New jets typically make their market debuts by setting a city-pair record. Records demonstrate a jet’s prowess and establish market authority, distinguishing it from its predecessors and any potential competitors in its class. But jets rarely set new precedents for distance, so when a new contender comes along — and moves the goalposts for nautical range — it’s big news. And the new Gulfstream G800 has done just that with its recent range record of 8,000 nautical miles. In a market dominated by jets proven to go the distance, the G800 is going farther faster.
Pushing the limits of private aviation’s range
Gulfstream unveiled the G800 — and its smaller sister jet, the G400 — in October 2021 to much fanfare. Headline news from the event was immediately clear: The world was about to meet the longest-range jet ever produced.
Powered by two Rolls-Royce Pearl 700 Turbofan jet engines, the G800 expects to have an 8,000-nautical-mile range at Mach 0.85. It’s a marked improvement over the previous record holder: Bombardier’s Global 7500, which has a maximum range of 7,700 nautical miles at the same speed. In a jet class wholly dependent on the ability to go farther than the competition, Gulfstream’s G800 is making a bold statement about the future of long-range air travel.
A closer look at the G800’s record-setting build
Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of the G800 is that it’s not a huge departure from Gulfstream’s current jet lineup. It’s merely a new configuration designed with distance in mind.
The G800 features the same engines as Gulfstream’s G700, as well as its proven wing, tail, and winglet designs. But the G800 borrows its fuselage from the G650ER. This amalgamated build leverages the already-proven range of the G650ER — at 7,500 nautical miles — with the power and aerodynamic efficiency of the G700. The result is a jet designed to fly farther than any other without compromising speed.
Comfort is also a staple of the G800. The cabin seats up to 15 across three living areas with available configurations for both business and leisure. Sixteen panoramic oval windows set the industry standard for natural light exposure, and a plasma-ionization clean air system refreshes every two minutes to ensure total comfort. It’s a jet that’s also designed to keep you comfortable while flying farther.
The world just got a little smaller
One of the biggest takeaways from the G800’s unveiling is the slew of new city pairs it makes possible over greater flight distances. Sydney to Dubai, Dallas to Hong Kong, and Moscow to Buenos Aires all become nonstop destinations with the extra range afforded by the G800.
“We designed the ultra-long-range G800 to extend our customers’ reach to more people and places around the world,” said Gulfstream President Mark Burns at the unveiling. Burns also revealed that plans for the G800 have been in the works for more than two years, since the introduction of its predecessor, the G700.
Gulfstream will begin deliveries of the G800 in 2024. The jet has a price tag of $71.5 million.