Gulfstream's G650ER has beaten a recently-set speed record while at the same time increasing the distance flown for the farthest business jet flight in history. The records were previously held by Bombardier's Global 7500.
The G650ER flew from Singapore to Tucson, Arizona, at an average speed of 597 miles per hour/960 kilometres per hour over a distance of 8,379 nm. The jet beat the previous record by 44 minutes and more than 225 nm.
Departing Singapore's Changi airport at 1653 local time on 29 March, the G650ER crossed the Pacific at an average speed of Mach 0.85 and arrived in Tucson at 1716 local time, with fuel in excess of NBAA instrument flight rules reserves. The flight took 15 hours and 23 minutes.
“The G650ER has no equal when it comes to its incredible combination of speed and range,” says Gulfstream president Mark Burns. “Worldwide, you can't go farther faster, and this record proves it. With 350 aircraft in service, the G650 and G650ER show day in and day out that they are class-creating and class-leading aircraft that set the standard when they were announced and continue to do so today.”
Since the G650ER entered service in 2014, it has demonstrated its real-world performance capabilities and exceptional comfort. Along with its sister aircraft the G650, the G650ER has earned 90 speed records. In 2015, it flew 8,010 nm from Singapore to Las Vegas in 14 hours and 32 minutes. Then, in 2019, the type flew 7,475 nm from Singapore to San Francisco in 13 hours and 37 minutes. Its cabin features 100 per cent fresh air, a low cabin altitude, some of the quietest cabin sound levels, 16 large windows, a high-definition entertainment system, high-speed connectivity and a gourmet kitchen that can be located forward or aft.
The Singapore-Tucson city pair record is pending approval by the NAA. The speed for all records is determined by great circle distance, which for this record is 7,990 nm. The actual distance flown by the Gulfstream G650ER was 8,379 nm at an average speed of 626 mph.