Gulfstream Aerospace has announced two new city-pair speed records for its Gulfstream G550 ultra-long-range, large-cabin aircraft. Both flights were between locations in the United States and Mongolia, and both have been certified by the National Aeronautic Association as U.S. records. The documentation has been forwarded to the Federation Aeronautique Internationale for approval as world records.Details, provided by Gulfstream:
The business jet flew 3,813 nautical miles from Anchorage, Alaska, to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, in 7 hours and 57 minutes at an average cruise speed of 0.85 Mach into headwinds of 14 knots. The G550 then flew 5,868 nautical miles from Ulaanbaatar to San Diego averaging a speed of 0.82 Mach with an average headwind of 5 knots. The flight lasted 12 hours and 34 minutes.The G550 entered service in September 2003. Since then it has set nearly 40 city-pair records.
The pilot for the flight from Anchorage was Karen F. Tribbett, demonstration captain, Gulfstream. The copilot was Raymond A. Wellington, senior international captain, Gulfstream. For the flight to San Diego, Wellington was the pilot and Tribbett the copilot. Gulfstream flight attendant Emily Ann Caldwell and eight passengers were onboard both flights.
Because of the Russian air system’s structure, the flights were approximately 500 nautical miles longer than the great circle route. In addition, the aircraft flew at a less-than-optimum flight level (FL) of 39,700 feet for the first seven hours of the flight from UIaanbaatar to San Diego.
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