Gulfstream Gulfstream V

Summary

Description

Gulfstream initiated the development of the Gulfstream IV in March 1983, collaborating with Grumman on a project that sought to re-engine and stretch the fuselage of the existing Gulfstream III. The first GIV subsequently completed its maiden flight on September 19, 1985, and received type certification from the FAA on April 22, 1987. It entered service in 1987 as serial number 1000 and was upgraded to the special purpose GIV-SP version at serial number 1214 in 1993. It was later redesignated G400 at serial number 1500. A shorter range variant was created based on the GIV and given the G300 designation in 2002.

In 2001, Gulfstream began work on an improved version of the GIV-SP, originally designated GIV-X and later renamed G450. The G450 is lengthened 1 ft (0.305 m) over the G400 and shares the forward fuselage and larger cockpit of the G550. Following its first flight on 30 April 2003, production of the G450 began in October 2004, replacing the G400. The shorter range G350 version of the G450 was developed and received certification in 2004. Upon delivery of the last G450, over 900 GIV/GIV-SP/G450 units had been produced. The last of the G450’s was delivered on 19 January 2018 after 365 deliveries over 12 years, ending a 30-year production run, to be replaced by the G500.

Compared to the Gulfstream III, the Gulfstream IV features a redesigned wing structure aimed at weight reduction and improved aerodynamics to reduce cruise drag and increase range. Modifications were focused on the forward 65% of the wing chord to avoid control surface redesign. Outboard wing modifications reduced the peak subcritical pressure coefficient, moving it aft to decrease shock strength and increase shock sweep. This wing design results in a lower cruise drag and benefits such as a lower root bending moment, a lower stall speed, and a larger fuel volume, increasing range by over 300 nautical miles. The Rolls-Royce Tay fanjet engines provide enhanced thrust and improvements in speed, noise levels, emissions, fuel economy, range, and cargo capacity. The Gulfstream IV was the first business jet to incorporate an all-glass cockpit.

The Gulfstream IV and its derivatives have seen diverse operational use across civil and military sectors. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration operates a specially modified GIV-SP for hurricane research, deploying dropsondes to gather critical atmospheric data within tropical cyclones. In military service, the U.S. armed forces employ various C-20 variants for command and executive transport. The C-20G is notable for its cargo-convertible configuration; with passenger seats removed, it may be configured as three pallets with no passengers, two pallets and eight passengers, or one pallet and fourteen passengers. A hydraulically operated cargo door is installed on the starboard side of the aircraft, and a ball roller cargo floor is capable of accommodating palletized cargo. Several air forces and governments around the world, including those of Japan, Saudi Arabia, and the Netherlands, utilize the GIV series for VIP transport and other specialized missions, such as the Swedish Air Force's S102B Korpen ELINT platform. Some operators have replaced the aircraft with newer models, such as Uganda which replaced their G-IV SP with a G550.

Main Variants:

• C-20F: This is a GIV model operated by the U.S. Army, serving in a command/executive transport role.

• C-20G: This variant can be configured for cargo, passenger, or a combination of both, and features a hydraulically operated cargo door and a ball roller cargo floor.

• C-20H: This is a GIV-SP model operated by the U.S. Air Force for command/executive transport duties.

• C-20J: This is a GIV-SP model operated by the U.S. Army for command/executive transport duties.

• G450: Approved by the FAA on August 12, 2004, the G450 has a fuselage that is 12 inches longer and the main entry door is relocated aft compared to the Gulfstream IV.

Technical specifications

Current operating countries

Country		Units
	Israel	3

Numbers in parentheses, e.g. '(+5)', indicate units ordered but not yet delivered.

All operators

Israel • United States