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On June 10 this year, Gulfstream announced that it had delivered its 100th Gulfstream G700. This is the flagship product for Gulfstream’s corporate aircraft. At the same time, the manufacturer also achieved its 100th city-pair speed record. The aircraft flew from Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport (SAV) to San Jose Mineta International Airport (SJC) in just four hours and 36 minutes, averaging Mach 0.91.
This speed record shows that Gulfstream continues to use the incredibly high cruising speed of its corporate plane to differentiate itself from other corporate jets on the market. The differentiator has helped its position in the ongoing competition with the Bombardier Global 7500/8000 to dominate the ultra-long-range business jet market.
The Savannah To San Jose Record
The record-setting flight took four hours and 36 minutes and was from SAV to SJC, Gulfstream’s newsroom reports. The jet then took off from SJC to Teterboro Airport (TEB) in New Jersey, also averaging Mach 0.91. This was another record-setting flight, with a flight time of four hours and 14 minutes. These speeds are incredibly close to the aircraft’s maximum operational speed of Mach 0.935 and higher than its standard cruising speeds of Mach 0.85 for ultra-long-range flying and Mach 0.90 for long-haul aviation.
“The G700 has once again set a new benchmark, firmly establishing itself as the business aviation industry flagship,” said Mark Burns, president, Gulfstream. “As deliveries have increased, so has customer demand. Thanks to the investments Gulfstream and our parent company, General Dynamics, have made in next‑generation manufacturing technology and facilities, the G700 quality and maturity are second to none.”
A number of other notable city-pair records are included in these 100 flights. In November 2024, Gulfstream announced that the plane had achieved its 65th record. The latest record-setting flight was from Savannah to Honolulu, taking eight hours and 52 minutes. The Savannah to Honolulu flight was also notable for using a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) blend. “The G700 is unmatched in performing these record-setting flights and illustrates its unique combination of speed, range and cabin size,” said Burns.
The Specifications That Make These Flights Possible
The start of the G700’s high performance begins with its engines. Its Rolls-Royce Pearl 700 engines combine an extremely high power output with impressive efficiency, allowing it to cruise at Mach 0.90 for flights of a maximum of 6,650 nautical miles (12,316 km). The fantastic engines are combined with industry-leading aerodynamic efficiency to produce these characteristics.
The table below shows a full breakdown of the G700’s specifications according to Gulfstream:
Maximum range | 7,750 nautical miles (14,353 km) or 6,650 nautical miles (12,316 km) for high-speed cruising |
Maximum speed | Mach 0.935 |
Cruising speed | Mach 0.85 to maximize range or Mach 0.90 to maximize speed. |
Takeoff distance | 5,995 ft (1,827 m) |
Cruising altitude | 41,000 ft (12,497 m) initial increasing to 51,000 ft (15,545 m) maximum |
Cabin pressurization altitude | 2,840 ft (866 m) |
Capacity | 19 seated or 13 sleeping, with up to five living areas |
Powerplant | Rolls-Royce Pearl 700 producing a maximum of 18,250 lbf (81.18 kN) for takeoff |
Getting city-pair records isn’t only about maximizing speed but plotting the most direct course possible. Private jets achieve this attribute by operating at extremely high altitudes. In the case of the G700, that is 51,000 ft (15,454 m), far higher than commercial planes, meaning pilots can avoid traffic. This altitude also has less turbulence, giving passengers a more comfortable ride.
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The aircraft is one of the fastest private jets in the sky today.
Making Ultra-Long-Haul Flying Comfortable
The Gulfstream G700 flies extremely long distances, with flight time easily exceeding several hours. Although its high speed reduces the time passengers spend in the air, the high-value owners and passengers of this jet expect to travel in comfort. A low cabin altitude pressurization always helps, improving air quality and reducing fatigue and jet lag.
The G700 achieves this with cabin pressurization to an altitude equivalent to 2,916 ft (889 m) above sea level. Gulfstream claims that this pressurization is the best in class. The air is kept at even higher quality because any new air introduced is fresh rather than being recycled from air already in the cabin.
The cabin itself is also exceptionally comfortable and spacious. The manufacturer describes it as “the most spacious cabin in the industry.” It has room for 19 seated or 13 sleeping passengers. Among the five living areas are a dedicated private meeting room and a master suite with a shower. Commercial passengers can only hope for the latter feature aboard the Emirates Airbus A380. The manufacturer has used materials taken from recycled goods and renewable resources to create its excellent interior. The stretched cabin has 20 large oval windows that let plenty of natural light into the aircraft. A revolutionary lighting set-up also helps.
Advanced Avionics Aid Pilots
Flights of such range and speed as the G700 can manage are incredibly complex. Gulfstream helps these pilots through its Symmetry Flight Deck, which reduces the mental load of operating the aircraft. Firstly, pilots fly the plane using active control sidesticks. These controls are electronically linked to the control surfaces, with feedback that creates a more intuitive flying experience than less advanced electronic controls.
Pilots also have access to extensive touchscreen displays, on which data and controls are clearly shown. The displays form Gulfstream’s HoneywellPrimus Epic avionics system. It has features like Next Generation Flight Management Systems (NGFMS), which optimize fuel efficiency, and Smartview Synthetic Vision, which gives pilots access to 3D terrain visualization.
The landing experience is also made easier with Gulfstream’s award-winning Predictive Landing Performance System. The combination of these features allows pilots to fly efficiently, safely and for extended periods of time. Gulfstream’s Newsroom writes, “More than 700 pilots have been trained and type rated by FlightSafety International, a further testament to the widespread appeal of the Symmetry Flight Deck’s innovative technology and pilot-centric design.”
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Jeff Bezos Is One Of Many Celebrities To Benefit From The G700’s Speed
The G700’s unique capabilities have led many high-value celebrities to choose it for their private jet needs. An example is Jeff Bezos, owner of Amazon. In 2024, he bought a G700 with the serial number 87020 and the registration N11AF. On the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) system, the jet is registered as owned by TVPX Aircraft Solutions Inc. Trustee.
Bezos’ aircraft arrived in his ownership from SAV to Charleston International Airport (CHS) on July 10. It then continued on to Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport (OPF), the main base for Bezos. His first use of the aircraft didn’t get close to its limits, with Bezos flying a short trip of 30 minutes to Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (SRQ) in Florida before returning to Miami after just 20 minutes on the ground. He has been flying it long-haul since, with Olbia / Costa Smeralda Airport (OLB) in Italy as one of his favorite destinations.
The G700 purchase from Bezos makes sense not only because of its impressive capabilities, but because he has a preference for Gulfstream planes. When the billionaire purchased his G700, he also owned two Gulfstream G650ERs, both of which were registered to Poplar Glen LLC, a holding company owned by Bezos and based in Seattle, Washington. The firm has a hangar at Boeing Field, from which many of Bezos’ aircraft operate.
Gulfstream Also Has The Planet’s Fastest Mid-Size Private Jet
Gulfstream doesn’t just have speed and range dominance in the large and ultra-long-haul market. It also performs well for mid-size aircraft through the Gulfstream G280. This aircraft has a long-range cruising speed of 613.8 mph (987.7 km/h) for a range of 3,600 nautical miles (6,667 kilometers) and a high-speed cruise of 644.5 mph (1,037.2 km/h). Its top speed is Mach 0.85, making it the world’s fastest mid-size private jet. The G280’s range is also impressive, enough to fly from New York City to London or Dubai to Hong Kong, two incredibly popular private jet routes. The speed and range are facilitated by twin powerful and efficient Honeywell HTF7250G engines, which produce 7,624 lbf (33.91 kN) of thrust each.
The aircraft is Gulfstream’s smallest jet and was originally developed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) in 2009. It replaces the Gulfstream G200. The cabin offers tremendous luxury despite its small size, with a length of just 25.1 ft (7.7 m). The jet has two living areas with space for 10 passengers seated or five passengers sleeping. Customers have a variety of sleeping and seating layouts to choose from. What the G280’s cabin lacks in length, it makes up for in height at 6.1 ft (1.85 m). That’s enough for most passengers to move around easily without having to hunch.
In the cockpit, G280 pilots have access to a similar standard of avionics to the G700. The aircraft has the PlaneView280™ cockpit, which features Honeywell’s Primus Epic® integrated avionics system. Pilots can use the system for advanced communication, navigation, and control. The aircraft also has the Enhanced Vision System (EVS II) to help with approaches during low visibility. The features make it feasible to operate the aircraft for complex approaches to small airports and in poor weather conditions.
