Private jets are already a luxury. Some aircraft companies take that a notch higher by designing ultra-long-range jets. Gulfstream has been in the aircraft business since 1958 and has produced over 3000 aircraft, with each model having more enhanced designs.
This giant aircraft company has a reputation for incorporating technology into its aircraft manufacturing. As a result, its jets are long-range and ultra-long-range, environmentally sustainable, and have short landing distances. They have even earned the trust of the military and celebrities.
Gulfstream continues raising the bar for long-range aircraft by producing ultra-long-range models. These ultra-long-range models are the G650, G650ER, G700, and G800. They're some of the world's longest-range business jets designed for intercontinental flights.
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7 Comparing the Gulfstream G650, G650ER, G700 and G800 business jets
Model
Range
Cruise speed
Engines
Passengers
Launch year
G650
7,000 nm
Mach 0.925
Two Rolls-Royce BR725
16
2009
G650ER
7,500 nm
Mach 0.90
Two Rolls-Royce BR725
19
2014
G700
7,750 nm
Mach 0.9
Two Rolls-Royce Pearl 700
19
2019
G800
8,000 nm
Mach 0.925
Two Rolls-Royce 700
Up to 19
2021
G650
The G650 was the first Gulfstream to push the boundaries of long-range private travel. It could fly farther than any business jet and had non-stop international routes. It's a large business jet and remained the Gulfstream's largest and fastest until the G700 came along. Once the G650 takes off on a non-stop flight, it's unstoppable. Using its two Rolls-Royce engines, which are designed to save fuel, the G650 achieves a cruise speed of Mach 0.925.
Photo: Rob Hodgkins | Wikimedia Commons
Pilots flying the G650 can maneuver even in thunderstorms through vision-enhancing equipment.
According to Dan Nale, senior vice president of programs, Engineering, and Test, "Gulfstream sets the standard in business aviation for bringing advanced safety technologies like EVS to market."
G650ER
Gulfstream wanted an enhanced version of the G650, and so the G650ER made its debut in 2014. When Gulfstream built it, it was to be an extension of the G650 and outperformed it by 500nm. The G650ER has a range of 7500nm and a fuel capacity of 4000 lbs, which means it doesn't have to refuel between flights. The jet has additional fuel tanks in the wings to increase its fuel capacity to reach a maximum range and carries more fuel than its earlier version, the G650.
Photo: Windmemories | Wikimedia Commons
The Gulfstream G650ER holds the honor of traveling the farthest and fastest distances of any jet aircraft in business travel and VIP passenger transport. In 2018, the G650ER flew 11,100 nm between Guangzhou, China, and Tucson, Arizona, in 15 hours and 23 minutes, covering a distance of 8,379 NM. Not only did it beat its competitor, but it also set a record.
"The G650ER has no equal when it comes to its incredible combination of speed and range," Mark Burns, president of Gulfstream Aerospace said. "Worldwide, you just can't go further 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 -leading aircraft that set the standard when they were announced and continue to do so today. Simply put, all others follow."
G700
Gulfstream didn't stop upgrading the G650. They introduced the G700, one of their ultra-long-range private jets. It's Gulfstream's fastest and largest aircraft so far, with the longest cabin. On its rear fuselage are two turbofans giving 18,000 pounds of thrust. That's enough power to give the G700 a Mach of 0.9. And if you thought no other model could top the G650ER, the G700 is ahead in innovation, cabin space, and cabin design.
Photo: Gulfstream Aerospace
Like the G650ER, the G700 uses two Rolls-Royce engines located on the rear of its fuselage, pushing it to a 0.925 Mach operating speed. Despite the power the engines provide, they're fuel efficient. With its carbon composite airframe, the G700 is light enough to fly at a range of 7,750 NM and make non-stop flights. After flight tests, the G700 proved it could reach a range of 7,800 NM, making it competitive.
This model is a record-setter. It set its 50th and 51st-speed records on carbon-neutral flights, traveling over 5,000 nautical miles from LA to Nice in 10 hours 13 minutes at Mach 0.90 and from Nice to Singapore in 11 hours 30 minutes at the same speed, covering around 5,750 nautical miles. These records prove that it can take passengers to their destinations on time.
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Designed to be an extension of the client's home.
1 G800
Then comes the longest-range jet on the market, the Gulfstream G800. It was announced in 2021 and is designed to go even farther than other models at Mach 0.925 maximum speed. The jet can fly up to 8,000 nautical miles non-stop between international cities without refueling. It's similar to the G700 but has improved wings. Rolls-Royce Pearl 700 engines produce 18,250 pounds of thrust and save fuel like the other long-range Gulfstream models.
Photo: Matti Blume | Wikimedia Commons
Besides being fast and long-range, the G800 is designed for relaxation. The cabin space is outfitted with the finest materials to surround passengers in comfort during work, rest, or sleep. Travelers breathe clean air refreshed by a plasma-ionization clean air system every two to three minutes.
How do they compare?
The Gulfstream G650, G650ER, G700, and G800 ultra-long-range jets compare favorably, with improvements on each model. The G650 introduced Gulfstream's wing design, providing an extended range of 6,000 NM. The G650ER maximizes fuel capacity to over 7,500 NM for intercontinental flying. The G700 improved, boosting its range to 7,500+ NM.
The G800, through next-generation engines and new composite construction methods, is expected to offer long-range private air travel at over 8,000 NM - allowing industry-first routes like New York to Hong Kong non-stop.
Gulfstream: designing with long-range perfection
As other aircraft manufacturers strive to develop fast jets in the ultra-long range, Gulfstream has been there and done that. And improves with every new model. It doesn't only focus on flying fast and long; it also addresses safety and comfort.
As the first aircraft company to manufacture the EVS system, Gulfstream keeps revolutionizing the industry. This award-winning company manufactures long-range jets and doesn't stop there; it ensures the jets have amenities, safety features, and avionics, not forgetting it leads to sustainability efforts.