Gulfstream G550
Gulfstream G500/G550 C-37B | |
---|---|
A Netjets Europe G550 business jet on final approach | |
Role | Business jet |
National origin | United States |
Manufacturer | Gulfstream Aerospace |
First flight | 18 July 2002[a] |
Introduction | 2004 |
Status | In service |
Primary users | United States Air Force United States Navy Israeli Air Force |
Produced | 2003–2021 |
Number built | >600[1] |
Developed from | Gulfstream V |
The Gulfstream G550 is a business jet aircraft produced by General Dynamics' Gulfstream Aerospace unit in Savannah, Georgia, US. The certification designation is GV-SP. A version with reduced fuel capacity was marketed as the G500. Gulfstream ceased production of the G550 in July 2021.
Development
The first production G550 (GV-SP) flew on 18 July 2002 and the aircraft received its FAA
Deliveries went from 50 aircraft in 2011 to 19 in 2016 and with 40 units for sale in a fleet of 540. Valuations of the G550 are falling: a 10-year-old G550 valued $28 million a year before is worth $18-$20 million in January 2017, while a two-year-old went from $40 to $35 million.[6] In May 2017, early 2003 G550s were valued at $14 million against more than $45 million for newly purchased aircraft, flying an average of 425 hours per year.[7] In December 2018, a 2012-2013 G550 was valued $28-31 million, and cost $7,135 per hour for 400 hours a year.[8]
As it was replaced by the
The final commercially available G550 was delivered in June 2021 after more than 600 of the aircraft were produced.[10][11]
Design
Compared to the Gulfstream V, drag reduction details boost range by 250 nmi (460 km) and increase
Initial long-range cruise altitude is FL 400-410, first hour fuel burn is 4,500–5,000 lb (2,000–2,300 kg) decreasing for the second hour to 3,000 and 2,400 lb (1,400 and 1,100 kg) for the last hour. Flight hourly budget is $700-950 for engine reserves, $250 for parts and 2.5 maintenance hours. It competes against the
Variants
- GV-SP
- The same as the Gulfstream V or GV with a new flightdeck display system, airframe aerodynamic and engine improvements, main entry door moved forward, also marketed as the G550.
- G500
- The Gulfstream G500 has a reduced fuel capacity.Visual Guidance System (HUD) and Enhanced Vision System (EVS) are options. Its unit cost was US$48.25 million (2012)[12] (equivalent to US$63.31 million in 2023)[13].
- G550
- Marketing name for the GV-SP. In 2021, its equipped price was $54.5M (~$60.5 million in 2023).[14]
- C-37B
- U.S. military designation for the G550 in a VIP passenger configuration.
- EA-37B
- U.S. military designation G550 version in an Electronic Warfare configuration to replace USAF's existing EC-130H Compass Call aircraft.[15][16] Previously known as EC-37B, on November 14, 2023, Air Combat Command redesignated the platform as EA-37B to better identify its mission of finding and attacking enemy land or sea targets.[17][18]
- NC-37B
- U.S. military designation for proposed G550 with the "Conformal AEW" body shape for use as range telemetry aircraft for U.S. Navy.[19][20]
- MC-55A Peregrine
- intelligence gathering variant.[21]
- G550 CAEW
- E-550A
- Italian military designation for the G550 CAEW[27]
- Air-to-air refueling variant
- Israel Aerospace Industries has studied adapting the G550 for air-to-air refueling use.[28][29]
Operators
The aircraft is operated by numerous governments, private individuals, companies and executive charter operators. A number of companies also use the aircraft as part of fractional ownership programs.
Specifications
Data from G550 Brochure[30]
General characteristics
- Crew: 2 pilots, 0–2 attendants
- Capacity: 14–19 passengers / 6,200 lb (2,812 kg) payload
- Cabin dimensions: height × width × length 6 ft 2 in × 7 ft 4 in × 43 ft 11 in (1.88 m × 2.24 m × 13.39 m); total length including baggage hold: 50 ft 1 in (15.27 m)
- Cabin volume: 1,669 cu ft (47.26 m3); usable baggage compartment volume: 170 cu ft (4.81 m3)
- Cabin altitude: 6,000 ft (1,829 m)[31]
- Length: 96 ft 5 in (29.39 m)
- Wingspan: 93 ft 6 in (28.50 m)
- Height: 25 ft 10 in (7.87 m)
- Empty weight: 48,300 lb (21,909 kg)
- Gross weight: 54,500 lb (24,721 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 91,000 lb (41,277 kg)
- Maximum landing weight: 75,300 lb (34,156 kg)
- Fuel capacity: 41,300 lb (18,733 kg)
- Powerplant: 2 × Rolls-Royce BR710 C4-11 turbofan engines, 15,385 lbf (68.44 kN) thrust each
Performance
- Range: 6,750 nmi (7,770 mi, 12,500 km)
- High Speed Cruise: M0.85 at 41,000 ft (12,497 m)
- Long Range Cruise: M0.80 at 41,000 ft (12,497 m)
- Maximum Mach Operating (MMO): M0.885 at 41,000 ft (12,497 m)
- Service ceiling: 51,000 ft (16,000 m)
- Take-off run: 5,910 ft (1,801 m)
- Landing run: 2,770 ft (844 m)
See also
Related development
- Gulfstream G450
- Gulfstream G650
- Gulfstream V
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
- Airbus Corporate Jets
- Boeing Business Jet
- Bombardier Global Express
- Dassault Falcon 7X
- Dassault Falcon 8X
References
Footnotes
- ^ This is the date of the first flight of a production aircraft. A prototype aircraft flew before this date.
Notes
- ^ "Gulfstream G550 Production Reaches End of the Line". AIN.
- ^ a b "Type Certificate date Sheet NO. A12EA, revision 46" (PDF). FAA. February 22, 2016.
- ^ "Gulfstream's GV-SP Makes First Flight July 18". Aviation Week Network. 29 July 2002. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
- ^ Molly McMillin (May 30, 2018). "What's On The Radar For Gulfstream?". Aviation Week Network.
- ^ "Gulfstream Delivers 500th G550" (Press release). General Dynamics. 2015-05-17.
- ^ "Gulfstream G550 could bow out in 2019". Flight Global. 18 January 2017.
- ^ a b c Fred George (Apr 27, 2017). "Gulfstream G550: Price/Performance Sweet Spot In Large-Cabin Class". Business & Commercial Aviation. Aviation Week Network.
- ^ Nick Copley (Dec 6, 2018). "The Costs to Own and Operate a Gulfstream G550". SherpaReport.
- ^ Fred George (Oct 23, 2019). "Pilot Report: Gulfstream G600 Is A Worthy Successor To The G550". Business & Commercial Aviation.
- ^ Spruce, Terry. "GULFSTREAM DELIVERS FINAL G550 BUSINESS JET". Corporate Jet Investor. Specialist Insight. Retrieved 1 October 2022.
- ^ "Gulfstream G550 Production Reaches End of the Line". AIN.
- ^ "Operations Planning Guide" (PDF). Business & Commercial Aviation. Aviation Week. 2012.
- Gross Domestic Product deflatorfigures follow the MeasuringWorth series.
- ^ "Purchase planning handbook - Ultra long-range jets table". Business & Commercial Aircraft. Second Quarter 2021.
- ^ "Moving Compass Call electronic warfare system to modern business jet". Retrieved 8 April 2020.
- ^ "L3Harris flies EC-37B Compass Call electronic warfare jet for first time".
- ^ "EC-37B Mission Design Series designation change to EA-37B". Air Combat Command. 14 November 2023. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
- ^ Tirpak, John A. (20 November 2023). "New EC-37B Gets a Designation Change to EA-37B". Air & Space Forces Magazine. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
- ^ "US Navy to customise G550 AEW airframe for range telemetry support". Jane's International Defence Review. 1 April 2016.
- ^ Trevithick, Joseph (7 September 2018). "Behold The First Official Photo Of The Navy's New NC-37B Missile Tracking Jet". The Drive. Retrieved 2018-10-11.
- ^ "RAAF gets four new EW aircraft - Australian Defence Magazine". australiandefence.com.au. Retrieved 2019-03-18.
- ^ "ELW-2085 - CAEW - Conformal Airborne Early Warning & Control". IAI.
- ^ "Israel to receive the first of three Eitam AEW aircraft". Penton. February 13, 2008.
- ^ "Italy signs G550 AEW deal with Israel". Flight Global. 20 July 2012.
- ^ "Secret NATO Client of Israeli Spy Planes Revealed". Haaretz. 28 April 2022. Retrieved 10 September 2022.
- ^ Govindasamy, Siva (February 23, 2009). "Singapore takes delivery of first G550 AEW". Flight International.
- ^ "Utilizzo della Nomenclatura "Mission Design Series" (MDS) nelle Pubblicazioni Tecniche (PP.TT.) di competenza della DAAA AER(EP).0-0-12" (PDF). Ministero Della Defesa. 11 December 2020. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
- ^ Egozi, Arie (August 13, 2007). "IAI and Gulfstream planning G550 tanker". Flight International.
- ^ Egozi, Arie (December 23, 2010). "IAI continues to evaluate G550 for air refuelling". Flight International.
- ^ "G550 Brochure" (PDF). Gulfstream. July 2016.
- ^ "Gulfstream V in Service For 10 years" (Press release). Gulfstream. June 18, 2007.
External links
- Official Gulfstream G550 page
- "Gulfstream G550". GlobalSecurity.org.
- "G550 ownership registry by state". FAA.