Gulfstream's primary G500 test aircraft T1 has completed flutter testing over the course of more than 50 flights, while its fourth test aircraft T4 has joined the programme and completed its first flight. Senior VP Dan Nale comments: "With four aircraft now in flight, the programme has surpassed 580 flight test hours in just nine months. This latest accomplishment, as well as the outstanding performance and reliability of all flight-test aircraft, highlights the tremendous progress being made. The flight-test team has started the new year off with great success."

As T1 performed flutter testing, the second test jet T2 finished climatic chamber testing at the McKinley Climatic Laboratory in Florida, USA. The aircraft endured three days of hot testing, with temperatures reaching 55*C, followed by two days of cold testing, with temperatures as low as -40*C.

"The successful completion of climatic chamber testing assures us that the aircraft will be prepared to meet the FAA's rigorous certification process and the extreme real world conditions our customers will experience when they fly the G500," Nale adds.

On its first missions, T4 climbed to a maximum altitude of 51,000 feet and reached a maximum speed of Mach 0.925. During the three hour 17 minute flight the crew exercised all primary flight control systems, performed functional checks of air data and cabin pressurisation systems and completed a series of engine performance measures.

One of five G500 aircraft involved in testing, T4 will be used to test avionics, flammable fluid drainage, water ingestion and select systems, as well as performing flight standardisation and operations evaluations.

The fifth aircraft, P1, has been delivered to Gulfstream's Savannah completions centre, where it will become a fully outfitted production aircraft that will be used to test the interior elements as well as the integration of aircraft systems with the passenger experience.

Since T1 took its first flight in May 2015 it has amassed over 320 hours, with a maximum speed of Mach 0.99 and a ceiling of 53,000 feet. Its longest flight to date lasted more than five hours. The G500 can fly 5,000 nm at Mach 0.85 or 3,800 nm at Mach 0.90. It is expected to receive type certification from the FAA and EASA in 2017, with entry into service set for 2018.