Private jet manufacturer Gulfstream Aerospace has announced one of its G650ER aircraft has broken records by flying around the world, stopping just once.
The jet took off from White Plains, New York, carrying three passengers and four crewmembers. The journey progressed eastward to Beijing for 12,851 km at an average speed of Mach 0.87, meaning that the total flight time was 13 hours and 20 minutes.
The aircraft then flew 12,171 km to Savannah, accomplishing the mission at an average speed of Mach 0.89 for a total flight time of 12 hours. When the aircraft landed both time, it had fuel in excess of the National Business Aviation Association’s reserve regulations.
"There isn't another business jet capable of this mission," said Scott Neal, SVP of Worldwide Sales and Marketing at Gulfstream. "This flight proves just how powerful a machine the G650ER is. We promised customers an aircraft that could take them farther faster than any other; we delivered on that promise. The G650ER provides a combination of speed and range that is creating history and setting records."
Pending approval by the U.S. National Aeronautic Association, the city-pair records will be sent to the Federation Aeronautique Internationale in Switzerland for official recognition as world records.
The G650ER also set two speed records during flight tests last year. The aircraft flew from Los Angeles to Melbourne, Australia, in 14 hours and 58 minutes. The aircraft then flew from Hong Kong to Teterboro, New Jersey, in 14 hours and 7 minutes.
The G650ER can travel 7,500 nm/13,890 km at Mach 0.85 and 6,400 nm/11,853 km at Mach 0.90. It has a maximum speed of Mach 0.925. Gulfstream has also specified that G650 owners and order-holders can upgrade their original G650 to a G650ER.
