SAVANNAH, Ga.,
Oct. 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Gulfstream Aerospace, a
wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), today announced the
introduction of its newest super mid-size business jet: the Gulfstream G250.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20081005/CLSU004 )
The G250 offers the largest cabin and the longest range at the fastest
speed in its class. The G250 is capable of traveling 3,400 nautical miles at
0.80 Mach and has a maximum operating speed of 0.85 Mach. With an initial
cruise altitude of 41,000 feet, the G250 can climb to a maximum altitude of
45,000 feet, where it can avoid air-traffic congestion and adverse weather.
"I'm delighted to announce the newest aircraft in the Gulfstream line,"
said Joe Lombardo, president, Gulfstream. "Our customers played a definitive
role in designing this business jet by participating in our Advanced
Technology Customer Advisory Team. As a result, we are confident they'll
appreciate the G250's state-of-the-art technology, superior performance and
enhanced styling."
Gulfstream projects the G250 will be certified in 2011 and expects to
begin customer deliveries of the new aircraft the same year. The first flight
of the aircraft is scheduled for the second half of 2009.
"I am very proud of the advanced technology our team has incorporated into
the G250. It gives this new member of the Gulfstream family increased speed
and range. The all-new, advanced Gulfstream wing, the best-in-class Honeywell
engines, and the PlaneView 250 cockpit from Rockwell Collins make the G250 the
best-in-class aircraft," said Pres Henne, senior vice president, Programs,
Engineering and Test, Gulfstream . "I do want to give credit to Dan Nale, vice
president, Mid-Cabin Programs, and Mark Kohler, G250 program manager at
Gulfstream, for all their efforts in bringing this program forward on
schedule. Their team's work has resulted in the G250 leading the super mid-
size category. I am equally proud of our partner G250 team at Israel Aerospace
Industries for the detailed design and manufacturing of this new aircraft."
Performance
The G250 is powered by twin Honeywell HTF7250G engines, each of which
provides 7,445 pounds of thrust. These fuel-efficient engines feature reduced
emissions, longer maintenance intervals and decreased noise levels. They also
offer excellent climb performance, propelling the G250 to FL410 in less than
20 minutes.
The G250 also has an all-new, advanced transonic wing design that has been
optimized for high-speed cruise and improved takeoff performance. At maximum
takeoff weight, the G250 can take off from a 5,000-foot runway. Its 3,400-
nautical-mile range means the G250 can fly nonstop from New York to London or
from London to Dubai.
Improved Cabin Comfort
Convenience and comfort are the hallmarks of the G250 cabin. The aircraft
has the largest cabin in its class, with 17 percent to 35 percent more floor
area than any other super mid-size business jet. This additional space
provides for a larger lavatory, an improved galley and increased storage.
The lavatory features two large windows, a contemporary sink with a raised
ledge, and a vacuum toilet system. The G250 is the only super mid-size
business jet with this system, a standard feature on larger business aircraft.
This system is easier to access, service and maintain.
The ergonomically designed G250 galley features an extra-large ice drawer
with gasper-cooled storage, a sink with a slide-out work surface, and
increased storage capabilities. In addition to the galley, the G250 offers
storage in a forward cabin closet, the lavatory closet and the divan end
cabinets. The aircraft also provides in-flight access to 120 cubic feet of
usable volume in the baggage compartment.
Nineteen windows allow natural light to illuminate the cabin's interior.
This reduces jet lag and enhances cabin ambiance. The cabin environment is
further improved by 100 percent fresh air and a cabin altitude of 7,000 feet
at FL450. Industry-leading sound levels mean the G250 cabin provides a more
comfortable environment for conversation or relaxing.
The G250 adheres to Gulfstream's Cabin-Essential(R) design philosophy,
which means all of its major cabin systems have been designed with redundancy
so a single-point failure will not result in the loss of cabin functionality.
That means cabin lighting always illuminates; water is always available; and
an entertainment source always works.
The PlaneView(R) 250 Cockpit
The G250 is equipped with the most advanced flight deck in its class: the
PlaneView 250 featuring Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion avionics. This flight
deck features three high-resolution, 15-inch diagonal Liquid Crystal Displays
(LCDs) that are capable of showing multiple formats, including a navigation
map with terrain; approach and airport charts; graphical flight planning, and
optional synthetic and enhanced vision.
The cockpit also includes two new Standby Multi-function Controllers
(SMCs). Installed in the glare shield, these first-of-their-kind SMCs
incorporate a variety of features, including Standby Instrument, Electronic
Flight Information System (EFIS) Display Control, and Remote Information
Display on a 5.3-inch LCD.
Working in concert, these elements provide flight crews with enhanced
situational awareness and improved safety.
The cockpit also offers dual Flight Management Systems (FMSs), dual
Gulfstream signature Cursor Control Devices (CCDs), universal worldwide
graphical weather, automatic Emergency Descent Mode, MultiScan(TM) weather
radar and a dual auto-throttle system.
Optional features further enhance the capabilities of PlaneView 250. These
include the Rockwell Collins HGS-6250 Head-Up Display (HUD II), Gulfstream
Enhanced Vision (EVS II) and Gulfstream Synthetic Vision - Primary Flight
Display (SV-PFD). A Head-up Guidance System (HGS) designed by Rockwell
Collins, HUD II features an all-digital LCD that combines critical flight
guidance information with the infrared image from EVS II and presents it in
the pilot's forward field of view. This combination of HUD II and EVS II
improves touchdown precision, thereby allowing G250 pilots to proceed from
Decision Height to a 100-foot altitude when using EVS for low-visibility
approaches.
Gulfstream SV-PFD improves situational awareness and safety by generating
a synthesized, three-dimensional image of the world outside the cockpit. It
integrates data from the Rockwell Collins onboard terrain database with the
aircraft's position, altitude and heading to create a synthesized picture that
is projected in a perspective view on the Primary Flight Displays. This
optional PlaneView 250 feature allows pilots to view major landmarks
throughout the world and the aircraft's position relative to them, thereby
improving terrain and obstacle awareness.
Additional options for the PlaneView 250 cockpit include predictive wind
shear for weather radar, XM graphical weather, paperless cockpit, en route
charts and an intercontinental package with enhanced capability and redundancy
for oceanic and remote-area operations.
Reliable Systems
The G250 is the only aircraft in its class with auto braking, which
provides improved safety while reducing pilot workload. Additionally, the G250
brake-by-wire system features individual antiskid, completely independent
mechanical backup and a brake temperature monitoring system.
The G250's advanced flight control system consists of a fly-by-wire
multifunction spoiler system, fly-by-wire rudder control, hydro-mechanical
elevator control and manually operated ailerons.
The G250 Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) minimizes surge-control valve
operation, making the APU quieter to use. A new starter generator improves
reliability on the ground or in-flight, where it can be used at altitudes up
to 40,000 feet.
The G250 fuel system stores 14,600 pounds of fuel and has an improved
refueling sequence that requires less than 20 minutes for fill-ups.
Manufacturing
Initial phase manufacturing for the G250 will be at Israel Aerospace
Industries (IAI) near the Ben Gurion International Airport in Israel. IAI
currently builds two other Gulfstream aircraft: the G150 and the G200. Final
phase manufacturing for the G250 will take place at the Gulfstream Center of
Excellence completion facility for mid-cabin aircraft in Dallas. Gulfstream
maintains a fully staffed office at IAI to oversee initial manufacturing. The
G250 Program office is located in Savannah, Ga.
"The G250 offers an unrivaled combination of characteristics that will
ensure its success in the business-aviation industry," Lombardo said. "We've
made a proven product even better by boosting its range, reducing its runway
requirements, bolstering its cabin size, increasing its storage and equipping
it with state-of-the-art technology.
"I am excited Gulfstream is able to offer this new aircraft to our
customers. And, as with all Gulfstream aircraft, the G250 is backed by
Gulfstream's award-winning product-support network," he concluded.
NOTE TO EDITORS
Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of General
Dynamics (NYSE: GD), designs, develops, manufactures, markets, services and
supports the world's most technologically advanced business-jet aircraft.
Gulfstream has produced some 1,800 aircraft for customers around the world
since 1958. To meet the diverse transportation needs of the future, Gulfstream
offers a comprehensive fleet of aircraft, comprising the wide-cabin,
high-speed Gulfstream G150(R); the large cabin, mid-range Gulfstream G200(R);
the large-cabin, mid-range Gulfstream G350(R); the large-cabin, long-range
G450(R); the large-cabin, ultra-long-range Gulfstream G500(R); the
large-cabin, ultra-long-range Gulfstream G550(R) and the ultra-large-cabin,
ultra-long-range G650(R). Gulfstream also offers aircraft ownership services
via Gulfstream Financial Services Division and Gulfstream Pre-Owned Aircraft
Sales(R). The company employs more than 9,700 people at seven major locations.
We invite you to visit our Web site for more information and photos of
Gulfstream aircraft at www.gulfstream.com.
General Dynamics, headquartered in Falls Church, Va., employs
approximately 84,600 people worldwide and anticipates 2008 revenues of
approximately $29.5 billion. The company is a market leader in business
aviation; land and expeditionary combat systems, armaments and munitions;
shipbuilding and marine systems; and information systems and technologies.
More information about the company is available on the Internet at
www.generaldynamics.com
Print This Page
Email This Page
Archives
Copyright Permissions
