Gulfstream G150 Mid-Size Business Jet, USA

Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, based in Savannah, Georgia, announced the wide-cabin, high-speed G150 business jet in September 2002. The G150 is a wide-cabin version of the successful G100 business jet. The aircraft was developed by Gulfstream and Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI). The first fight was successfully completed in May 2005.

The aircraft is manufactured in the IAI production facilities in Tel Aviv and the first aircraft roll out was in January 2005.

Type certification by the Israel Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) was received in November 2005, followed by validation by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

The aircraft was flown to Gulfstream's manufacturing facility in Dallas for completion and entered service in August 2006 with Gulfstream as a company demonstrator. The G150 replaces the G100, which ceased production in January 2006. By September 2007, 19 aircraft were in service.

Gulfstream G150 performance

The G150 has a long-range cruise speed of Mach 0.75 (895km/h), flying four passengers non-stop up to 5,467km (3,397 miles), equivalent to non-stop New York to Los Angeles, London to Moscow, or Rio de Janeiro to Santiago. The aircraft can reach speeds up to 1,015km/h (Mach 0.85) and altitudes up to 13,716m (45,000ft).

The wings are fitted with pneumatic de-icing systems.

Cabin

The cabin, with maximum width 1.45m and height 1.70m, is wider and higher than the G100 and gives stand-up headroom, generous legroom and ample aisle space in a choice of configurations for up to eight passengers.

The interior design styles are based on the operator's selection of leathers, upholstery fabrics, wood finishes and floor coverings.

The cabin is fitted with a Honeywell environmental control system and is pressurised to a differential of 0.61bar using engine bleed air.

G150 flight deck

The aircraft is equipped with a Rockwell Collins Pro Line21 integrated avionics suite. The flight deck accommodates two crew and is fitted with a Rockwell Collins EFD-4077 electronic flight information system which provides data to the four 18.4cm display screens.

The dual UNS-1C flight management systems have an integrated global positioning system and Rockwell Collins FCC-4005 autopilot. The navigation systems include dual AHC-85E attitude and heading reference systems, ADC-850C air data systems, VIR-432 navigation markers, DME-442 distance measuring equipment, single automatic direction finder ADF-462, an ALT-55B radio altimeter, a terrain collision avoidance system TCAS-94, a Honeywell EGPWS electronic ground proximity warning system and TWR-850 colour weather radar.

The communications suite comprises VHF-422C cockpit radios, RTU-4220 tuners and TDR-94D transponders, Baker B12135 audio sets, Magnastar flight telephones, Rockwell Collins HF 9000 radio, Motorola NA-1335 Selcal selective calling unit, Artex ELT emergency locator transponder and a Universal CVR-30B cockpit voice recorder.

Turbofan engines

The aircraft is powered by two Honeywell TFE731-40R turbofan engines each rated at 19.6kN. The engines are pylon mounted on each side of the rear section of the fuselage. The engine air intakes have a thermal anti-icing system. The aircraft carries a maximum fuel load of 4,581kg in the tanks in the inner and outer wing sections and in upper and lower tanks in the centre fuselage.

The electrical system has two Lucas Aerospace engine driven 300A 30VDC starter generators and two 24V 24 ampere-hours nickel cadmium batteries.

G150 nusiness jet landing gear GEAR

The aircraft is fitted with twin-wheeled tricycle-type landing gear. The landing gear is hydraulically retractable and is equipped with anti-skid brakes. The nosewheel steers through +58º to -58º.