| G200 / G250 | |
|---|---|
| |
| Gulfstream G200 | |
| Role | Business jet |
| Manufacturer | Gulfstream Aerospace |
| First flight | December 25 1997 |
| Introduction | 1999 |
| Status | Active service |
The Gulfstream G200, formerly known as the IAI Galaxy, is an Israel Aircraft Industries-manufactured twin-engine business jet, now produced for Gulfstream Aerospace. The Gulfstream G250 is an improved version currently under development.
The G200 was originally named "Astra Galaxy". Israel Aircraft Industries' subsidiary Galaxy Aerospace Inc began designing the Galaxy in the late 1980s in a risk-sharing partnership with the Russian aircraft design bureau Yakovlev OKB, who were thenselves developing a similar aircraft to be called the Yakovlev Yak-48. Eventually IAI adopted the Yakovlev design, the only external change being the use of retrangular cabin windows. In September 1993, the program was officially launched. The teaming agreement with Yakovlev was ended in 1995. This lead to SOGERMA sharing manufacturing with the responsibility for the fuselage and tail of the Galaxy. IAI handled final assembly and other prime contractor duties.[1]
The Galaxy was developed from the IAI Astra and Yakovlev Yak-48. The Galaxy has a wing based on the Astra wing, and features winglets. It also has a wider and longer fuselage.[1] The wing has Kruger flaps, slats, and trailing edge flaps. The aircraft also has a cruciform tail, PW306A engines, and a Collins Pro-Line 4 glass cockpit.[2] It uses rubber de-ice boots on wing and horizontal stabilizer leading edges. Most jets today use engine bleed air to heat these areas. The aircraft has seating configurations for 8 to 10 passengers.[2]
The Galaxy's first flight occurred on December 25, 1997. In December 1998 the Galaxy was certified by the American and Israeli aviation agencies. Deliveries of the aircraft began the following year.[1] It was introduced into service in 1999.[2] The Galaxy was renamed "G200" following Gulfstream Aerospace acquiring Galaxy Aerospace in June 2001.[3]
Since 2005 Gulfstream has been working on a follow-up aircraft, the "Gulfstream G250", which was launched in 2008, with major improvements, like new glass cockpit and engines, bigger wing, heated leading edges, and other refinements.[4][5]
The G250 is a derivative of the Gulfstream 200, with many improvements, among them increased cabin length, new engine HTF7250G, new cruciform tail, wing bleed anti-ice, cabin with 4 more windows and access from it to the baggage compartment. It will compete against the Hawker 4000, Challenger 300 and the planned Embraer Legacy 500. The fuselage, empenage and landing gear will be manufactured by Israel Aircraft Industries, the wing by Spirit AeroSystems, while the final assembly will be performed by Gulfstream.[4][5]
Data from Frawley[6] Gulfstream G200 data[7]
General characteristics
Performance
Data from Gulfstream G250 data[8][9]
General characteristics
Performance
