satcom, and improved cabin management system. The digital fly-by-wire system is similar except for new active control sidesticks and dual channel remote electronic units which replace single channel units from G650. The oxygen, cabin pressurization, landing gear control, aircraft health and trend monitoring systems are adapted from the G650.^[43] The auxiliary power unit is a Honeywell HTG400G.^[41] The cabin pressurization reaches 10.69 psi (0.737 bar).^[44]

It is equipped with BAE Systems active sidesticks, appearing to be mechanically linked by being electrically back-driven, the first civil aircraft to be so.^[41] The Honeywell Symmetry Flight Deck features four portrait main displays, three touchscreens on the overhead panel instead of stand-alone switches ; there are four force-touchscreens in the glareshield and left and right touch standby displays at each seat. The enhanced flight vision system is displayed through 42×30° field-of-view head-up display.^[48]

Specifications

Model	G400[40]	G500[11]	G600[12]
Cockpit crew	Two
Capacity	12	19[49]
Length	86 ft 3 in (26.29 m)	91 ft 2 in (27.79 m)	96 ft 1 in (29.29 m)
Wingspan	86 ft 4 in (26.31 m)	86 ft 4 in (26.31 m)	94 ft 2 in (28.70 m)
Height	25 ft 4 in (7.72 m)	25 ft 6 in (7.77 m)	25 ft 3 in (7.70 m)
Cabin length	36 ft 4 in (11.07 m)	41 ft 6 in (12.65 m)	45 ft 2 in (13.77 m)
Cabin cross section	Height: 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m), Width: 7 ft 7 in (2.31 m)
Cabin volume	1,441 cu ft (40.8 m^3)	1,715 cu ft (48.6 m^3)	1,884 cu ft (53.3 m^3)
Baggage volume	175 cu ft (5.0 m^3)
Maximum takeoff weight (MTOW)	69,850 lb (31,680 kg)	79,600 lb (36,100 kg)	94,600 lb (42,900 kg)
Basic operating weight (BOW)[a]	43,100 lb (19,500 kg)	46,850 lb (21,250 kg)	50,900 lb (23,100 kg)
Maximum payload	4,050 lb (1,840 kg)	5,250 lb (2,380 kg)	6,540 lb (2,970 kg)
Fuel capacity	25,350 lb (11,500 kg)	30,250 lb (13,720 kg)	41,500 lb (18,800 kg)
Turbofans (x2)	P&WC PW812GA	P&WC PW814GA	P&WC PW815GA
Takeoff thrust (x2)	13,496 lbf (60.0 kN)	15,144 lbf (67.4 kN)	15,680 lbf (69.7 kN)
Range[b][50]	4,200 nmi (7,778 km; 4,833 mi)	5,300 nmi (9,816 km; 6,099 mi)	6,600 nmi (12,223 km; 7,595 mi)[c]
Cruise speed	Mach 0.85 – Mach 0.88 (488–505 kn; 903–935 km/h; 561–581 mph)	Mach 0.85 – Mach 0.90 (488–516 kn; 903–956 km/h; 561–594 mph)
Max. operating speed, MMO	Mach 0.90 (516 kn; 956 km/h; 594 mph)	Mach 0.925 (531 kn; 983 km/h; 611 mph)
Takeoff distance (SL, ISA, MTOW)	5,000 ft (1,524 m)	5,300 ft (1,615 m)	5,700 ft (1,737 m)
Ceiling	51,000 ft (15,545 m) / Cabin altitude: 4,850 ft (1,480 m)

1. Includes three crew members for the G400 and G500 while including four crew for the G600.
2. At Mach 0.85, 8 pax, 3 crew, NBAA IFR reserves, unless otherwise noted.
3. At Mach 0.85, 8 pax, 4 crew, NBAA IFR reserves

See also

Related development

• Gulfstream G650

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

• Bombardier Challenger 650
• Bombardier Global Express
• Dassault Falcon 2000LX
• Dassault Falcon 6X
• Dassault Falcon 7X/8X

References

1. "Gulfstream G500 Completes First Flight" (Press release). Gulfstream. May 18, 2015.
2. "Gulfstream G600 takes flight ahead of schedule" (Press release). Gulfstream. December 17, 2016. Archived from the original on September 28, 2018. Retrieved December 23, 2016.
3. "Gulfstream Delivers First New-generation G500 On Time" (Press release). Gulfstream. September 27, 2018. Archived from the original on March 28, 2019. Retrieved September 29, 2018.
4. "Gulfstream delivers first G600" (Press release). Gulfstream. August 8, 2019. Archived from the original on August 9, 2019. Retrieved August 9, 2019.
5. "An update on Gulfstream G400 development with US tour announced". Globair.com. April 14, 2023.
6. "GULFSTREAM G500 RETURNS TO AERO FRIEDRICHSHAFEN". Gulfstream. April 9, 2024.
7. "GULFSTREAM G700 TO MAKE SINGAPORE AIRSHOW DEBUT". Gulfstream (Press release). February 8, 2024.
8. "Gulfstream G500 and G600 Program Makes 300th Delivery". Gulfstream. November 25, 2024.
9. "Type Certificate Date Sheet No. T00021AT, Revision 7". Federal Aviation Administration. August 9, 2021. Retrieved 2022-12-17.
10. Jon Hemmerdinger (18 March 2022). "Gulfstream prepared for tougher G400 flight-test and certification programme". FlightGlobal.
11. "G500". gulfstream.com. Retrieved 2022-06-16.
12. "G600". gulfstream.com. Retrieved 2022-06-16.
13. "Gulfstream Introduces New Aircraft Family" (Press release). Gulfstream. October 14, 2014. Archived from the original on December 9, 2018. Retrieved May 25, 2016.
14. Kate Sarsfield (16 Aug 2017). "G500 edges closer to certification milestone". Flightglobal.
15. "Gulfstream G500 and G600 programs on track" (Press release). Gulfstream. May 25, 2016. Archived from the original on July 18, 2017. Retrieved September 30, 2016.
16. "Gulfstream G500 Advances, On Track for 2017 Approval". Aviation International News. September 29, 2016.
17. Stephen Trimble (22 May 2017). "Gulfstream stays on track with G500 flight test". Flightglobal.
18. Mark Huber (August 24, 2017). "Gulfstream Continues To Make Progress on G500, G600". AIN.
19. Murdo Morrison (10 October 2017). "Gulfstream announces range extensions for G500 and G600". Flight International.
20. J.E. Burnside (October 9, 2017). "Gulfstream: G500/600 Performance Exceeds Original Specs". AIN. Archived from the original on 2017-10-12. Retrieved 2017-10-11.
21. Samantha Cartaino (May 28, 2018). "Gulfstream's G500 Closes in on Type Certification". AIN online.
22. "Gulfstream G500 Earns Both Type And Production Certificates From U.S. Federal Aviation Administration" (Press release). Gulfstream. July 20, 2018. Archived from the original on July 20, 2018. Retrieved July 20, 2018.
23. Stephen Trimble (25 July 2018). "Supplier dispute will slow Gulfstream G500 deliveries". Flightglobal.
24. Matt Thurber (November 13, 2018). "Gulfstream First to Certify EFVS Landing System". AIN online.
25. Kate Sarsfield (2 October 2018). "Gulfstream acquires G500 and G600 nacelle line from Nordam". Flightglobal.
26. "Purchase planning handbook - Jets table". Business & Commercial Aircraft. Second Quarter 2022.
27. Niles, Russ (17 December 2016). "G600 First Flight". AVweb. Retrieved 19 December 2016.
28. Chad Trautvetter (May 9, 2017). "Gulfstream Flies Third G600, On Track for 2018 EIS". Aviation International News.
29. "NBAA: Gulfstream unveils G600 range increase". Flightglobal. 15 October 2018.
30. William Garvey (Mar 29, 2018). "Gulfstream Delivers More Range Than First Promised". Aviation Week & Space Technology.
31. Chad Trautvetter (August 21, 2018). "Nearing FAA Nod, G600 Starts Field-performance Tests". AIN online.
32. Molly McMillin (October 15, 2018). "Gulfstream Announces Range Increase For G600". Aviation Week Network.
33. Kate Sarsfield (20 May 2019). "Business aircraft in the works". Flightglobal.
34. "Gulfstream G600 Receives Type Certificate From Federal Aviation Administration" (Press release). Gulfstream. June 28, 2019. Archived from the original on June 29, 2019. Retrieved June 29, 2019.
35. RAJA, PARVEEN (December 17, 2020). "Gulfstream delivers first EASA-certified G600". evaint.com. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
36. "Purchase planning handbook - Ultra long-range jets table". Business & Commercial Aircraft. Second Quarter 2022.
37. "Gulfstream Introduces Two All-New Business Jets" (Press release). Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. October 4, 2021.
38. Bill Carey (October 5, 2021). "Gulfstream Unveils New-Generation G400, G800 Jets". Aviation Week.
39. Jon Ostrower (September 30, 2021). "Gulfstream loads G800 and G400 into its product pipeline". The air current.
40. "G400". gulfstream.com. Retrieved 2022-06-16.
41. "Pilot Report: Gulstream G500". Business & Commercial Aviation. Aviation Week. October 21, 2016.
42. "Analysis: Gulfstream G600 technical description". Flight Global. October 24, 2016.
43. "Gulfstream Unveils G500 and G600". Aviation Week. November 1, 2014.
44. Fred George (October 23, 2019). "Pilot Report: Gulfstream G600 Is A Worthy Successor To The G550". Business & Commercial Aviation.
45. Alcock, Charles (14 October 2014). "New Gulfstreams Deliver More Range and Cabin Comfort". Aviation International News.
46. Mike Gerzanics (22 May 2018). "Analysis: Gulfstream raises super-large bar with G500". Flightglobal.
47. Matt Thurber (August 24, 2018). "Pilot Report: Gulfstream G500". AIN online.
48. Fred George (October 19, 2016). "Symmetry Flight Deck Powered By Honeywell". Business & Commercial Aviation. Aviation Week.
49. "Gulfstream Aerospace - Aircraft". gulfstream.com. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
50. "Aircraft". gulfstream.com. Retrieved 2022-06-16.

External links

• G500
• G600
• Trautvetter, Chad (14 October 2014). "Gulfstream Racks Up Launch Orders for New G500". Aviation International News.
• Alcock, Charles (14 October 2014). "Gulfstream Unmasks Two New Fly-by-wire Large-cabin Jets". Aviation International News.
• Matt Thurber (April 25, 2015). "Stealthy Development: the G500/600". Aviation International News.