G650ER Image Credit:Gulfstream Gulfstream announced that its G650ER ultra long range business jet has circumnavigated the globe in on...
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| G650ER Image Credit:Gulfstream |
The G650ER took off from White Plains, New York, with three passengers and four crew members on board. It flew 6,939 nautical miles/12,851 kilometers eastbound to Beijing at an average speed of Mach 0.87 for a total flight time of 13 hours and 20 minutes.
The aircraft then flew east bound 6,572 nm/12,171 km to Savannah, accomplishing the mission at an average speed of Mach 0.89 for a total flight time of 12 hours. The aircraft landed both times with fuel in excess of National Business Aviation Association instrument flight rule reserves.
Pending approval by the U.S. National Aeronautic Association, the city-pair records will be sent to the Federation Aeronautique Internationale in Switzerland for recognition as world records.
In addition to the two pending records, the G650ER set two speed records during flight testing in 2014. The aircraft flew from Los Angeles to Melbourne, Australia, in 14 hours and 58 minutes. The G650ER then flew from Hong Kong to Teterboro, New Jersey, in 14 hours and 7 minutes.
The G650ER is the world's longest range business jet and can travel 7,500 nm/13,890 km at Mach 0.85 and 6,400 nm/11,853 km at Mach 0.90. It has a maximum speed of Mach 0.925.
Current G650 owners and order-holders can upgrade their original G650 to a G650ER (Extended Range).
The nearest rival Dassault Falcon 8X, which is capable of flying 6,450 nm (11,945 km) at M.80 achieved maiden flight recently.
