Photograph:
Gulfstream G-200 B-KMJ (c/n 090) at Avalon, VIC in March 2005 (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
United States of America
Description:
Business and executive aircraft
Power Plant:
Two 6,040 lbst Pratt & Whitney PW306A turbofans
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 18.97 m (62 ft 3 in)
- strong>Length: 18.97 m (62 ft 3 in)
- Height: 6.55 m (21 ft 5 in)
- Wing area: 34.28 m² (369 sq ft)
- Cruising speed: 880 km/h (547 mph)
- Max range: 6,668 km (4,144 miles)
- Balanced field length: 1,854 m (6,083 ft)
- Landing roll: 1,001 m (3,285 ft)
- Max certificated altitude: 13,716 m (45,000 ft)
- Max zero fuel weight: 10,886 kg (24,000 lb)
- Max payload weight: 1,905 kg (4,200 lb)
- Usable fuel: 6,804 kg (15,000 lb)
- Useful load: 6,804 kg (15,000 lb)
- Loaded weight: 16,080 kg (35,450 lb)
History:
Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation was founded in 1958 and was a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics. On 9 September 2002 at the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) convention in Orlando, Florida it introduced changes to its product line, and changes of designation. These included the Gulfstream G-100, G-150, G-200, G-300, G-400, G-450, G-500 and G-550, the G-450 being a new design at that time. In December 2002 production commenced of the G-400 and G-300, these two receiving Joint Aviation Authority certification in July 2003. These two were later updated with the new PlaneView cockpit and became the G-350 and G-450. In February 2004 the G-350 was introduced.
The G-200 was a large-cabin, mid-range aircraft with seating for a crew of two and up to eight passengers and, with two Pratt & Whitney PW306A turbofan engines, was able to fly at Mach 0.85 at altitudes up to 13,716 m (45,000 ft). It was initially developed by Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) and was marketed by a subsidiary, Galaxy Aerospace Inc.
Design work on what was known initially as the IAI-1126 Galaxy began in the early 1990s and a formal launch of the program was made in September 1993. In 1995 a co-production agreement that had been set up with Yakovlev in Russia, which had been responsible for the construction of the fuselage, was terminated. Later SOGERMA in France began manufacture of the fuselage and tail.
The prototype G-200 first flew on 25 December 1997, a second prototype flying in May 1998 and the first production aircraft in October 1998. It was then produced as the Galaxy by Galaxy Aerospace at Alliance Airport, Forth Worth, Texas, but in June 2001 that company was acquired by General Dynamics and the aircraft was re-named.
Production aircraft were assembled and test flown in Israel and completion of the interior took place in Texas. After some time it received progressive improvements and was able to be tailored to meet individual customer requirements.
Certification from the European Aviation Safety Agency was received on 7 September 2004. The G-200 was certified for flight in all weather conditions, including known icing. Digital Electronic Engine controls simplified engine operation, allowing automated thrust and fuel management, and providing monitoring and fault analysis capability. The 150th Gulfstream G-200 was delivered in May 2007.
First of the series registered in this region became ZK-RGB (c/n 158 – ex N658GA) in mid 2007 and has been based in Auckland, NZ with Air National Corporate Limited.