Gulfstream's New Jets Leading the Way...

There is a lot of talk about innovation in the technology space, so what is next for the private jet industry? My good friend, Giorgio Misani just got back from a visit to Gulfstream, where he had the opportunity to fly the Gulfstream G500 and also the simulator. Giorgio is currently flying the Falcon 7X and used to flying a side-stick fly-by-wire jet.

First thing Giorgio told me really impressed him was the Symmetry Cockpit active side-stick. They have been quite a few Crew Coordination problems between pilots flying side-stick aircraft like the Airbus A320 and Falcon 7X because of the lack of feel. What Gulfstream have managed to do is keep all the tech in the fly-by-wire side-stick, while at the same time allowing the pilot to “feel” the aircraft. Gulfstream’s G500 and G600 is the first civilian aircraft to be fitted with “active inceptor” sidestick controls — that is controls that are electrically back driven so that they appear to be mechanically linked side to side. Thus, when one sidestick is moved, the opposite sidestick moves with it. The sidesticks also move in response to autopilot inputs, providing the pilots with tactile and visual feedback.

Gulfstream have also done away with most switches and turned the cockpit into a series of iPads. The cockpit is the most user friendly out there, reducing the workload for the pilot bigtime. Reducing workload and increasing situational awareness for the pilot, coupled with the “feel” of the active-side-stick is what really puts this aircraft above any other in its category.

The Gulfstream G500 also cruises at 0.85M, which is faster than a Falcon 7X but burns the same amount of fuel. A flight costs you the same amount of money in fuel but takes less time, hence costing you less money. On a schedule where you would fly 600 hrs a year this could amount to as many as 50 hrs flying, giving you for free an extra two days of life.

The cabin pressure is another great feature of this jet, producing a cabin pressure of 3600 feet at a cruising altitude of 43,000 feet. This means that both crew and passengers will be a lot more rested after a 8 hour flight.

For the first time a Gulfstream will powered by engines not made by Rolls-Royce. Gulfstream officials said only the Pratt & Whitney engines offered the best blend of maturity, weight, performance, fuel efficiency and operating economy for this new jet.

The G500 will compete directly with the Dassault Falcon 900LX and upcoming Falcon 5X in cabin size, range and price. The Falcons will remain class champions for fuel efficiency, but the G500 will cruise higher and faster.

Similarly, the G600 will vie against the new Falcon 8X. The Dassault offering has a slightly longer cabin and better fuel efficiency, but the G600 will fly faster, farther and higher.

The new Gulfstreams also compare favorably with Bombardier’s existing Global 5000 and 6000 models, even though those aircraft have slightly large cabin cross-sections. The G500 cedes up to 400 nm of range to the Global 5000, but it cruises faster, offers far better fuel efficiency and its price is $6.6 million lower. The G600 has a 3-ft. shorter cabin than the Global 6000, but it cruises faster and farther on less fuel. The Gulfstream also is priced $7.5 million lower.

The G500 is steadily moving toward FAA certification next year, and much of the work done on this jet will help move the longer G600 through certification and entry into service more smoothly. The G500 is set to enter service in 2018, followed by the G600 in 2019. Four G500s are now in flight-test, and the first G600 will soon be handed over to the flight-test team.

List price for a G500 is $46.4M and offers the passengers a 5000NM range, while the G600 will have a 6000 NM range at a price tag of $57.9M. First delivery of G500s is expected in 2018.

Overall Giorgio mentioned to me that Gulfstream have ananlysed a lot of data and talked to many pilots, carefully listening and have incorporated this feedback into the design of these new jets. So, if you are looking at buying yourself a new jet to fly between continents and can wait for deliver in 2018-19, the Gulfstream G500 and G600 are definitely worth a look at.

Fabrizio Poli is Managing Partner of Aircraft Trading Company Tyrus Wings. He is also an accomplished Airline Transport Pilot having flown both private Jets and for the airlines. Fabrizio is also a bestselling author and inspirational speaker & has been featured on Russia Today (RT), TRT World, Social Media Examiner, Bloomberg, Channel 5, Chicago Tribune, Daily Telegraph, City Wealth Magazine, Billionaire.com, Wealth X, Financial Times, El Financiero and many other Media offering insight on the aviation world. Fabrizio is also regularly featured as an Aviation Analyst on Russia Today (RT) and TRT World. Fabrizio is also aviation special correspondent for luxury magazine, Most Fabullous Magazine. Fabrizio is also considered one of the world's top 30 experts in using Linkedin for business. You can tune in weekly to Fabrizio's business Podcast Living Outside the Cube available both in video & audio. You can also follow Fabrizio's aviation videos on Tyrus Wings TV. Fabrizio's latest book "Health4Flyers", the first natural-health book for pilots, flights attendants and frequent flyers is now available worldwide.