The third aircraft completed its first flight on June 28, taking off
from Ben Gurion airport at 10:30 a.m. local time. During the 2 hour,
56 minute flight, the aircraft reached a maximum speed of 250 knots and a
top altitude of 20,000 feet (6,096 m).

All three aircraft that are part of the 1,300-hour
flight-test campaign have now entered the flight-test program, beginning
with the first, S/N 2001, on Dec. 11, 2009. Each aircraft has been
assigned a specific series of tests to perform, with S/N 2001 focused
on in-flight performance and handling, S/N 2002 on avionics and S/N
2003 on systems functionality and reliability.  

“It’s exciting to have all three test aircraft in the
air,” said Pres Henne, senior vice president, Programs, Engineering and
Test, Gulfstream. “What’s even more exciting is the response we’re
getting from the pilots. They’ve told us that the aircraft’s handling
qualities are excellent, rivaling those of our large-cabin aircraft. 
That’s something we like to hear, because it means we hit the mark with
our design. And we have our operators to thank for that, because they
played a major role in creating this jet. This aircraft represents what
they told us they wanted.”

David Dagan, corporate vice president and general manager,
Commercial Aircraft Group, IAI, said, “What we’re witnessing today in
the G250 flight-test campaign is the synergy of advanced engineering
with skilled manufacturing and assembly. The hours of flight testing we
are able to produce are exactly as we planned. The tests are executed
exactly as we planned with the full completion of each test card, a
true sign of the maturity of the design the teams brought forth.”

The test aircraft have flown over 200 hours on more than
70 flights. S/N 2001 has reached its maximum speed of Mach 0.85 and
altitude of 45,000 feet (13,500 m).  The G250 made its longest test
flight today with a duration of seven hours and one minute.

The G250 offers the largest cabin and the longest
range at the fastest speed in its class. Powered by twin Honeywell
HTF7250G engines, the business jet is capable of traveling 3,400
nautical miles at Mach 0.80. Its initial cruise altitude is 41,000 feet
(12,496 m).

The first G250 rolled out of the IAI
manufacturing facility in Tel Aviv under its own power on Oct. 6, 2009.
It is on schedule for type certification in 2011. The aircraft will be
completed at the Gulfstream Mid-Cabin Center of Excellence in Dallas.