The manufacturer conducted all the necessary testing - ground vibration, all structural testing, calibration of loads, engine runs - so that the first flight could finally be performed.
In February General Dynamics demonstrated the project`s maturity, as Gulfstream G700 went for its first flight. The flight-test program for the aircraft was thereby officially launched.
On February 14, Valentine`s Day, Gulfstream`s newest ultra long range jet took off from Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport in Georgia to spend its first 2 hours and 32 minutes in the sky on a blend of sustainable aviation fuel.
The flight was a debut not only for the aircraft but also for the Rolls-Royce Pearl 700 engines it is powered by.
The jaunt started at 13:19 local time and was performed by the G700 aircraft registered with the following tail: N700GA. According to Gulfstream it is one of five airplanes already built that will participate in the flight-test programme.
"This is a truly great moment for all of us and we are very proud", as Dirk Geisinger, Director of Business Aviation for Rolls-Royce, commented.
"The cutting-edge Pearl 700 is a perfect fit for the Gulfstream G700 and will help the aircraft deliver an unrivaled combination of ultra long-range, speed, and performance. We have already achieved more than 1,500 testing hours and 5,000 cycles, and we are fully committed to supporting the G700 flight test program".