Gulfstream Completes 400th GVI

Gulfstream completed assembly of the 400th Gulfstream IV earlier this month and is close to rolling the 100th copy of the Gulfstream V off the assembly line in Savannah.

Both of the airplanes were ordered by Asian customers, and the company is predicting an improving Asian market for its two aircraft products.

Making its air show debut here is Gulfstream's new GV demonstrator, with a 13-seat interior, satellite communications and a head-up display. The GV, says Gulfstream, has flown nonstop from Singapore to London, Tokyo, Hawaii, Sydney and Johannesburg, and can reach any city in the Americas from Singapore with one stop.
Gulfstream vice-chairman Bryan Moss sees a "slow but steady" improvement in access for business aircraft at Asia's crowded major airports. Gulfstream believes that access restrictions have limited the regional market for business aircraft.

"Additional landing slots have been granted in Japan for business aircraft and the opening of two new airports is a positive development for the growth of business aviation," he said.

Gulfstream has delivered a fifth Gulfstream IV-MPA multi-purpose aircraft to the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF). Equipped with a cargo door, the MPA-which is similar to the US C-20G-is used for executive, cargo and medevac missions. The US Air Force, meanwhile, has taken delivery of its third C-37A Gulfstream V, which will be assigned to the US Army for the regional commander-in-chief (CINC) support mission. Two more C-37As will be delivered to the USAF this year for counter-terrorism and disaster response missions. Gulfstream has also been awarded a contract for two GIV-SP aircraft, which will be delivered to the Egyptian Air Force.