Aero Magazine International – September 2019

MAGAZINE 10 | (^69)
While the French attempted to intro-
duce its pioneer light jet, on the other
side of the Atlantic, Grumman Aircraft

• supplier of fighters for the US navy
  –was convinced of the advantage, of an
  opposed approach. In August 1958, took
  off the prototype of Gulfstream G-159,
  the first aircraft designed to serve the
  corporate aviation market.
  It had a wide cabin for 10 to 14 pas-
  sengers, where it was possible to walk
  erect.
  Space availability competed with the
  comfort of new commercial aircrafts:
  pressurization, air conditioning, acous-
  tic insulation, wide toilet and an on-
  board kitchen.
  In motorization, Grumman adopted
  an intermediate solution, using tur-
  boprop propulsion (or jet-propellers,

as it was used to say at that time): two

Rolls-Royce Dart turbines, the same

ones used in the Viscount British com-

mercial aircraft, gave the Gulfstream

a cruising speed in the range of 550

kilometers per hour and a comforta-

ble service roof over 25,000 feet. The

aircraft was able to operate from short

runways and, carrying ten passengers,

its range was nearly 4,000 kilometers –

enough to cross the North Atlantic or to

fly from New York to Los Angeles in less

than eight hours.

Obviously, it was an aircraft for few.

But it was very much appreciated by big

businessmen and show business stars.

Elvis Presley has payed US$ 1.2 million

for a model with golden carpet, full bar

and stereo sound system, which gave as

a present to his manager. Walt Disney

has bought one for private use that to-

day it is exhibited in Florida. A unit has

operated in Brazil, at the Ford carmaker

service, with prefix PT-KYF.

In view of the success, Grumman ex-

pected to sell over one thousand machi-

nes. Aviation progress has jeopardized

these plans: in mid-1960, faster jets have

dominated the market, and the manu-

facturer had to launch a successor, the

Gulfstream II. The model preserved the

internal space and large oval windows,

but it was equipped with two Rolls-Roy-

ce Spey turbofans, which increased crui-

ser speed to the range of 800 kilometers

per hour. Separate d from Grumman

military division, Gulfstream moved

to a new industrial plant in the state

of Georgia, where it started its famous

generation of wide cabin business jets.

Walt Disney

aircraft,

in 1967

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