For Private
Gulfstream finds its flight path with spacious business jets
Investment in downturn has posed challenge to rivals
Even when the workers who build Gulfstream’s G650 business jet are on a break, it is easy to see that the world’s longest-range business jet is in demand. Every corner of the assembly building, on the edge of the historic port city of Savannah, is filled with components for new aircraft. Fuselages in various states of construction are jammed in nose to tail. Outside, aircraft wait to be fitted with luxurious interiors before heading off to start shuttling the world’s business and political elite between continents.
The G650, introduced in 2012, is the most obvious illustration of how Gulfstream, part of General Dynamics, the military contractor, is benefiting from the resilient demand from the world’s wealthiest flyers for the most capable private aircraft. Demand for large jets — which accounted for 117 of the 150 aircraft that Gulfstream delivered last year — continued to grow throughout the economic downturn, fuelled by new demand from China and other emerging markets. Orders for the smaller aircraft popular with US and European companies for shorter trips slumped.
Continue reading this article about Gulfstream on FT.com ->
Airbus E-Fan flies across English Channel
Didier Esteyne flew a plane powered solely by electricity across the English Channel, despite being beaten to the challenge hours earlier by another pilot.
A French pilot has flown a manned electric plane across the English Channel, despite missing out on making history at becoming the first pilot to do so.
Didier Esteyne was beaten to the challenge by a few hours by stunt pilot Hugues Duval.
The flight in Airbus Group’s E-Fan 1.0 plane flew in the reverse direction of Bleriot’s landmark Channel crossing 106 years ago on July 25, 1909.
He said: “Like so many others in aviation history, Louis Bleriot has been a hero and inspiration to me and it gives me great pride that I am able to honour his legacy.”
Video from Telegraph:
The two-seat E-Fan has a 31ft wing-span, is two metres in height, with a total engine power of 60 kiloWatt and it operates on a 120-cell lithium polymer battery system.
Read more about the Airbus E-Fan on Telegraph.co.uk->
Private Jets Flood Sun Valley for Mogul Camp
The flood of private jets pouring into Sun Valley for the annual media mogul’s conference is likely to overcrowd the local airport, officials say.
As the Allen & Co. conference kicked off at the Sun Valley Resort in Idaho, officials at the nearby Friedman Memorial Airport expected up to 200 private jets landed Tuesday, making it one of the biggest private jet events of the year.
Additional planes are projected to come and go throughout the week, as billionaires, tech tycoons and media titans head to the five-day dealfest and ideas conference that’s become known as “billionaire’s summer camp.”
Continue reading about mogul camp on CNBC.com ->
July’s #Avgeek Gallery: 30 Cool Aviation Photos
It’s time for the July batch of amazing airplane and aviation photos from around the globe. Here are a three of them.
To see more #avgeek pictures go to USAtoday.com ->
