Gulfstream G550

Gulfstream's G550 is a long-range business jet with a large cabin and an attractive look. Less than a fortnight after entering service, a Gulfstream G550 flew non-stop from Seoul, South Korea to Orlando, FL, making the 7,301-mile trip in fourteen and a half hours and setting a record. The jet continued its record-setting ways (establishing forty city pair records in its first five years in service).

The G550 is a stout aircraft that has an international range. It is powered by twin Rolls Royce BR710 turbofans, and it has a range of 6,750 nautical miles at Mach .80, and cruising speed of Mach .87. With its very long range, the G550 makes it easy to get between DC and London, Tokyo, Singapore, Dubai and Paris.

As one may expect, the G550 comes equipped with the PlaneView cockpit, which is business aviation's most advanced flight system. The PlaneView is based on Honeywell's Primus Epic display system and architecture, and it offers flight information on fourteen-inch LCDs that are arranged for easier viewing.

The aircraft's cockpit is chock-full of avionics technology. The G550 has the Gulfstream CCD or Signature Cursor Control Device, which improves pilot/avionics interactions. There's also a HUD (heads up display) that is fully integrated with the EVS (Enhanced Vision System), which takes pictures of the plane's surroundings and offers the pilot a good view of runways, taxiways and the surrounding environment, even in inclement weather. Gulfstream was the first manufacturer to offer a synthetic vision system, and the SVPFD offers greater situational awareness.

The Gulfstream G550 offers a mix of comfort and productivity, with four living/working areas, three climate zones, and a choice of a dozen floor plans that can seat up to eighteen people. There are a wide variety of communications features that make working en route easier, such as a wireless network, printer, fax machine and a satellite link.