Gulfstream G650
Since they were first made in the 1960s, Gulfstream jets have meant fast and luxurious business travel. Only 1600 jets have been made, and in 2012, the bar will be raised yet again with the G650. At a cost of $58.5 million, it will be able to travel 7,000 nm at Mach .085, and has a top speed of Mach .925. This jet will be able to cruise at 51,000 feet, avoiding congestion and bad weather. The Gulfstream G650 offers the largest cabin area, longest range, and most technologically advanced cockpit of any of the jets in the Gulfstream line, but its high top speed is the real attention-getter.
As of now, Gulfstream is owned by General Dynamics, and the company is confident in its new craft. Based on its development timeline, Gulfstream says that it will have FAA type certification and will be validated by the EASA in this year. The first flight for the G650 took place in 2009; with this jet, comfort is a priority. The cabin measures 6 feet 5 inches high and just over ten feet wide, making it the largest business-class jet cabin on the market. The larger cabin allows for better-reclining seats, more leg room, and the installation of larger galleys, bathrooms and staterooms. The aisles are wide enough for larger, three-across seating.
The Gulfstream G650 provides a cabin environment that's both productive and comfortable. The quiet cabin allows for relaxed conversation, and the craft's environmental controls provide independent ventilation for each bathroom and quiet air distribution. The G650 has sixteen windows with panoramic views, letting natural light in and enlarging the interior visually. The cabin's systems are redundantly designed, meaning that a failure at a single point will not cause them to fail. Therefore, electronics will always work, the lavatories will flush, and water will always be available.
Gulfstream's G650 has the PlaneView II cockpit, equipped with three computer tablets, four LCD displays, a controller that combines standby instrumentation with the display controller's current functions, and a scanning radar that eliminates ground clutter.