Gulfstream IV

Gulfstream IV / G400
C-20F/G/H/J
GIV-SP / G350 / G450
A Gulfstream IV of the Royal Netherlands Air Force
Role Business jet
Manufacturer Gulfstream Aerospace
Status Active service
Primary users United States Air Force
United States Army
United States Navy
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Produced 1985-present
Number built 862 [1]
Unit cost
GIV: US$36 million (1998)
G350: $33.25 million (2010)[2]
G450: $38.25 million (2010)[2]
Developed from Gulfstream III
Variants Gulfstream V
Gulfstream G350/G450

The Gulfstream IV (or G-IV or GIV) and derivatives are a family of twinjet aircraft, mainly for private or business use. The aircraft was designed and built by Gulfstream Aerospace, a General Dynamics company based in Savannah, Georgia, United States from 1985 until 2003.

Design and development

Gulfstream, in collaboration with Grumman, began work on the Gulfstream IV in March 1983 as a re-engined, stretched fuselage derivative of the Gulfstream III. A decision to redesign the wing structure for weight reduction presented an opportunity for an aerodynamic redesign of the wing to reduce cruise drag and increase range. Wing contour modifications had to be restricted to the forward 65% of wing chord so that no redesign of the control surfaces would be necessary. Modification of the inboard wing would have entailed a redesign of the fuselage floor structure, consequently this region of the wing was not modified. Outboard wing modifications were aimed at reducing the peak subcritical pressure coefficient and moving it aft in an effort to reduce shock strength and increase shock sweep.[3] The Gulfstream IV wing has a weaker, more swept outboard shock resulting in a lower cruise drag. Other benefits arising from this design are a lower root bending moment due to the more inboard center of pressure, a lower stall speed due to washout and a larger fuel volume due to increased chord. These aerodynamic improvements result in an increase in range of over 300 nautical miles.[4]

In addition to the innovative wing design, the Gulfstream IV also became the first jet to have an entire cockpit made out of glass.[5]

The first GIV made its maiden flight on September 19, 1985. The model received type certification from the FAA in April 1987.[6] The G-IV entered into service with serial number 1000 in 1987 and was upgraded to the special purpose GIV-SP version at serial number 1214 in 1993. It was later redesignated G400 at serial number 1500.[7]

The winglet of a G450
GULFSTREAM G-IV at John Wayne Airport (KSNA), December, 2013

A shorter range variant was created based on the GIV and given the G300 designation in 2002.[6] The G400 has a large cabin, long range of 4,350 nautical miles (8,060 km) and the same comfort and design that characterize the G series. Maximum cruise height and speed are 45,000 ft and Mach 0.88. Earlier models were fitted with Honeywell's SPZ 8000 Avionics package. The SPZ 8400 Avionics Package was an option, becoming standard on later models. It costs about $15 million at 2009 prices.[7]

In 2001 Gulfstream began work on an improved version of the GIV-SP, originally designated GIV-X. It was later renamed G450. The G450 is lengthened 1 ft (0.305 m) over the G400 and shares the forward fuselage and larger cockpit of the G550. Production of the G450 began in October 2004, replacing the G400. The G450 has better performance and comes with the PlaneView cockpit with four 14 in (355 mm) liquid crystal displays and a Head up display (HUD). The shorter range G350 version of the G450 was developed and received certification in 2004.[8][9]

Operational history

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) operates a GIV-SP (N49RF) modified to fly scientists and crew members at 45,000 feet around tropical cyclones. The aircraft was modified to drop instruments called "dropsondes" to measure windspeed, barometric pressure, humidity, and temperature as they fall to the surface of the ocean. By sampling the cyclone with these dropsondes over a 4,000 mile track around the storm, the forecasters at NOAA's National Hurricane Center and Hurricane Research Division can better predict where the hurricane will be "steered" by the upper level winds. They also predict wind shear that will either increase or decrease a hurricane's strength. The GIV-SP is suited for this mission since it is fast, and can fly long distances with ample cabin space for the crew and instruments.[10] In 2009, the NOAA GIV-SP was further modified by the addition of a side-scanning Doppler radar to the rear fuselage. This radar is used for storm cloud profiling.[11]

In June 1987 a Gulfstream IV set 22 world records in its class in flying west around the world in 45 hr 25 min. The next year another GIV set 11 world records flying east around the world.[12] In 1990, Gulfstream CEO Allen Paulson and a Gulfstream flight crew set 35 international records for around-the-world flight in a GIV.[13]

Variants

C-20F/G/H/J military variants

The U.S. military variant of the IV, designated C-20F/G/H/J Gulfstream IV in Department of Defense service.[14] The C-20F is a GIV model operated by the U.S. Army in a command/executive transport role.

U.S. Marine Corps VIP C-20G, also known as the "Grey Ghost."[15]

The C-20G aircraft[16] may be configured for cargo operations, 26 passenger operations or combinations of the two. With passengers seats removed, it may be configured as three pallets with no passengers or two pallets and eight passengers or one pallet and fourteen passengers. With full seating, the aircraft is capable of accommodating up to twenty-six passengers and a crew of four. A hydraulically operated cargo door is installed on the starboard side of the aircraft, and a ball roller cargo floor is capable of accommodating palletized cargo. The C-20G is operated by Fleet Logistics Support Squadron Four Eight (VR-48) at Naval Air Facility, Andrews Air Force Base, Washington, DC and at VMR Detachment Kaneohe Bay, Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay, Marine Corps Base Hawaii.[17]

The C-20H is a GIV-SP model operated by the U.S. Air Force in a command/executive transport role. The C-20J is a GIV-SP model operated by the U.S. Army in a command/executive transport role.

G350/G450

Gulfstream G450

The G450 is an improved version of the GIV-SP/G400 using technologies from the G500/G550 (an upgrade to the GV). It has a "PlaneView" cockpit with 4 Honeywell 21 EFIS screens, and a Gulfstream-designed cursor control system. It also has the "Enhanced Vision System" (EVS), an infrared camera that displays an image of the view in front of the camera on a head up display. EVS permits the aircraft to land in lower-visibility instrument meteorological conditions than a non-EVS-equipped aircraft. Another exterior difference between the G-IV and G450 is the removal of windshield wipers on the G450.

The G350 is the short-range version of the G450. It has the same exterior appearance as G450, and includes the PlaneView cockpit, but does not have EVS as standard equipment, which is available as an option.

Operators

Civil operators

The aircraft is operated by private individuals, companies and executive charter operators, and in fractional ownership programs.

Government and military operators

 Botswana
 Brunei
 Chile
 Ivory Coast
 Egypt
 India
 Jordan
 Japan
 Malaysia
 Mexico
 Netherlands
 Saudi Arabia
 Sweden
 Turkey
 Pakistan
 United Arab Emirates
 United States
 Venezuela

Former military operators

 Ireland
 Uganda

Specifications

GIV GIV-SP G350 G450
Cockpit crew Two
Seating capacity 19 maximum
12-16 typical
19 maximum
12-16 typical
Length 88 ft 4 in (26.9 m) 89 ft 4 in (27.2 m)
Wingspan 77 ft 10 in (23.7 m)
Overall height 24 ft 5 in (7.44 m) 25 ft 2 in (7.67 m)
Maximum take-off weight
(MTOW)
73,200 lb (33,200 kg) 74,600 lb (33,800 kg) 70,900 lb (32,200 kg) 74,600 lb (33,800 kg)
Empty weight 43,000 lb (19,500 kg) 43,000 lb (19,500 kg) 43,500 lb (19,700 kg)
Cruising speed Mach 0.80 (533 knots, 614 mph, 988 km/h at altitude)
Maximum speed Mach 0.88 (587 knots, 675 mph, 1,087 km/h at altitude)
Range 4,220 nmi (7,820 km; 4,860 mi) 3,800 nmi (7,040 km; 4,370 mi) 4,350 nmi (8,060 km; 5,010 mi)
Service ceiling 45,000 ft (13,700 m)
Engines (×2) Rolls-Royce Tay 611-8 Rolls-Royce Tay 611-8C

See also

Related development


Related lists

References

  1. Gulfstream IV production list, rzjets.net
  2. 1 2 Business & Commercial Aviation's 2010 Purchase Planning Handbook Aviation Week.
  3. Chandrasekharan, R.M., Murphy, W.R., Taverna, F.P. and Boppe, C.W., "Computational Aerodynamic of the Gulfstream IV Wing", AIAA paper 85-0427, presented at the AIAA 23rd Aerospace Sciences Meeting, Reno Nevada, January 1985.
  4. Boppe, Charles W., "Computational Aerodynamic Design: X-29, the Gulfstream Series and a Tactical Fighter", SAE paper 851789, 1985 Wright Brothers Award Paper, presented at the Aerospace Technology Conference & Exposition, Long Beach California, October 1985.
  5. Thomas, Joel (19 May 2014). "History of the Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation". Retrieved 19 August 2014.
  6. 1 2 Frawley, Gerald. "Gulfstream IV, G300 & G400". The International Directory of Civil Aircraft, 2003/2004. Fishwick, Act: Aerospace Publications, 2003. ISBN 1-875671-58-7.
  7. 1 2 ["The Gulfstream GIV"]. Business and Commercial Aviation magazine, January 18, 2009.
  8. "FLIGHT TEST: Gulstream G450 - Heir apparent". Flight International, November 23, 2004.
  9. Gulfstream GV-SP/G550 aircraft cockpit image. airliners.net
  10. "Gulfstream IV-SP (G-IV)." National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration web site.
  11. Picture of the Gulfstream Aerospace G-IV Gulfstream IV-SP aircraft Retrieved 1 November 2011.
  12. "Gulfstream Aerospace G-IV". airliners.net
  13. Lacy, Clay. "Clay Lacy on Allen Paulson". Clay Lacy. Retrieved 19 August 2014.
  14. DoD 4120-15L, Model Designation of Military Aerospace Vehicles. US DoD, 12 May 2004.
  15. The Grey Ghost Hawaii Reporter: Dispatches from the War on Terrorism, September 24, 2004
  16. Navy C-20G
  17. Wings of Gold, Vol. 36, No. 3, Fall 2011, Association of Naval Aviation, Alexandria, VA, pp.18-21
  18. 1 2 (Professional Pilot Magazine)
  19. S-102B Korpen
  20. Government jet sold to US company
  21. The Editor, . (February 2009). "Museveni's Shs88 Billion Jet Arrives". The Observer (Uganda). Retrieved 19 May 2015.

External links

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