Gulfstream’s super midsize G280 business jet, flying under an experimental certificate, landed this morning at Geneva International Airport for its EBACE debut. The aircraft, N280GD, touched down on Runway 23 at 10 a.m. under low-hanging clouds, following a seven-hour, 47-minute flight from Dulles International Airport outside of Washington, D.C.

Gulfstream said the G280 is on track for full type certification by the U.S. FAA at mid-year and should enter service in the third quarter. The G280 flown to Geneva, S/N 2004, is the first production aircraft and comes with a completed cabin interior. The aircraft type made its first public debut last October at the NBAA conference in Las Vegas. There are three pre-production flight test aircraft.

The G280 was flown to Geneva by Brett Rundle, Gulfstream’s mid-cabin chief pilot, and international demonstration pilot Chip Leonard. Butch Allen, chief production test pilot for mid-cabin, sat in the jump seat. They were accompanied by a flight attendant and four technicians from Gulfstream’s Mid-Cabin Completions Center in Dallas, where the flight originated Friday. The crew completed the Dallas-to-Dulles leg in two hours and two minutes, flying with nine aboard. Gulfstream said it will apply for city-pair time records for the two legs of the journey to the National Aeronautic Association and Federation Aeronautique Internationale.

Rundle said the G280 took off from IAD at 39,600 pounds maximum takeoff weight and flew at an altitude of 43,000 feet with an average speed of Mach 0.80. The aircraft, which will be certified for a range of 3,600 nm, covered a ground distance of 3,682 nm, aided by a 20-knot tailwind. It landed with 1,800 pounds of fuel, enough to fly another 1.5 hours.

“The G280 is the newest entry into the super midsize category,” Rundle told AIN. “It’s got very impressive speed and range capability. Its short field performance is outstanding. The climb capability is very impressive and the long-range speed at Mach .80–3,600 nm range–is best in class. I think it’s significant in the midsize market segment to bring this airplane here and showcase what it can do.”

The aircraft, with a blue-and-silver streak paint scheme, will be displayed at the EBACE static display on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.