Gulfstream G650 any news ?

[future G-V driver]

Hi, anyone heard any news after the sad loss of one of the test airframes, any idea what impact this might have on early deliveries ?

What ever went wrong, lets hope that Gulfstream can fix it and they can move forward and rebuild the aircrafts reputation, whilst not forgetting the poor families involved.

[RAWLAW]

Future GV Driver,

How exciting is that! No, no news. This is from a USA based G550 operator whose DOM is on the CAB and our G550 is currently in KSAV on a A and C check. If there was any news out there, formal or informal, I would have received it for sure.

It would seem at this point an issue is the main door and its usefulness as an egress door when all electrical has failed. I am looking for something on that. A lack of news is neither good or bad, an excessively long time without any news is bad from a stronger possibility of redesign and ultimately product delay perspective. It is better to maintain radio silence on bad news until you can accuratey follow it up with better news.

Lets hope that the tragedy sets into motion improvements that will ultimately benefit the product as the professionals that gave their lives intended it to be.

[bizjets101]

Gulfstream Resumes G650 Flight Testing -- SAVANNAH, Ga., May 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- (http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/gulfstream-resumes-g650-flight-testing-122772874.html)

[FrankR]

Two things are "for sure" here.

First, Gulfstream clamps down the "cone of silence" whenever one of theirs has a problem. You don't hear much about the crash in Appleton in Feb '11 do you?

Second, they're still putting them together as fast as they can in Savannah! This is true for the "old" 450/550's as well as the new 650.

FR

[mutt]

An equipment failure aboard an aircraft was reported early this afternoon at the Outagamie County Regional Airport, just west of Appleton.
No one was hurt when a twin-engine private jet crashed near Wisconsin Highway 76 on Outagamie County Regional Airport property.
The Post-Crescent of Appleton reports the Gulfstream 5 was resting on its side on the west side of airport property about 1:20 p.m. Monday.
The three men on board exited the jet safely before emergency workers arrived.
The Post-Crescent reports the jet apparently landed safely, but was unable to stop.

I haven't seen anything issued by Gulfstream explaining what happened, have you ?

Mutt

[bizjets101]

http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab20/bizjets101/GVKATW2.jpg
One Thrust Bucket open, one gear collapsed = Hydraulic Problems . . .

Actually that is Paul Allen's new G550, one of his choppers - his brand new EC145 was wrecked the month before - it took off from ONE of his yachts to pick him up, clipped a wire on the yacht and made an emergency ditching in the ocean beside the yacht.

Unfortunately the guys towing it to shore - flipped it over and submerged it :( Good thing he has an entire fleet of jets, and choppers - though he sold one of his Boeing 757's to Donald Trump . . .

EC-145 YouTube - ‪Octopus Crash Heli Ushuaia‬‏ Warning loud music . .

. . and Trumps son's birthday cake gives you an idea what the B757 will look like . .
http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab20/bizjets101/TrumpB757cake.jpg

[fokkerjet]

Appleton talked about in great length, at my last G550 recurrent.

Lost left hydraulic pressure/fluid after landing gear extention. Pilot(s) elected to continue landing while trying to complete checklist. See pictures of result.

[AA717driver]

Wow. You continue to land while completing the checklist with a real fire on board or in the engine or a total electrical failure (maybe).

Everything else...slooooowwww down.

TC

[galaxy flyer]

Fun fact, Mr Allen was taking delivery of a new GLEX XRS the very moment the GLF 5 went off the runway. The GLF was his sister's plane.

GF

[galaxy flyer]

Fokkerjet

Did they lose Left Hydraulic fluid or just pressure? Big difference between the two facts--one they can backup with PTU or AUX pump, lose the fluid thru a leak and not so good.

GF

[specialbrew]

According to AIN, 650 flight testing has resumed but....

"Gulfstream has put in place an interim flight restriction that temporarily increases V speeds and limits maximum angle of attack on takeoff".

[fokkerjet]

Fluid. I don't remember the exact failure, but it was within the nose wheel steering system.

[W9SQD]

Speculation is that the nosewheel steering actuator was cracked resulting in a loss of aux fluid. No aux fluid would explain loss of normal brakes plus loss of nosewheel steering. Left fluid might have already been lost, haven't heard.

[#1AHRS]

If you lose fluid then it is nitrogen that puts the gear down, however running off into the grass may have something to do with collapsed undercarriage legs. If you loose all Hyd fluid then you have: rudder for a while, no nose-wheel steering with only emergency (no antiskid) brakes and one reverser that may or may not help.
But the picture shows that the flaps are down, so they may have had the Aux system available, which would then give them differential antiskid braking.

Continue to land while running a QRH item. Now that sounds like a major problem, but not with the aircraft.

[galaxy flyer]

Just looking at the Hydraulic charts for G550, an awful lot is hanging on there never being a leak in any left system components. Once you lose left system fluid, an unhappy outcome is nearly inevitable.

GF

[W9SQD]

Loss of left system pressure or fluid only costs you the left thrust reverser. Loss of left and aux pressure or fluid might (though, not always) put you off the concrete and into the weeds.

ps Go Red Sox

[ericthepilot]

the G650 is airborne again.

For those that are on the mailing list of Gulfstream, a 14 page PDF document has been released with all accomplishments to date and program status.
Very impressive.

[AA717driver]

Talked to an FAA inspector last week about this (FWIW, grain of salt, etc.). He said the Vmc speeds were mis-calculated and an engine was pulled at V1.

He said there is also a problem with the fwd door not free-falling open and electrical power is needed but that's outside my area of expertise.

Just repeating rumors.

TC

[LGW Vulture]

Talking of rumours .......... I'll raise you:

....Ballast shift.