Following its June 28 initial flight, Gulfstream Aerospace’s new top-of-the-line flagship, the G800, completed its first international trip as it arrived in Farnborough to participate in the airshow on Friday. The aircraft flew from Gulfstream’s headquarters in Savannah, Georgia, to its customer support facility at the UK airfield.

Gulfstream rolled out the first G800 as it formally unveiled the aircraft in October, setting a new range bar for purpose-built business jets at 8,000 nm. The aircraft is to eventually succeed Gulfstream’s G650ER with the same fuselage but incorporate elements found on the G700 including its Honeywell Epic-based Symmetry flight deck, dual head-up displays with combined vision system and active control sidesticks, and predictive landing performance system.

Since its first flight last month, the aircraft has checked off additional initial tests, including a long-duration flight of more than eight hours and operations beyond its maximum operating speed of Mach 0.925 and cruise altitude of 51,000 feet.

“To take the G800 on this transatlantic trip so close to first flight is extraordinary,” said Gulfstream president Mark Burns. “Thanks to our strategic planning and the investments Gulfstream has made in our aircraft, we are able to fly the G800 with remarkable efficiency and bring the aircraft directly to customers early in the flight test program, as we have in Farnborough.”

Gulfstream’s Farnborough service center opened in 2020 and since has grown to employ more than 200 workers and has obtained 30 foreign regulatory approvals. Encompassing 20,903 sq m (225,000 sq ft), the facility can accommodate up to 13 of Gulfstream’s largest aircraft, including the G650ER, G700, and G800.