Gulfstream’s G650 and G280 Flying Green

Showing the company’s commitment to green fuels, Gulfstream flew all five of its display and demonstration airplanes to NBAA 2012 in Orlando on a blend of Jet A and biofuel…

Showing the company’s commitment to green fuels, Gulfstream flew all five of its display and demonstration airplanes to NBAA 2012 in Orlando on a blend of Jet A and biofuel, a mix that is calculated to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by up to 68 percent. Called Honeywell Green Jet Fuel, the biofuel is manufactured from the natural oil extracted from camelina – an inedible and fast-growing member of the mustard family that can tolerate conditions other food crops can’t, or can be grown in rotation with cereal crops, making it a promising biofuel crop. Gulfstream’s aircraft displayed at NBAA 2012 included the G550, G450, G150 and the recently certified Gulfstream G650 and G280.

In a recent press release, Gulfstream noted that the G650 has demonstrated its ability to fly faster and further than any other airplane in the competitive category of business jets. With a range of 6,000 nautical miles at Mach 0.90, the G650 can fly nonstop between a number of high traffic destinations, including between Shanghai and London, and New York and Dubai, completing a 6,000 nm trip in twelve hours. Promoted as the ‘gold standard in business aviation’, the G650’s maximum cruise speed is Mach 0.925, while its Rolls-Royce BR725 engines burn less fuel and produce a lower rate of emissions than competing airplanes currently do. Taller, wider and longer than any other cabin in its class, up to eighteen people can be comfortable accommodated in the G650 cabin, with buyers having the option of twelve floor plans to suit specific needs. Claiming to be the ‘most technologically advanced business aircraft in the sky’, the G650 boasts a host of safety features, including the Head-up Display (HUD) II, Enhanced Vision System (EVS) II™ and the Synthetic Vision-Primary Flight Display (SV-PFD).

Visitors to NBAA 2012 had a chance to view the Gulfstream G280 – a mid-sized jet with the capability of covering a distance of 3,600 nm at Mach 0.80. Providing seating for up to ten passengers in a quiet cabin featuring large windows, the G280 is designed with comfort in mind. The advanced PlaneView280™ cockpit improves safety by decreasing pilot workload and enhancing situational awareness. Other safety features in the cockpit include optional HUD II guidance systems and Enhanced Vision Systems II.