Gulfstream debuts business jet

By Kelly Yamanouchi

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Gulfstream Aerospace unveiled its new G650 business jet under development at its headquarters in Savannah on Tuesday, saying once deliveries begin it will be the fastest civil aircraft.

About 7,000 officials, customers, suppliers, employees and others attended the event in the G650 manufacturing building, where the jet rolled out on its own power, according to Gulfstream. The company first announced its plans for the G650 in March 2008 and now has 200 orders for the jet.

The company expects certification of the G650 in 2011 and plans to begin deliveries to customers in 2012. An ultra-long-range jet, it will be capable of flying 7,000 nautical miles at 0.85 Mach, at an altitude up to 51,000 feet to avoid heavy air traffic and bad weather. Gulfstream said the jet will seat up to 18 passengers and will have the largest cabin of its kind in business aviation.

A subsidiary of Falls Church, Va.-based General Dynamics, Gulfstream has developed a fleet of midsize cabin to ultra-large cabin business jets and has more than 9,000 employees at seven locations.