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Business jet manufacturer Gulfstream Aero has celebrated its ultra-long-range flight, the farthest and fastest in the business jet market’s history. The Gulfstream G800 successfully flew from Melbourne Airport (MEL) in Australia, non-stop to Moline Quad Cities Airport (MLI) in the US state of Illinois.
The aircraft, which covered the 8,303 nautical miles (15,377 km) in just under 17 hours, with a total travel time gate to gate of 16 hours and 56 minutes. This latest achievement adds additional bragging rights for the plane maker, where it competes head-to-head with Bombardier and Dassault, who are both attempting to match the plane’s speed and range.
G800 Has Set The Benchmark For Fast And Further Flying
Gulfstream deployed the G800 on the Melbourne to Moline route on June 28, as it looked to test the aircraft’s capabilities for ultra-long-haul flying. Along the journey, the plane was able to achieve an average cruise speed of approximately Mach 0.85, which is at the limit of its long-range cruise setting.
Covering the distance between the Australian state of Victoria and the US state of Illinois, this exceeded the aircraft’s advertised long-range cruise figure of 8,200 nautical miles (15,186 km), highlighting that the plane itself can travel further than its official range chart in usual conditions. This latest feat emphasises the G800’s appeal to connect cities across the world without the need for a fuel stop. Mark Burns, president of Gulfstream, explains:
“With every new aircraft, Gulfstream continues to push the boundaries of performance for our customers. Reaching our 800th city pair speed record and completing the farthest fastest flight in our industry’s history demonstrates the strength of our next-generation fleet and the advanced capabilities of the G800.”
Life Onboard The Ultra-Long-Haul Flight From Melbourne To Moline
During the flight, those onboard enjoyed a lower cabin altitude of approximately 2,840 feet (866 m) if flying at an altitude of 41,000 feet (12,497 m). Fresh air is replenished every two to three minutes through a plasma ionization air purification system. The interior is able to be configured with four different living area layouts, or three in addition to a crew compartment (which is vital for ultra-long-haul flying).
With this business jet designed for long-range missions, the recent feat that it was able to connect Melbourne to Moline, at a distance that is further than its official range, is a unique accolade that resembles the plane’s competitive edge as the world’s elite look at aircraft that can connect them to most corners of the earth without the need to stop en route.
Additionally, the G800 is able to travel faster, at a speed of Mach 0.90 with an expected range of 7,000 nautical miles (12,964 km), or 8,000 nautical miles (12,816 km) if traveling at Mach 0.87. The maximum operating speed for this aircraft is Mach 0.935.
800th City Pair Speed Record From Iceland To Georgia
In June, Gulfstream also achieved the 800th city pair speed record, as the G800 raced between Reykjavik Keflavik International Airport (KEF), the capital of Iceland, and Savannah Hilton Head International Airport (SAV) in record time. The aircraft connected the two cities at an average cruise speed of Mach 0.91, with a flight time of five hours and 52 minutes.
Covering a distance of 2,973 nautical miles (5,505 km), this is the 800th city pair speed record Gulfstream has achieved. Gulfstream has achieved a total of 815 speed records across its range of business jet aircraft. 15 of these have been set by the G800 since it entered service in August 2025.
The latest achievement for Gulfstream is not only flying its fastest flight from Iceland to Georgia, but also connecting its furthest and fastest flight from Australia to Illinois, which celebrates the aircraft’s capabilities and supports the plane’s position as a long-haul leader in the business jet market. Achieving speed records is an important accolade for the Gulfstream marketing approach, as it highlights the plane’s abilities as it competes with Dassault and Bombardier in this lucrative market.
