Jets - Gulfstream II #231

History of the Gulfstream II #231

Collectively the most successful members of the Gulfstream corporate aircraft family, the Gulfstream II and Gulfstream III are Spey powered developments of the original turboprop powered Gulfstream I.

The Rolls-Royce Dart turboprop powered Grumman Gulfstream I proved to be quite successful as a large long range corporate transport, while the availability of an faster and more powerful turbojet powered model, the Rolls-Royce Spey meant that a jet powered successor was a logical development. Grumman launched such an aircraft, named the Gulfstream II or G-II, in May 1965.

While based on the original Gulfstream I - the G-II shares the same forward fuselage and cross section - there are more differences than similarities. The most obvious difference is the two rear mounted Spey axial flow turbojet engines, others include a new swept wing and tail. A similar size fuselage to the G-I seats 10 in a typical executive configuration.

No prototype G-II was built, instead the first to fly was a production standard aircraft, which first flew on October 2 1966. Certification and first production deliveries occurred in October and December 1967 respectively.

The improved Gulfstream III followed Gulfstream American's purchase of Grumman's GA lines in 1978. The Gulfstream III first flew on December 2 1979. Changes compared with the G-II include a revised wing of greater span and area with drag reducing winglets, more fuel tankage and thus range, reprofiled nose and a 97cm (3ft 2in) fuselage stretch. Gulfstream IIBs are G-IIs retrofitted with the G-III's wing.

Production deliveries of G-IIIs began in late 1980 and continued until 1986 when production ceased in favor of the Gulfstream IV, a somewhat larger model with two new, quieter, more powerful and fuel efficient Rolls-Royce Tay turbofans.

Airframe

• 10,210 Total Hours; Landings 7,765

Engines: Rolls-Royce Spey MK 511-8

Avionics

• Dual Collins FD-109 FLT Dir's
• Dual Collins VHF-22 Comm's
• Dual Collins VIR-32 Nav's
• Dual Collins ADF-60's
• Dual Collins DME-42's
• Dual Collins TDR 94D's Mode S
• Dual Collins HF's w/Selcal
• RVSM
• Collins Cockpit Voice recorder
• Sperry SP-50G Auto pilot
• Wulfsberg IV FF
• Honeywell Primus 400 Color Radar
• Bendix TCAS II w/change 7
• Allied Signal Satellite AFIS
• Honeywell Mark VIII EGPWS
• Narco ELT-910TS0

Features

• Northern Airborne Intercom System
• Cabin Briefing System
• GIII Radome
• Precise Pulselite System
• 65,300 Increase Gross WT Mod
• Standby Fuel flow Power Supply
• 45000" ALT, 6000" Cabin
• Scott Eros Quick Don O2 Marks

Exterior

• Grey and White with two red stripes.

Interior

• 15 Passenger, 13 Seats with 2 belted jump seats, AFT galley, Two/half year interior with black leather chairs and black cloth divans, beige head liner, air show forward and aft, Fireblocked.

Aircraft History provided by
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