Gulfstream G650 Sets Speed Record

March 5, 2013
Gulfstream Aerospace Corp.’s new ultra-large-cabin, ultra-long-range G650 recently set another city-pair speed record, this time between Melbourne and Abu Dhabi. The record is the flagship aircraft’s sixth potential record this year.

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates, March 5, 2013 — Gulfstream Aerospace Corp.’s new ultra-large-cabin, ultra-long-range G650 recently set another city-pair speed record, this time between Melbourne and Abu Dhabi. The record is the flagship aircraft’s sixth potential record this year.


The speed record was set as the demonstration aircraft departed Avalon 2013 for the Abu Dhabi Air Expo. The G650, carrying five crew and two passengers, took off from Melbourne International Airport and landed 13 hours and 5 minutes later at Abu Dhabi Al Bateen Executive Airport. The G650 cruised at an average speed of Mach 0.87 for the 6,329-nm (11,721 km) flight.


The Melbourne-Abu Dhabi trip is the demonstration aircraft’s longest duration nonstop flight since it entered service in late 2012. Previously, its longest flight was from Doha, Qatar, to Teterboro, N.J., a journey of 6,102 nm (11,301 km) that the aircraft accomplished in 13 hours and 3 minutes.


Pending approval by the U.S. National Aeronautic Association, this record will be sent to the Federation Aeronautique Internationale in Switzerland for recognition as a world record.
With a range of 7,000 nm (12,964 km) at Mach 0.85, the G650 can fly farther than any other business jet, enabling operators to reach more city-pairs nonstop. At Mach 0.90, the G650 can fly 6,000 nm (11,112 km), reducing flight times by up to an hour. Its top speed of Mach 0.925 makes the G650 the fastest civilian aircraft in service.

Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), designs, develops, manufactures, markets, services and supports the world’s most technologically advanced business-jet aircraft. Gulfstream has produced more than 2,000 aircraft for customers around the world since 1958. To meet the diverse transportation needs of the future, Gulfstream offers a comprehensive fleet of aircraft, comprising the wide-cabin, high-speed Gulfstream G150®; the new large-cabin, mid-range Gulfstream G280®; the large-cabin, long-range Gulfstream G450®; the large-cabin, ultra-long-range Gulfstream G550® and the ultra-large-cabin, ultra-long-range G650®. Gulfstream also offers aircraft ownership services via Gulfstream Pre-Owned Aircraft Sales®. The company employs more than 12,500 people at 12 major locations. We invite you to visit our website for more information and photos of Gulfstream aircraft at www.gulfstream.com.
General Dynamics, headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia, is a market leader in business aviation; land and expeditionary combat systems, armaments and munitions; shipbuilding and marine systems; and information systems and technologies. More information about the company is available on the Internet at www.generaldynamics.com.