Gulfstream III

The Gulfstream G650 was formally launched as an internal company project in May 2005 and publicly unveiled on March 13, 2008. Development included wing design completion in 2006, with 1,400 hours of wind tunnel testing conducted by 2008. A pressure-test fuselage was built and tested. The G650 taxied under its own power for the first time on September 26, 2009, followed by a public rollout ceremony on September 29, 2009, and its maiden flight on November 25, 2009. Flight testing for the maximum operating speed of Mach 0.925 was announced as completed on May 4, 2010. On August 26, 2010, Gulfstream reported the G650 reached a maximum speed of Mach 0.995 during a dive. Following an accident in April 2011, G650 test aircraft were grounded until May 28, 2011, when flight testing resumed. The G650 received its type certificate from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on September 7, 2012. Its first delivery occurred on December 27, 2012. Production of the G650 concluded in February 2025, succeeded by the G800.

Design

The design of the Gulfstream G650 features an oval fuselage cross-section with a flatter lower portion. The main cabin area measures 8 feet 6 inches (2.59 m) wide and 6 feet 3 inches (1.91 m) high, configured to accommodate between 11 and 18 passengers. Construction utilizes metal for the fuselage and wing, while composite materials are used for the empennage, winglets, rear pressure bulkhead, engine cowlings, cabin floor structure, and various fairings. Each side of the fuselage is equipped with eight elliptical windows, each 28 inches (71 cm) wide. Panels are bonded, which results in a reduced part count compared to previous models. The G650 wing incorporates a 36-degree sweep and features fully enclosed tracks for the rear-mounted flaps within the airfoil contour, in addition to incorporating winglets. The flight controls are completely fly-by-wire and operate through dual hydraulic systems.

Armament

The G650 is designed as a civilian business jet and is not equipped with weapons systems. Details regarding armament, munitions, or payload capacities related to military combat operations are not applicable.

Operational History

Operational utilization includes both civilian and governmental roles. The United States Air Force considered the G650 as a potential replacement for the E-8C JSTARS platform; however, this initiative was ultimately abandoned. The extended-range G650ER variant established several long-distance flight records. An accident occurred during the flight test program, which subsequently resulted in adjustments to takeoff procedures.

Variants

Main Variants:

• G650: The initial production version of the aircraft.

• G650ER: An extended-range version featuring an increased maximum takeoff weight and fuel capacity.

• G700: A stretched variant announced in October 2019, featuring a longer cabin and powered by Rolls-Royce Pearl 700 engines.

• G800: Announced in October 2021 as the intended successor to the G650, combining the G700 wing and Pearl 700 engines.