A warm summer day in Savannah proved an ideal setting to demonstrate the capabilities of Gulfstream’s G650ER. MATT THURBER MATT PILOT REPORT Gulfstream© 2017 G650ER Flying the manufacturer’s biggest and longest-range jet by Matt Thurber Just nine years after Gulfstream Aerospace The G650 also represents a transition for Gulf- www.ainonline.com unveiled its largest and longest-range business stream, into the realm of fly-by-wire (FBW) flight jet—the G650—and five years after certifica- controls. While such a move was inevitable—every tion, 250 G650s, 120 of them the ultra-long- major business jet OEM has fielded or is develop- range G650ER, are plying the world’s skies. ing FBW jets—the G650 is unusual because it’s To say that Gulfstream’s timing could not have likely the only FBW Gulfstream that will ever fea- been better would be an understatement. The ture the traditional yoke-operated flight controls. G650 tapped into a market that was shying away The new G500 and G600 are equipped with sides- from smaller jets and eager for a large-cabin ultra- ticks, the control of choice for most FBW designs, long-range jet that could connect city pairs never but also noteworthy in that their sidesticks are elec- before considered. tronically tied to each other and move together as © 2017 AIN Publications. All Rights Reserved. For Reprints go to AVIATION INTERNATIONAL NEWS • OCTOBER 2017 PILOT REPORT if mechanically connected. “Some customers buy the -ER and don’t need The G650 design of two yokes mechanically maximum range, but they want the added payload,” connected as in traditional flight controls is a lot said Kevan Jackson, director of the G650/G650ER like Boeing’s FBW designs, thus far also employ- programs. “It gives them a lot more flexibility or ing yokes because Boeing’s philosophy is that it reserves.” No additional strengthening of the wings, helps pilots maintain situational awareness when fuselage or landing gear was needed for the -ER as they can see the other pilot’s flight controls mov- the G650 had margin to accommodate the added ing in concert with their own manipulation of the weight, he explained. controls. The G500/G600 active sidesticks (a BAE While the G650 and -ER’s Rolls-Royce BR725 design) also move in concert, thus maintaining the engines share the same core as the BR710s in the control-awareness philosophy. G550, the BR725 has a larger fan and delivers There are advantages to FBW, independent of the 16,900 pounds of thrust at sea level ISA while type of cockpit control, and not just a smoother ride operating 17 percent more quietly than the BR710 for passengers or better protection from exceeding and with lower emissions. certain flight parameters. For larger jets such as the The G650, like all Gulfstream jets, carries on the G650, FBW allows designers to tune the handling clean-wing tradition, with excellent takeoff and of the airplane and give pilots something entirely landing and high-speed performance achieved different from what they might expect. without the added complexity of leading-edge As a rough analog, after flying the G650ER and slats. Unlike those on many other heavy jets, Gulf- last year the G550, I was able to compare the han- stream wings also benefit aerodynamically from dling of the two jets. The G550 has classic hydrauli- simpler single-slotted Fowler-type flaps, without cally operated controls, which does afford designers all the hardware and fairings that accompany more some latitude to improve handling, but the G550 complex flaps systems. is more work to hand fly, somewhat heavy on the Construction of the G650 is primarily tradi- controls and heavily dependent on trim to keep the tional riveted aluminum, but Gulfstream has fur- workload comfortable. By comparison, I found ther developed the capability to more efficiently the larger and heavier G650ER had much easier manufacture bonded structure, and that is how handling, something that I have also found with much of the fuselage and other components are Embraer’s FBW Legacy 450 and 500 and Dassault’s made. “This all leads to a better cabin experience, FBW Falcon 8X. longer range, higher speed and more quality and reliability,” said Jackson. G650ER Features The incremental improvements that brought In most respects the G650 and G650ER are similar. about the G650ER make it Gulfstream’s lon- www.ainonline.com In fact, the extra fuel in the -ER required no rede- gest-range jet, and this performance doesn’t sign of the wing as the fuel volume there was already come at the expense of speed. At Mach 0.85, able to accommodate an additional 4,000 pounds of the G650ER can fly eight passengers 7,500 nm. fuel. The -ER’s total fuel capacity is 48,200 pounds, Speed up to Mach 0.90, and the range drops to but that extra 4,000 pounds doesn’t benefit only 6,400 nm, 350 nm fewer than the max range for range as it can also be used for added payload while the G550, but the G550 does that at Mach 0.80. carrying the 44,200-pound fuel load of the regular By comparison, the G650 can fly 7,000 nm at G650. All fuel is carried in the wings, and as in all Mach 0.85. Gulfstreams, the center of gravity won’t move out “Most customers fly at [Mach] 0.90 or 0.91,” of the forward or rear limit as the fuel load varies. Jackson said. But the flexibility the G650ER © 2017 AIN Publications. All Rights Reserved. For Reprints go to AVIATION INTERNATIONAL NEWS • OCTOBER 2017 PILOT REPORT offers means that fuel can be traded for payload The G650/G650ER cabin is Gulfstream’s wid- without compromising range. “It gives them a lot est and tallest, with a 102-inch width and 77-inch more flexibility or reserves,” he said. height. This compares to the G550 at 88 inches wide and 74 inches high. The new G500/G600 Cabin Accoutrements cabin splits the difference, with a width of 95 At the maximum altitude of 51,000 feet, the cabin inches and height of 76 inches. altitude in both G650 models is a low 4,850 feet, The cabin seating area is 47 feet 10 inches long, dropping to 3,290 feet at 41,000 feet, with 100 allowing buyers four zones to outfit to fit their percent fresh air replenished every two minutes needs. A variety of interior options are avail- by the environmental control system. Eight win- able, from a shower and special wardrobe/stor- dows on each side of the fuselage illuminate the age options in the lavatory to a forward galley interior, with more light available from windows opposite a crew rest area. The forward galley is that are 28 by 20.5 inches, 19 percent larger than illuminated with natural light from the windows. the G550’s. “It makes a difference,” Jackson said, There is enough space for a real refrigerator with especially because even tall passengers don’t have a freezer or a fridge-only option, and also for to bend down to look outside. a stainless-steel appliance stack. The galley is www.ainonline.com The G650ER’s spacious interior allows for a variety of optional layouts and equipment, including a shower, forward or aft galley and crew rest area. © 2017 AIN Publications. All Rights Reserved. For Reprints go to AVIATION INTERNATIONAL NEWS • OCTOBER 2017 PILOT REPORT fitted with a touchscreen control panel that can Gulfstream G650ER be used to manage all the cabin amenities from Specifications and Performance one location. Gulfstream engineers have devoted a great deal Price $67 million of effort to silence jet cabins, and the G650ER’s is (typically completed and equipped) extremely quiet, so much so, Jackson said, “that we Rolls-Royce BR725 A1-12 Engines (2) sometimes have to be careful about conversations 16,900 lbs thrust we’re having in the cabin.” Adding to the quiet are Gulfstream PlaneView II pocket doors for the lavatory and one that covers Avionics (Honeywell Primus Epic) the opening for the main door during flight. Like all other Gulfstream current-production Passengers (maximum) 3 crew + 19 pax jets, the G650 is equipped with the Gulfstream Maximum range 7,500 nm cabin management system. Passenger control units (NBAA IFR, 200-nm alternate) are available at each seat and on iOS or Android mobile devices, allowing passengers to adjust High-speed cruise Mach .90 temperature, lighting, window shades and enter- Long-range cruise speed Mach .85 tainment options. Gulfstream’s CabinView is a cus- tomizable system for display of flight progress and Fuel capacity 48,200 lbs points of interest as well as for delivery of passen- Max payload w/full fuel 1,800 lbs ger briefings. G650s now have optional high-def- inition external cameras, and these are a popular Ceiling (certified) 51,000 ft option, according to Jackson. Early G650s were Cabin altitude 4,850 ft available with standard-definition cameras. at max altitude Most G650 buyers are opting for Honeywell’s Max takeoff weight 103,600 lbs JetConnex high-speed Ka-band satcom. “A lot of Takeoff distance 6,299 ft business is conducted on these airplanes,” he said. (sea level, standard) “[Broadband Internet access] is very important.” Length 99.75 ft Like the G450/G550, passengers and crew can access the G650’s baggage compartment in flight. Wingspan 99.6 ft The Gulfstream Aircraft Service Change for this feature was first approved by the EASA and is Height 25.7 ft close to being approved by the FAA.