The Gulfstream G200 super mid-size intercontinental business jet made its debut in the year 2000, two years after a prototype of the aircraft appeared.
The jet was first produced as the Galaxy business jet by Galaxy Aerospace, headquartered at Alliance Airport in Fort Worth, Texas. In June 2001, Galaxy was acquired by Gulfstream parent company General Dynamics and the aircraft was renamed the G200.
"The Gulfstream G200 is a super mid-size intercontinental business jet."
In January 2002, the G200 completion centre was moved from Alliance Fort Worth to Gulfstream's plant at Dallas Love Field, Texas.
Israeli Aircraft Industries (IAI) was a co-owner of Galaxy Aerospace and continues to manufacture the G200 at its Tel Aviv plant and the aircraft are flown to Dallas for completion.
The first customer delivery of a G200 intercontinental business jet was made in January 2000 to TTI Incorporated. The G200 is also operated by Lions Air, a charter service based in Altenrhein, Switzerland, United Airlines subsidiary Avolar, which has ordered 24 G200 with 43 options, Hainan Airlines of China, with three G200 jets on order, NetJets fractional ownership operator, which has ordered 50 aircraft with 50 on option, and Metrojet of Hong Kong. The 100th G200 jet was rolled out in September 2004. The 200th G200 aircraft was completed in June 2008.
Gulfstream cabin
The G200 can be configured for eight to 18 passengers. The aircraft has a ten-passenger configuration that includes a conference / dining table for four, with a three-seat divan opposite. The G200 has a cabin height of 6ft 3in (1.91m) and a width of 7ft 2in (2.18m), allowing cabin configurations more common in the largest business aircraft.
In February 2005, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued approved installation of the satellite-based High-Speed Data System (HSDS) in G200 jets, allowing passengers fast access to internet-based communications. HSDS is being offered as an option for new jets or as a retrofit.
G200 performance
The G200 also delivers intercontinental capability. Range with eight passengers is 3,346 nautical miles with NBAA IFR reserves. Maximum payload is 4,800lbs. In a corporate shuttle configuration, the G200 can carry enough fuel to fly 2,710nm with NBAA IFR reserves.
"The 200th Gulfstream G200 intercontinental business jet was rolled out in June 2008."
Its typical cruise speed is Mach 0.82. Powered by twin Pratt & Whitney Canada PW 306A engines; the G200 is fuel efficient, as well as quiet.
The G200 is fully certified for flight in all weather conditions, including known icing. Icing tests were the last certification item to be completed, with a test aircraft concluding a series of tests in natural icing conditions over Northern Europe in early December 2000.
Runway performance
Runway performance has improved from earlier projections, with takeoff distances at maximum takeoff weight decreasing from 6,040ft to 5,900ft. Hot and high performance is a strong suit of the G200, which can carry eight passengers from Aspen to New York, taking off on a 74°F (ISA+24°C) day.
Turbofan engines
The G200's two Pratt & Whitney Canada PW 306A turbofan engines provide the power (26.9kN (6,040lb) of thrust each) to take off at gross weight on a standard day and climb directly to 45,000ft.
Digital Electronic Engine Controls (DEECs) simplify engine operation, allowing automated thrust and fuel management, and provide monitoring and fault analysis capability. The G200 also has a highly adaptable wing designed to guarantee stability at the low end of the speed range.
The G200 was the second super-midsize aircraft to hit the market, Dassault’s Falcon 2000 was first in 1995, and it quickly garnered attention for several reasons. For one thing, the stylish 24.5-foot-long cabin, created by the New York design firm Henry Dreyfuss & Associates, is roomy, light and airy.
Three possible cabin layouts are available: double club four; single club four with conference grouping opposite a berthable divan; and club four with half club and divan. You’ll find master cabin controls at the VIP seat location, three 110-volt outlets throughout the cabin with adjacent data ports and a 15-inch LCD monitor embedded in the forward cabin bulkhead. The standard entertainment setup includes two DVD players, a CD player and Airshow 400. G200s can be fitted for satcom, XM satellite radio and high-speed Internet.
The G200, which has a spotless accident record, sold new for $18.75 million in 2001 and today can be had for around $14 million (typically equipped, a new one goes for $22.07 million). Used-market competitors include the Cessna Citation X and the Dassault Falcon 2000 series. The G200 holds its value on par with the Citation X, but nothing matches the Falcon 2000’s ability to retain value.
The changes made to the G200 were not cheap or easy, but they paid off. Today, G200 owners generally give Gulfstream’s industry-leading product support high marks. Properly retrofitted and maintained used G200s, while not perfect, are good values and remain popular among
The first Galaxy, now renamed the G200, business jet was delivered in January 2000.
The G200 business jet has an IFR range of 6,667km (3,600nm).
The business jet is powered by twin Pratt & Whitney Canada PW 306A engines.
The G200 can be configured for eight to 18 passengers.
The business jet's typical cruise speed is Mach 0.82.
The G200 has a cabin height of 6ft 3in (1.91m) and width of 7ft 2in (2.18m).
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The Galaxy purchase gave Gulfstream, previously a maker of only large-cabin jets, the type certificates of two downstream aircraft: the Galaxy super-midsize business jet and the smaller Astra SPX, both designed and manufactured by Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) of Tel Aviv. Gulfstream quickly rebranded the twin-engine jets as the G200 and G100, respectively, and overnight it had a diverse product line. (Rebranding of the Gulfstream IV-SP and GV models to the G300 through G550 designations came a year later, in 2002.)
The program has produced many positive results. The G200's interior completion cycle time fell from 14 months to four. Exceptions at delivery plunged 90 percent to less than 10 per aircraft. Dispatch rates have also markedly improved, from 90 percent in 2001 to more than 99 percent today.
The changes made to the G200 were not cheap or easy, but they paid off. Today, G200 owners generally give Gulfstream's industry-leading product support high marks (see chart on preceding page). Properly retrofitted and maintained used G200s, while not perfect, are good values.
Sukesha Mishra
Marketing Trannie at AeroSoft
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