FLUG REVUE November 1998: Good business for the business jets

GOOD BUSINESS FOR THE BUSINESS JETS

by Norbert Burgner

Bombardier presented the Global Express and handed over the new Learjet 45 to the first European customer, Eifel Holding, which is based on the Channel Island of Jersey not only because of its fair weather. Dassault announced a big contract order of 24 Falcon 2000 for time-share agents NetJets. Raytheon had the same reason to celebrate. The fractional ownership experts ordered 20 Hawker 800XP.

In the run-up to the air show Raytheon had rolled-out the new Premier I, which is made of composite materials. Things coukldn't be running better for the aircraft constructors from Wichita, Kansas, if it wasn't for a one year delay in the Premier-Program.

The decision-makers at Galaxy Aerospace were very satisfied as well. Finally the Israel/US-American enterprise was able to introduce their new Super-Mid-Size-Jet, the - true to her name - Galaxy, to the public.

Still in green the aircraft arrived from Tel Aviv. The Galaxy managed the distance of approximately 3,900km with her two pilots Adi Benaya and Raffi Palter at a "reserved" speed of Mach 0.74 in five hours and 44 minutes. The company indicates the maximum cruise speed to be Mach 0.82.

During the current test program two pre-series models have spend 430 hours in the air during 136 deployments. The certification of the Galaxy will take place in December.

So far "business as usual" in Farnborough. But then Gulfstream came on the scene. The Manufacturer of "luxury limousines" from Savannah, Georgia, announced the possible development of a supersonic business jet. After Dassault published plans relating to this project during the NBAA-Convention in Dallas last November, it was only a matter of time before Gulfstream, who a couple of years ago had put together a supersonic concept with the Russian Design Office Sukhoi, would react.

But what had not been exploited beyond a feasibility study then, now is going to be tackled seriously together with Lockheed Martin.

In co-operation with the weapons manufacturer's secret division "Skunk Works", the technical viability with respect to the environment, certification and marketing aspects will be explored in depth. According to both companies the "SBJ" will have to fulfil the following criteria:

operation from key general aviation airports (potentially shorter landing strips),
efficient running at subsonic speeds, which makes it possible for the aircraft to be operated in "normal" traffic,
possible initial travel altitude, which is distinctly higher than the altitude used by other aircraft,
transatlantic range (over 4,000 NM/7,400 km)

The speed of the aircraft is said to be between Mach 1.6 and 2.0 and the cabin will offer comfortable standing height for up to eight passengers. Gulfstream has not yet decided whether the plane will be fitted with two or three jet engines. The SBJ could be on the market within ten years. The costs? As with the Dassault-Concept probably not less than $70 million.

Some might consider it crazy to spend so much money on a private aircraft. However, " There is always a market for the best," is and has been the success-proven motto of the Gulfstream Company.

From page 18 of FLUG REVUE 11/98

Last updated October 19, 1998

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