3/20/08

Gulfstream G200 business jet sets new speed records


Gulfstream can't get enough of having their name in the news it seems. Only a short while ago Gulfstream introduced the G520, the largest and fastest business jet.

Now a Gulfstream G200 business jet has set seven city-pair speed records in just 10 days, connecting cities in North America, Europe and Asia.

The G200 is powered by twin Pratt & Whitney Canada PW306A engines, each rated at 6,040 pounds. The aircraft has a range of 3,400 nautical miles and a normal cruise speed of Mach 0.80.

According to Gulfstream...

The large-cabin, mid-range G200 took off from Gander International Airport in Gander, New Foundland, Canada, on Feb. 16 and flew 2,193 nautical miles northeast-bound with 4-knot tailwinds at an average speed of 0.79 Mach. It landed at the London Luton Airport 4 hours and 45 minutes later. Gulfstream International Captain Eric Henman was the pilot in command and Captain Nicholas A. Rose served as second in command. On board the aircraft were flight attendant Emily Caldwell and one passenger.

Two days later, the same flight crew and passenger boarded the G200 for a 1,362-nautical-mile flight from London to Moscow. The aircraft left London traveling eastbound at 0.80 Mach with 13-knot tailwinds and arrived at Vnukovo International Airport in Moscow 3 hours and 13 minutes later.

After repositioning the aircraft to Athens, Greece, the group flew from Athens to Dubai, a distance of 1,836 nautical miles. The aircraft flew southeast-bound with tailwinds of 72 knots at an average cruising speed of 0.80 Mach, arriving in Dubai 3 hours and 59 minutes later.

On Feb. 21, the same group traveled from Dubai to Hulule Island in the Maldives, making the 1,668-nautical-mile flight in 3 hours and 54 minutes. The aircraft flew southeast from Dubai at an average speed of 0.80 Mach with headwinds of 10 knots.

On the same day, the group returned to Dubai. The aircraft traveled northwest from Hulule Island with 6-knot tailwinds at an average cruising speed of 0.81 Mach, landing 3 hours and 54 minutes later in Dubai.

After being repositioned to Germany, the aircraft completed the last two legs of its intercontinental journey on Feb. 24 and 26. The G200 took off from Munich on Feb. 24 with the same three crew members but no passenger on board. It traveled 544 nautical miles west with 60-knot headwinds at an average cruising speed of 0.82 Mach. The aircraft landed at London Luton Airport 1 hour and 30 minutes after take-off.

On Feb. 26, the aircraft left London Luton for its return trip to Gander, flying 2,072 nautical miles in 5 hours and 39 minutes at an average cruising speed of 0.80 Mach.

Source: Gulfstream
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