Also in November, the G280 flew from Honolulu to
Savannah in 8 hours and 19 minutes, a total of 4,124
nautical miles (7,638 km) at an average speed of Mach
0.80. On board were Brian Dickerson, senior production
test pilot; Scott Evans, engineering test pilot; and
Scott Blouin, avionics and electrical technician.
The city-pair speed records have been
certified by the National Aeronautic Association, the
official record keeper for U.S. aviation, and forwarded
to the Federation Aeronautique Internationale in
Switzerland for approval as world records.
The G280 is certified to fly 3,600 nm (6,667 km) with
four passengers at Mach 0.80 with NBAA IFR reserves,
some 200 nm farther than the company announced at the
program’s launch in 2008. In addition to more range, the
aircraft’s balanced field length has been reduced from
4,960 feet (1,512 m) to 4,750 feet (1,448 m). This field
length is an improvement of more than 1,300 feet
compared to the G200, the aircraft the G280 replaces.
The aircraft entered into service on Nov. 14, 2012.
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