Aviation / Aerospace

Gulfstream G500

Large-Cabin Business Jet / Special Mission Platform [ 2004 ]

Introduced in 2004, the Gulfstream G500 business jet has been built in over 500 examples for various global operators to date.

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 05/14/2021 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site.

Image from Gulfstream.com official marketing material.

GO TO SPECIFICATIONS [+]

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The Gulfstream G500 is being developed by Gulfstream Aerospace for the business market as a twin-engine passenger hauler. It is intended as a successor for the older G450 line while promoted with improved performance specifications. The design was first unveiled in October of 2014 and recorded its first-flight on May 18th, 2015. Four prototypes and a production-quality airframe have served the program to date (2018). Service introduction is planned for sometime in 2018-2019. Type certification was granted in mid-2018.

The G600 is being developed alongside the G500 as a dimensionally larger market form.

The G500 series is powered by the Pratt & Whitney Canada (PWC) PW814 series turbofan engine as the company shifts away from its reliance on the Rolls-Royce Aero family. Each engine supplies 15,144lb of thrust at take-off and helps the aircraft to range out to 5,200 nautical miles, cruising at speeds of up to 516 knots. The service ceiling is listed at 51,000 feet.

The cockpit of the G500 is all-modern / all-digital with four primary LCDs taking up the main instrument panel (Honeywell Symmetry avionics fit). Throttle controls are placed naturally between the two crew seats with BAe Systems digitally-linked flight sticks offset to the outboard side of each pilot's position (the latter marketed as the first of its kind, eliminating the need for cumbersome control columns). Full SATellite COMmunications (SATCOM) is offered as is digital Fly-By-Wire (FBW) controlling. A Honeywell HTG400G drives the Auxiliary Power Unit (APU). A flip-down Head-Up Display (HUD) is provided.

Internally, the fuselage is optimized for noise reduction, passenger comforts and storage. Conference tables are stowable and seats fold to provide sleeping quarters. Fourteen large panoramic windows are provided for viewing.

As designed, the G500 will be crewed by two and carry up to nineteen passengers in comfort. Structurally, overall length reaches 91.1 feet with a wingspan of 87 feet and a height of 25.5 feet. Maximum Take-Off Weight (MTOW) is listed at 76,850lb.

The G500 is given the usual design treatment as bizjets go: it seats its twin engines a wingstubs towards the rear of the fuselage to reduce cabin noise. The wing mainplanes are well-swept to the rear, low-mounted on the fuselage and capped by fuel efficient winglets. The tail unit incorporates a T-style plane arrangement which seats the horizontal planes high atop the single vertical fin. Ground-running is accomplished by way of a retractable, wheeled tricycle leg arrangement.

Variants in the G500 family include the G500 and its offshoot, the G550. The G500 is the GV-SP, carrying an all-new flightdeck display system as well as improvements to the airframe and engines.

Beyond its obvious VIP passenger-hauling value, several global military powers have already looked to modifying the base G500 design for over-battlefield roles. The G550 AEW is an Israeli Airborne Early Warning (AEW) platform. The United States designates the G500 in service as the C-37B and the U.S. Navy model is the NC-37B. The USAF operated the EC-X "Compass Call" as an Electronic CounterMeasures (ECM) platform which mates an L3 Technologies suite to the G550 series aircraft. Italy has also recently joined the ranks of G500 series military users.

September 2017 - The Gulfstream G550 has been selected by L-3 Technologies (General Dynamics) to form the framework of the EC-X "Compass Call" platform for the United States Air Force (USAF). This design would replace the currently in-service Compass Call platforms based on the Lockheed C-130 Hercules (C-130H) high-winged transport. L-3 represents the prime contractor in the USAF program. The Boeing 737 (737-700) and Bombardier 6000 series jets were other possible contenders. Boeing and Bombardier are expected to protest the USAF decision to go with L3.

October 2017 - Israel announced plans to boost its fleet of G550 surveillance platforms.

January 2018 - The nation of Italy has ordered a second G550 model aircraft to fulfill the Airborne Early Warning role within its ranks.

September 2018 - The U.S. Navy has received a single G550 example for modification into a special-mission platform. the work is to be handled by Raytheon for conversion into an NC-37B platform. First-delivery is scheduled for 2021.

November 2019 - The Gulfstream G550 bizjet is being proposed as a maritime patrol solution for the Japanese Coast Guard by Gulfstream representative in Japan, Marubeni Aerospace.

March 2020 - The USAF is attempting to fast-track its purchase of G550 aircraft for the EC-37B "Compass Call" conversion program. The G550 line is under threat to be shut down.

November 2020 - Italy is focused on the G550 corporate jet to form the basis of a new C4ISTAR ("Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Information/Intelligence, Surveillance, Targeting Acquisition and Reconnaissance") aircraft.

Specifications

Service Year

2004

Origin

United States

Status

ACTIVE
In Active Service.

Crew

2

Production

500
UNITS

Gulfstream - USA

(View other Aviaton-Related Manufacturers)

National flag of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Azerbaijan; Australia; Germany; Israel; Italy; Kuwait; Morocco; Nigeria; Saudi Arabia; Singapore; Sweden; Tanzania; Turkey; Uganda; United States

(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)

✓ Special-Mission: Airborne Early Warning (AEW)
Specially-equipped platform providing over-battlefield Command and Control (C2) capability for allied aerial elements.

✓ Special-Mission: Electronic Warfare (EW)
Equipped to actively deny adversaries the ElectroMagnetic (EM) spectrum and protect said spectrum for allied forces.

✓ Commercial Aviation
Used in roles serving the commercial aviation market, ferrying both passengers and goods over range.

✓ BizJet
Used in roles serving the business aviation market, primarily VIP and regional travel.

✓ VIP Service
Used in the Very-Important-Person (VIP) passenger transport role, typically with above-average amenities and luxuries as standard.

Length

96.8 ft
(29.50 m)

Width/Span

93.5 ft
(28.50 m)

Height

25.9 ft
(7.90 m)

Empty Wgt

48,281 lb
(21,900 kg)

MTOW

91,051 lb
(41,300 kg)

Wgt Diff

+42,770 lb
(+19,400 kg)

(Showcased structural values pertain to the Gulfstream G550 production variant)

Installed: 2 x Rolls-Royce BR710 turbofan engines developing 15,385 lb of thrust each.

Max Speed

584 mph
(940 kph | 508 kts)

Ceiling

51,001 ft
(15,545 m | 10 mi)

Range

7,767 mi
(12,500 km | 23,150 nm)

♦ MACH Regime (Sonic)

Sub

Trans

Super

Hyper

HiHyper

ReEntry

♦

(Showcased performance specifications pertain to the Gulfstream G550 production variant. Compare this aircraft entry against any other in our database or View aircraft by powerplant type)

None.

G500 - Base Series Model; based on GV-SP version.

G550 - Market model name for GV-SP.

G550 AEW - Airborne Early Warning platform (Israel).

GV-SP - Base model name born from the Gulfstream V/GV family line with refinements and improvements to various systems.

C-37B - United States Military designation.

EC-37B "Compass Call" - Electronic CounterMeasures (ECM) platform for USAF; L3 Technologies suite mated to Gulfstream G550 series aircraft.

"Oron" - Israeli surveillance platform conversion of the G550; service entry in 2023.

Cockpit image represents the Gulfstream G500 Bizjet production model.

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Image from Gulfstream.com official marketing material.