T
he name Gulfstream is synonymous
with business aviation. More than
2,360 Gulfstream business jets have
been built since 1958 and large
numbers are in service around the world with
major corporations, wealthy individuals and
governments. They have also found a key role
for special missions with military operators.
In 2016, Gulfstream, based in Savannah,
Georgia, celebrated the 50th anniversary
of the rst ight of the original Gulfstream
GII. The model line has gone through many
upgrades and improvements over the years.
Today’s G650, with its glass cockpit and
state-of-the-art avionics, is a very different
machine from the GII.Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation is
part of the General Dynamics group, but the
origins of its business jets lie with Grumman
Aerospace, which moved into civil aviation
in the post-war era with the glamorous
Mallard amphibian, designed as an air
yacht for wealthy private owners. This led
on to the turboprop Gulfstream I, which was
a modern executive aircraft, powered by a
pair of Rolls-Royce Dart turboprops, 200
of which were built for America’s leading
corporations.GULFSTREAM II AND III
The emergence of a new breed of jet
aircraft such as the Hawker Siddeley
HS125, Lockheed JetStar, North American
Sabreliner and Dassault Falcon 20 overtook
the turboprop Gulfstream and prompted
Grumman into designing a new and
advanced business jet. It would be larger
and have longer range than some of the new
competitors.
The Gulfstream II was an elegant aircraft
with considerable ramp presence. The
fuselage dimensions were similar to those
of the Gulfstream I, but the cabin was longer
and Grumman retained the large oval cabin
windows that had been such a popularGULFSTREAM
EVOLUTION
Rod Simpson examines the different variants of Gulfstream
business jets, some of which are used for special missions roles.
58 Aviation News incorporating Jets September 2017Above: The G650 is the agship model in
Gulfstream’s range. Prototype, N650GA (c/n
6001) rst ew in November 2009. GulfstreamLibya’s government took delivery of this Gulfstream II, then registered 5A-DDR, in December 1979 and it originally ew in the colours of Libyan
Arab Airlines. Later sold to the Republic of Chad, it was re-registered TT-AAI and tted with an engine hush kit. Key Collection58-63_gulfstreamDC.mfDC.mfDC.indd 58 04/08/2017 14:15