Neelam
Mathews
March 20, 2014
Gulfstream
is confident the Indian business aviation market will rebound and to show it
means business, it flew the G650, the ultra high-speed, ultra long-range business
jet that took off from the Westchester County Airport in
White Plains, US on March 10 with two passengers and four crew members on board
to Mumbai. Thirteen hours and 49 minutes later, the aircraft landed at
Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport in Mumbai, giving it an average
cruise speed of Mach 0.85 for the 7,115-nautical-mile/13,177-kilometer flight.
The G650’s ability to link these two key business
destinations reinforces its utility as a vital tool for corporations to advance
their economic interests around the world,” said Jason Akovenko, regional vice
president, Sales, Asia-Pacific, Gulfstream. "The speed and range of the G650 are just two
of the many reasons why this aircraft is in such high demand.” Pending approval
by the U.S. National Aeronautic Association, the record will be sent to the
Fédération Aéronautique Internationale in Switzerland for recognition as a
world record.
The aircraft was presented for the first time in India at the Hyderabad air show on March 12-16.
The aircraft was presented for the first time in India at the Hyderabad air show on March 12-16.
India is “critically important” (and) "the sole purpose of the flight was to demonstrate
the capability of the aircraft,” Roger Sperry, regional senior vice president, International
Sales told
AerospaceDiary. Sperry said the purpose was to send a strong message to India
that “we will be there (when the economy bounces back).”
Gulfstream
has 234 aircraft in Asia compared to 70 just six years ago. It has ably tapped
the need for businesses growing by leaps in the region, that now need to fly
beyond domestic routes.
The G650 was brought to the show to expose the product to new
and present owners looking at upgrades in the near future. “We’ll do well in
India…the cabin size and range will allow trips to Singapore,” said Sperry.
Twenty
GFs have been delivered to Indian customers.
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