Gizmodo
The new Gulfstream 650 was unveiled yesterday at their Savannah factory. Yes Steve Jobs, yes Al Gore, yes Kevin Rose, this one can take you anywhere in the world with its 7,000 nautical miles range at a top speed of Mach 0.925 (704mph,) almost the speed of sound at a 41,000-feet altitude. You and your 99,600-pound cargo of, hmm, whatever you dirty rich people take around on trips: all your mountain bikes, your Bonos, and your carbon-footprint air fresheners or something. But don't put your current Gulfstreams on Craiglist yet, because there's a catch.
Update: with details on the new vision system and the stunning cockpit
The increased speed and power comes from its dual Dual Rolls-Roice BR725 engines, which provide with 4.6% more thrust than its predecesor—the BR710—while being 33% quieter. It's not much better on the emissions front (sorry, Mr. Ex-Vicepresident): only 5% fewer NOx emissions and 10% less smoke.
The coolest thing about the Gulfstream 750, however, is the technology that goes in. The flight controls —with fly-by-wire and dual hydraulic backup controls—and their advanced vision system, which combines enhanced vision with synthetic 3D rendering (SV-PFD) to give you military-grade visual assistance.
The cockpit has a four large 14-inch displays, an LCD HUD II which provides with the enhanced vision you see above and the SV-PFD. The control of the multifunction displays is quite nice, with an analog pad built onto the pilot's joystick itself.
All state-of-the-art toys everywhere. The catch for the billionaires of this world? These technological wonders are not available today: the unveiled craft is a mock-up of the whole thing. The $58.5 million Gulfstream 650 won't be ready until 2012, which apparently will raise the total price for $65 million. Or, if you live in Europe, $101 million. [Gulfstream 650]
Comments
This plane could pay for itself with one full shipment of cocaine...
Lame. I have to wait 4 years before I upgrade my dodge stratus?
That is such a BEAUTIFUL aircraft. Gulfstream never disappoints.
meh
Agreed.
Beautiful ship.
No canards, but still quite pretty. ;)
Well, I prefer Learjet myself. ;-)
Well, I've got my preorder in! Probably get a pink one for the Mrs. too.
@farcast:
Lear:Gulfstream :: BMW:Maybach
Both are nice, but a Lear is not nearly in the same class.
I'd settle for an Eclipse, though.
But does it come with floor mats?
I will pay sticker price and not a dollar higher.
I'd be willing to offer the dealer $500 over invoice. They make all their money on the manufacturer's volume incentives.
Go for the Citation X. Almost as fast, and at a mere $40 million, you have $25 million in change. That'll pay for a lot of "Flight Services" from uh, Emperor's Club VIP.
If I had the money I would wait until 2014 for the Lockhead Martin QSST. Mach 1.8 and the first supersonic jet you can fly over land. It also looks way cooler.
[www.popsci.com]
i guess it's time to start saving money...
@av8thor: By almost, I'm going to assume you mean 4 mph slower. The Citation X is the current fastest production civilian aircraft at Mach .92, I have a feeling Gulfstream just wants that title.
@nucwin83: Isn't Mach a non-set number? I thought it was a facotr of temerature/humidity/altitude, etc.
I'm sure they do want the title, but in all fairness to Gulfstream, for that extra 20 or so million they are making a HELL of a lot more airframe go 4 mph faster....
Actually Jesus, you can't carry 99,600 pounds of cargo. The number you are referring to is the total capacity of the aircraft, NOT the useful load. The useful load of the aircraft is how much cargo you can carry AFTER fuel. The Gulfstream G550 for example, carries 41,300 pounds of fuel with a basic operating weight 48,300 pounds. With the G550 you have a useful load of 1,800 pounds with full fuel, which must be divided up among passengers and baggage. I'd imagine the G650 is about the same, maybe a little higher.
A dude rolls up next to me in one of these, I'd just have one thing to say:
"Nice jet. Asshole."
@Git Em SteveDave: yes - and with a striong tailwind it could be covering the ground at 850 say.
Or around the Land speed record.
@Samifumi: If you wait until the end of the month, they will likely knock another $500 off the sticker price just to make quota. Your welcome!
I think I'll stay with my autogyro.
you guys are funny. this is just another ruse, like landing on the moon. there's no such thing as airplanes.
Wow, 28" panoramic windows, 6'5 interior height, room for 18 and 10% better fuel efficiency... Put me down for two.
@trendspotter:
K.
you take the slo-lane limo... I'll take the MiG-29... for about the same price.
[news.bbc.co.uk]
Can't even do Mach 1, how weak.
Best. Feature. Ever. ... A jumping plane! That first picture rocks!
@flyboy:
Thrust SSC..... Damn the brits anyway! J/K all you guys from Blighty!!
Correct me if I'm wrong, I believe the current land speed record is still 1,228kph/763.055mph.
Amazing to think considering the Water speed record is still only 511kph/317.22mph.
Not only the fact it's so much lower, but it was set 30 years ago and STILL stands today.
I guess it's quite a testament to how much more dangerous the water speed record is to attain than the land speed record.
Lets do this thang
But does it come with an iPod adapter?
@Out2gtcha: gimme the X-43 anyday..
[www.nasa.gov]
By 2012, Jobsy will be selling the iJetpack, which will have supersonic capability, iTunes, and Tetris. Just in time for the Eschaton, too.
Amazing aircraft, but how come jet styling and paint jobs haven't changed since the 70's? I know it's all about performance here, but come on.
You can get it painted any color you want, but paint adds weight, which takes away from useful load. Also, white keeps the plane cooler on the Tarmac so you need to run the APU less to cool the cabin.
Finally bright white is easier to spot. Being visible is a very good thing.
@Out2gtcha: Go fast enough, and it would be impossible for it to be a water speed test anymore anyway, since it would hydroplane the hell out of there :P
That makes it Mach .05 faster than the fastest Citation from Cessna... cause... ya know... this one goes to eleven.
Will it blend? (sorry)
No, but it will slice the hell out of any poultry it comes across.
This is a good looking aircraft, but if you ask me the falcon 7x is the best looking business class aircraft out there.
So it was unveiled a mile away from me and I learn about it on Gizmodo. :(
How many crappy movies will John Travolta hafta make to buy one of these suckers?
this has the same display as the 550 already does, which i have taken a flight on and let me say, absolutely amazing.
I don't know squat about airplanes so why are the wings bent at the ends? I've never seen that.
She'll do .5 past light speed...She may not look like much, but she's got it where it counts kid...
They've been doing that for decades. It interrupts wing-tip vortices, increasing lift and efficiency. In lay terms.
dear copy editor... Since when was 14 inches considered large for an lcd screen?
@Red Right Hand:
You should be.
Why do people keep asserting that Kevin Rose is rich?
From what I understand neither digg.com nor pownce are profitable websites, I dunno about revision3.
His Wikipedia page doesnt reflect him being rich either.
Lets wait until someone actually buys digg before call him rich (and imho he should do it soon because diggs value and rep is falling daily).
Keep saving those pennies because...Lockheed Martin QSST FTW!!
[www.saiqsst.com]
Finally Gulfstream has a new aircraft?....or is it jus