G250 Undergoes Icing Trials

Gulfstream Aerospace has begun a series of icing tests on its new Gulfstream G250 super mid-sized aircraft as the business jet approaches the certification expected later this year. Serial Number 2001, which first flew in December 2009, completed tests with simulated ice shapes applied to non-heated areas such as the nose, tail, winglets and engine pylon. Gulfstream says these tests evaluate handling, stability and control in icing conditions.

Gulfstream also has prepared S/N 2002 for certification flight testing into known icing, which will take place in natural icing conditions. That aircraft, which flew in March 2010, completed anti-ice system dry-air testing. The system is similar used on Gulfstream’s large-cabin aircraft with heated bleed air from engines routed to the leading edges to prevent ice formation, the company says.

S/N 2002 also has been used for certification testing of the smoke evacuation, auxiliary power unit electrical loads, fuel system function, cabin pressure control system and aircraft loads and stall characteristics. S/N 2001, meanwhile, further has been used to confirm minimum control of air speeds, initial cruise performance and flight-control performance

Gulfstream has three aircraft in the flight-test program, which has accumulated more than 700 hours in 220 test flights. S/N 2003 flew to the National Business Aviation Association annual meeting and convention in October in Atlanta following a transatlantic flight. The aircraft, the last to join the flight-test program, has been used for far-field noise and high-field elevation testing, along with avionics certification testing and other system checks.

Gulfstream has conducted a number of ground tests using its Integration Test Facility at its headquarters in Savannah. There, the PlaneView 250 cockpit has been evaluated. Gulfstream also has checked off all structural limit and ultimate load tests using the fatigue test article.

Production is under way on S/N 2004, the first non-test aircraft. The aircraft is being produced at Israel Aerospace Industries near Tel Aviv, while the interior is being assembled at Gulfstream’s mid-cabin completions center in Dallas.

The G250 is the second of two aircraft Gulfstream hopes to certify this year. The Savannah, Ga., manufacturer also plans to certify its G650 this year, adding the fifth and final test aircraft to that program late last year. Gulfstream anticipates delivering 12 G650s this year.

The company has not been as specific on initial deliveries of the G250, saying only that the market has been improving for the $24 million aircraft. But Gulfstream parent General Dynamics estimated deliveries of around 15 of its mid-cabin aircraft in 2011, and analysts predicting that number could be closer to 35.