[Avionics Today 11-23-2015] Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. today announced that a second and third Gulfstream G500 aircraft (T2 and T3) joined the flight test campaign with successful completion of their initial flights. T2 focuses on flight loads validation, while T3 is the main test bed for the G500 avionics systems.
The Symmetry Flight Deck on the Gulfstream G500. Photo: Gulfstream.
T3 departed Savannah-Hilton Head International Airport at 2:55 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 20. At the controls were Flight Test pilots Tom Horne and Colin Miller. Flight Test engineers Grant Schoonover and Greg Vallone provided on-board support and data analysis. During the 2-hour-and-25-minute flight, the aircraft reached a maximum airspeed of Mach 0.85 and a top altitude of 45,000 feet.
T3 is testing most of the features in the all-new, cutting-edge Symmetry Flight Deck and evaluating the ice-protection system performance, landing gear and nosewheel steering operation, Environmental Control System performance and various other mechanical systems.
The G500 is expected to receive type certification from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) in 2017. It is scheduled to enter service in 2018.