Nearing FAA Nod, G600 Starts Field-performance Tests

With FAA certification trials for ice shapes and stall speed testing now completed, the Gulfstream G600 is now moving on to field-performance testing. FAA certification of the new twinjet is expected by year-end, with deliveries planned to start early next year. In the above photo, G600 (c/n 73001) N600G tbr N601GA is seen during a test flight out of Savannah-Hilton Head International Airport (SAV/KSAV).
(Photo: Gulfstream Aerospace)

The Gulfstream G600 has begun FAA certification field-performance testing as it progresses toward expected approval by the U.S. agency by year-end. Its sibling, the G500, earned FAA type certification and its production certificate on July 20, with customer deliveries slated to begin later this year.

According to Gulfstream Aerospace, the G600 also recently completed FAA certification trials for ice shapes and stall speed testing. Since first flight on Dec. 17, 2016, the five flight-test G600s have accumulated some 2,290 flight hours over more than 600 flights.

“We continue to make steady progress toward certifying the all-new G600 later this year and beginning customer deliveries in 2019,” said Gulfstream president Mark Burns. “With the performance we’re seeing from the five flight-test aircraft in this program, I am confident our clients will be impressed with the aircraft we deliver. The recent type certification for the G500 is added motivation and inspiration for us to bring the G600 across the finish line and into the hands of our customers.”

The G600 will be able to fly 6,500 nm at Mach 0.85 and 5,100 nm at Mach 0.90. Top speed will be Mach 0.92, making it among the fastest civil aircraft currently in production.

(Chad Trautvetter - AINOnline News)