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Gulfstream G650 and G280 Make Australian Debut at Avalon 2013

Two Aircraft Set Four Unconfirmed City-Pair Records En Route To Air Show

MELBOURNE, Victoria, Australia, February 25, 2013 — Gulfstream Aerospace Corp.’s two newest aircraft arrived in Australia Monday to participate in the company’s static display at Avalon 2013, an air show and defense exhibition in Geelong, Victoria. It’s the first time both the super mid-sized Gulfstream G280 and the ultra-large-cabin, ultra-long-range G650 have been in Australia.

“We’re thrilled to be able to show these two aircraft to our customers in Australia,” said Scott Neal, senior vice president, Sales and Marketing, Gulfstream. “It’s an opportunity for customers to see firsthand the tremendous capabilities of the G280 and G650, including speed, range, safety, reliability and comfort.”

The two aircraft demonstrated their speed and range en route to Australia, setting a series of potential city-pair records. The G650 set a world record between Honolulu and Auckland, flying 3,868 nm (7,164 km) in 7 hours and 57 minutes. Once approved by the National Aeronautic Association, this record will join eight others already set by the G650.

The G280 set three pending records en route to Avalon. The aircraft took off at maximum weight from Carlsbad, Calif., where it demonstrated its takeoff capabilities from the short runway (4,897 ft/1,492 m). It then flew six people (three passengers and three crew) to Honolulu, a distance of 2,322 nm (4,300 km), in 5 hours and 31 minutes at an average speed of Mach 0.83. The aircraft flew the 2,292 nm (4,245 km) from Honolulu to Pago Pago in 5 hours and 12 minutes at an average speed of Mach 0.83. The flight from Pago Pago to Melbourne, a distance of 2,846 nm (5,270 km), took 7 hours and 16 minutes, at an average speed of Mach 0.80 The G280 has set 22 city-pair records since it entered service in 2012.

The aircraft’s appearance at Avalon 2013 is part of a world demonstration tour intended to introduce the two aircraft to customers. Since entering service in November 2012, the G280 demonstrator has visited 65 cities in 15 countries, accumulating more than 340 flight hours. Its longest nonstop flight was from Savannah to London, a journey of 3,676 nm (6,808 km).

The G650 flies farther, faster and with a larger, more comfortable cabin than any other business jet in service. The G650 world demonstration tour began in mid-January and has already visited 28 locations in six countries, covering 40,000 nm (74,000 km).

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.

February 26, 2013 I Written By

I'm Dave and I am a proud Avgeek. It goes way beyond liking airplanes. It is a passion that cannot be subdued.

Aviation Geek Fest 2013 Only a Month Away #AGF13

Last week I wrote about SocialFlight, a new social media site to help aviation enthusiasts stay connected to others who share their passion for aviation.  Coincidentally, an announcement was made Monday for just the type of event that unites all of us aviation geeks.

The aptly named Aviation Geek Fest 2013 (#AGF13) will be taking place February 16-17 in the Seattle, WA area, with events in both Everett and Renton.  While they have not yet released specific event details, previous years have included tours of the Boeing plant, presentations by Boeing employees, and the always fun geeking out over aircraft that is practically unavoidable in Everett.

While I will not be able to attend thanks to the tight schedule the USAF likes to keep me on, this is exactly the kind of event that I think we need more of.  One of the things I love most about aviation is the willingness of just about everyone to sit there and chat.  It is the fun of trying to one-up the other guy with a cooler experience than he just shared.  In the end we all just have fun hearing about all the cool stuff people have done and seen.

From what I have read about the previous years’ events it also appears to present the opportunity to have experiences that aren’t generally available to just anyone off the street. The tours are generally more in-depth and take you places that aren’t on the normal tours offered by Boeing.

They have also started getting more support from corporate entities like Southwest, United, and Future of Flight that have provided various refreshments and souvenirs for those who attend.

If you are able to attend it sounds like it will be quite the experience.  I’m hoping that I may be able to attend in future years, or that I can find some type of similar function a little closer to home.

You can read about previous years events and see some pictures at these links: AGF09, AGF10, AGF12.

To be added to the mailing list for more details as they become available, you can also join the Aviation Geek Fest Mailing list.

January 8, 2013 I Written By

I'm Dave and I am a proud Avgeek. It goes way beyond liking airplanes. It is a passion that cannot be subdued.

Inaugural AAAE Airport Diversity Summit ‘Pathway to Prosperity’ Coming To Little Rock

Alexandria, Va. –  Creating and enhancing diversity in airports and their communities will be the focus of the inaugural Pathway to Prosperity Summit, November 14-16, 2012, in Little Rock, Arkansas.

The summit, hosted by Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport, will bring together airport and community leaders along with executives from minority-owned, women-owned, and disadvantaged business enterprises (DBEs). Airports that receive federal funding are required to participate in the Department of Transportation’s DBE program. The program is a key driver in both airport and local economic development plans, giving opportunities to businesses that, because of their size or status, may not otherwise be able to participate in airport projects.

“A successful airport must serve the entire community including all the diverse members of the business community,” said Ron Mathieu, C.M., executive director of Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport. “The goal of this summit is to educate airports on how to run a robust DBE program as well as identify the right opportunities for qualified businesses to engage in the program.”

The event will commence with a Wednesday night welcome reception at the William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Museum and continue with one and a half days of panels and educational sessions led by industry experts and thought leaders. The summit will take place at the Double Tree by Hilton Little Rock Hotel.

For more information on the summit, visit the official event website at http://ow.ly/dRLlx or contact AAAE Director, Training & Business Development Starla Bryant, CCA, at (703) 824-0500, Ext. 173 or starla.bryant@aaae.org.

ABOUT AAAE

Founded in 1928, AAAE (www.aaae.org) is the world’s largest professional organization representing the men and women who work at public-use commercial and general aviation airports. AAAE’s 5,000-plus members represent some 850 airports and hundreds of companies and organizations that support the airport industry. Headquartered in Alexandria, Va., AAAE serves its membership through results-oriented representation in Washington, D.C., and delivers a wide range of industry services and professional development opportunities, including training, conferences, and a highly respected accreditation program.

October 8, 2012 I Written By

I'm Dave and I am a proud Avgeek. It goes way beyond liking airplanes. It is a passion that cannot be subdued.