Gulfstream delivers first G500

Gulfstream has delivered the first G500 to a customer in Texas. The aircraft was handed over during a special ceremony at the manufacturer’s homebase on September 27th.

The aircraft still carries its Gulfstream test registration of N510GD. According to a search on the US Civil Aircraft Register, the aircraft is registered to a company in El Paso Texas called Franklin Mountain Assets II LLC.

Another search of the online register shows that it also operate a Gulfstream G280, registration N280PF.

“We’re proud of the work we and our suppliers have done to deliver a technologically advanced, all-new, clean-sheet aircraft that exceeds our customers’ expectations and continues the longstanding Gulfstream tradition of excellence,” said Mark Burns, president, Gulfstream.

The first G500 delivery comes just over two months after it received its Federal Aviation Administration type and production certificates.

Originally Gulfstream had intended to deliver the first aircraft into its aircraft demonstration fleet before the end of 2017.

However, a paperwork snag with one of its suppliers meant that this was pushed backwards.

Earlier in 2018 NORDAM, the manufacturer of the engine casings for the G500 and G600 stopped manufacturing the nacelles, following a contract dispute with Pratt & Whitney Canada.

NORDAM later filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, but resumed manufacture of the nacelles earlier in September, after Gulfstream assumed some of the costs of the program.

Gulfstream originally announced the G500 in tandem with the G600 in October 2014.

The larger G600 is due to be certificated before the end of the year.