Summary

  • The Gulfstream G450 and G500 are twin-engine business jets
  • The G500 replaces the G450, offering faster speed and greater range.
  • The G500 features Pratt and Whitney Canada PW814GA engines, a similar cabin to the G650, and a mix of aluminum alloys and composite materials in its airframe.

The Gulfstream G450 and G500 are both twin-engine business jets built by Gulfstream Aerospace and were first introduced on October 14, 2014. But what were the upgrades made from the G450 to the G500 and how did this happen?

History of the G450

When the last G450 was delivered on January 19, 2018, 365 of the aircraft had been delivered over a 12-year period. Its first flight was on April 30th, 2003 and production began in October 2004.

The G450 was intended to replace the G400. It had better overall performance and was fitted with the PlaneView cockpit with LCD displays and a Head-up Display (HUD).

A Gulfstream G450 parked on the apron at Frederick Municipal Airport.

Photo: Andrew Mauro | Shutterstock

Models of the G450 from 2006 to 2016 cost between $9.95 and $23.75 million. By the end of production, 365 G450s were made and the price ranged from $15-32 million.

The upgraded G450?

The Gulfstream G500 was not exactly an upgraded G450 but instead was a replacement for the G450. It could fly 30 knots faster and 18% further than the G450 at the same fuel burn.

G500 N500GA

Photo: Noah Cooperman | Simple Flying

The first G500 was delivered on September 27, 2018 and is still in production today. As of April 2024, 125 of the aircraft had been produced. The G500 first flew on May 18, 2015. It was due to be certified by the FAA in 2017 but testing the aircraft delayed the certification process until 2018.

Prototypes and production models

At the start, there were four prototypes of the aircraft and one production version. The test fleet performed over 745 flights within two years and notched up 2,900 flight hours and they hoped it would be certified in late 2017. In August 2017, the FAA issued a type inspection authorization to proceed with evaluating the aircraft in flight. By this time, the 5 G500s had logged 3,100 hours and completed 820 flights.

Gulfstream G500

Photo: Gulfstream Aerospace

Testing the G500 to its limits

The cabin systems were tested, including the brakes, fuel systems, lighting, and fly-over noise. The fifth model, the production aircraft, had a complete cabin interior and was used for demonstration purposes and would be the first G500 to enter service.

Deliveries started in early 2018. By August 30, 2017, 910 flights and 3,460 flight hours were logged on the 5 G500s. The Gulfstream G500 had flown up to a Mach of 0.995 and up to 53,000 feet.

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By the NBAA show in October 2017, the five G500s completed their campaign. The longest flight had been 10 hours and 19 minutes and its range had been extended. But the testing was not over. For FAA certification, they required 300 hours of function and reliability tests.

These were completed by the summer of 2018, along with icing and high elevation tests. By this time, the G500s had completed 1,355 flights and 4,955 flight hours. On July 20, 2018, Gulfstream was able to announce that the aircraft had achieved FAA certification.

Gulfstream G500 in flight

Photo: Gulfstream Aerospace

Timeline of test flights

  • May 2017: 745 flights and 2,900 flight hours
  • August 2017: 820 flights completed and 3,100 flight hours
  • End of August 2017: 910 flights and 3,460 flight hours
  • October 2017: 995 flights and 3,690 flight hours
  • Summer 2018: 1,355 flights and 4,955 flight hours.

About the G500

The G500 has Pratt and Whitney Canada PW814GA turbofan engines that provide 15,144 pounds of thrust each. Interestingly, the engines were those originally planned for the Cessna Citation Columbus program, an unusual turn for Gulfstream who usually use Rolls-Royce engines. The aircraft’s maximum take-off weight is 79,600 pounds. The G500 has an impressive range of 5,300 nautical miles or 9,800 kilometers or 6,100 miles.

Specifications of the G500

Model

G500

Cockpit crew

Two

Capacity

19

Length

91 ft 2 in (27.79 m)

Wingspan

86 ft 4 in (26.31 m)

Height

25 ft 6 in (7.77 m)

Cabin length

41 ft 6 in (12.65 m)

Cabin cross section

Height: 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m), Width: 7 ft 7 in (2.31 m)

Cabin volume

1,715 cu ft (48.6 m3)

Baggage volume

175 cu ft (5.0 m3)

Maximum Take-Off Weight (MTOW)

79,600 lb (36,100 kg)

Basic Operating Weight (BOW)

46,850 lb (21,250 kg)

Maximum payload

5,250 lb (2,380 kg)

Fuel capacity

30,250 lb (13,720 kg)

Turbofans (x2)

P&WC PW814GA

Takeoff thrust (x2)

15,144 lbf (67.4 kN)

Range

5,300 nmi (9,816 km; 6,099 mi)

Cruise speed

Mach 0.85 – Mach 0.90 (488–516 kn; 903–956 km/h; 561–594 mph)

Max. operating speed, MMO

Mach 0.925 (531 kn; 983 km/h; 611 mph)

Takeoff distance (SL, ISA, MTOW)

5,300 ft (1,615 m)

Ceiling

51,000 ft (15,545 m) / Cabin altitude: 4,850 ft (1,480 m)

VH-LAL_Gulfstream_Aerospace_G-V-SP_Gulfstream_G500 Interior

Influenced by the G650?

It has the same cabin as the G650 but is slightly smaller and has 14 signature oval windows. The new tail design was based on the aerodynamic shape of the G650 tail. The airframe is made from both aluminum alloys and composite materials. Many of the avionics and systems are from the G650.

The fly-by-wire concept is the same but new active control sticks were added with dual-channel remote electronic units. The oxygen system, cabin pressurization, landing gear control and aircraft health monitoring systems are adapted from the G650.

Production of the G500 slowed when Nordam, the nacelle supplier, was declared bankrupt. Later, Gulfstream Aerospace acquired Nordam’s nacelle manufacturing line in October 2018. In 2022, the price of a new G500 just off the assembly line was $49.5 million.

Read more: Examined: The Top 5 Business Jet Manufacturers

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