Gulfstream's G280 acheives certification

The G280 is a joint effort between Gulfstream and IAI. It also achieved Israeli certification.

“Gulfstream is excited to bring this aircraft to its customers, especially since we’re able to provide a plane that does more than we originally announced,” said Larry Flynn, president, Gulfstream. “The G280 has a range of 3,600 nautical miles (6,667 km) at Mach 0.80. This increase of 200 nm (370 km) over our original projections results in increased fuel efficiency and lower operating costs for our customers. It’s the only mid-sized aircraft that can reliably fly nonstop between London and New York. Additionally, our customers will find that the newly designed G280 has a great deal in common with large-cabin Gulfstream aircraft in terms of safety, reliability, handling, styling and cabin management. The G280 is an all-around fantastic plane.”

The G280 was announced four years ago as a replacement for the large-cabin, mid-range G200.

The G280, with a top speed of Mach 0.85, has already set four city-pair speed records. It features an advanced wing design and fuel-efficient Honeywell HTF250G engines, each of which delivers 7,445 pounds of thrust. The significant range and speed increase compared to the G200 is achieved while burning less fuel.

The G280 has an all-new, advanced transonic wing design that has been optimized for high-speed cruise and improved takeoff field length performance. At its maximum takeoff weight of 39,600 pounds (17,963 kg), the aircraft offers a balanced field length of 4,750 feet (1,448 m), an improvement of more than 1,300 feet (396 m) over the G200 it replaces and 210 feet (64 m) less than originally announced at the program’s outset.

The community noise characteristics are a cumulative 15.8 dB below FAA Stage 4 noise requirements.  This level is more than 5 dB quieter than the predecessor model and reflects Gulfstream’s continuing commitment to improved design.

The G280 includes auto braking as a standard feature. This system improves passenger comfort and reduces brake wear, resulting in lower operating costs. It also improves safety while reducing pilot workload. The brake-by-wire system features an individual, anti-skid, completely independent mechanical backup and a brake temperature monitoring system.

In the cockpit, the G280 features the most advanced flight deck in its class, the PlaneView280TM, based on Rockwell Collins ProLine Fusion avionics. It includes three 15-inch (36-cm) liquid crystal displays that are capable of showing  multiple formats, including a navigation map with terrain; approach and airport charts; graphical flight planning, and optional enhanced vision.

The aircraft has the longest seating area in its class and a total cabin length of 25 feet, 10 inches. This additional space provides for a larger lavatory, an improved galley and increased storage. Customers can select from three interior floor plans, which seat from eight to 10 and berth up to four. All of them offer significant storage capabilities, with total storage of up to 154 cubic feet (4.63 cubic meters).

The significantly larger lavatory is accented by two windows, a contemporary sink with raised ledge, a full-length closet and a vacuum toilet system with overboard venting, the only system of its kind in this class of aircraft.

The cabin contains a larger, ergonomically designed galley that features an extra-large ice drawer with gasper-cooled storage, a sink with hot and cold water, and increased storage capacity.

Further contributing to the extraordinary cabin environment is an advanced environmental control system that provides 100 percent fresh air and a low cabin altitude: 7,000 feet (2,130 m) at FL450 and 6,000 feet (1,828 m) at FL410.

 “This aircraft leads its class in every significant aspect of performance and comfort,” Flynn said.