On Monday, Gulfstream announced their new G700 jet at the annual NBAA conference in Las Vegas. The new Gulfstream will fly up to 19 passengers in comfort offering a master bedroom, bathroom with shower, and large galley. The jet will offer cruising speeds at .9 mach (.925 mach max), just 10% lower than the speed of sound. At .9 mach, the jet will have a range of 6,400 nm. Slowing to .85 mach for a longer range (similar to 747 speeds), the jet will offer an impressive 7,500 nm range.
While the new the new Gulfstream made its public debut yesterday, only a mockup of the fuselage was made available to the public at the Vegas conference. The actual first flight of the aircraft isn’t expected until 2021 with first delivery in 2022. Qatar Airways was announced as the first customer. They have committed to 10 aircraft for their private jet fleet. Flexjet will be the North American launch customer. Each G700 jet is expected to cost $75M.
G700 is a new jet but an evolution of G650 technology
The G700 will build on the features of the G650. The aircraft is touted to have a taller, longer, wider cabin than its predecessor or near-size competition. It will feature 20 G650 style windows, a crew rest area, and a new winglet style.
In an announcement, Gulfstream President Mark Burns said, “The Gulfstream G700 takes the very best elements from our most innovative products and unites them with cutting-edge advances to create an all-new, advanced-technology aircraft that redefines safety, comfort and range at speed.”
G700 entering a competitive market
The larger G700 will enter a competitive landscape for the high-end, large private jet market. Bombardier has already begun to field their Global 7500 that features a slightly longer range and one foot longer than the forthcoming G700. Still both jets face competition from larger but slower 737BBJ, 787 BBJ, along with Airbus and Embraer business jets.
