Chad is the editor of AINalerts, AIN's daily business aviation newsletter, and is also the news editor at AIN Media Group.&nbsp;He has been writing about aviation, with an emphasis on business aviation, since 1994. Chad started his writing career at The Avion,&nbsp;the&nbsp;student newspaper at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida, serving as editor-in-chief before graduating with a bachelor's in aeronautical science. After a stint as managing editor at Professional Pilot&nbsp;magazine, he joined&nbsp;AIN in late 1998. Chad holds a commercial pilot certificated with instrument and multi-engine ratings, and he also is a CFI/CFII. He lives and works from his home in Venice, Florida.

Online Editor

Chad Trautvetter

Gulfstream Aerospace’s fifth, and final, flight-test G600 made its maiden flight yesterday afternoon from the company’s headquarters in Savannah, Georgia. Registered as N600G, the twinjet took off from Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport at 3:07 p.m. for a nearly three-hour flight, reaching 51,000 feet/15,545 meters and a speed of Mach 0.85.

 


Outfitted with the first production interior, the N600G serves as a cabin testbed and will conduct function and reliability testing before the G600 enters service later next year. Notably, this outfitted airplane is scheduled to be on static display at the NBAA Convention in October in Las Vegas.

 


“The goal of including a production aircraft in our flight-test program is to ensure we deliver the most functional, comfortable and reliable cabin environment for our customers,” said Gulfstream president Mark Burns. “Our extensive testing will validate design and performance, so we can provide a cabin that exceeds expectations.”

 


To date, the five flight-test G600 have logged more than 180 flights and 790 flight hours. “We now have 10 aircraft flying in our concurrent Gulfstream G500 and G600 flight-test programs,” Burns added. “That’s a remarkable achievement and a first for the company.” The G500 is expected to enter service by year-end.

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