Gulfstream G500 Sets Transcontinental Speed Records

We like to showcase famous business jets and events from history – here’s one of our favorite stories:

One of the primary reasons for using a business jet is because you can get where you need to be fast. 

So, fast planes (especially large-cabin, long distance business jets) can be a game-changer for your life and your business.

In 2019, the Gulfstream G500, a leading business jet, achieved a notable milestone by setting a speed record for its class during a transcontinental flight from West Palm Beach, Florida, to Las Vegas, Nevada.The Gulfstream G500, renowned for its exceptional performance and advanced features, embarked on a transcontinental journey from West Palm Beach to Las Vegas. Equipped with cutting-edge engines and aerodynamics, the G500 demonstrated its ability to cover long distances efficiently while ensuring a comfortable travel experience for passengers.

During this flight, the Gulfstream G500 completed the West Palm Beach to Las Vegas route in an astonishing 3 hours and 54 minutes, setting a new speed record for its class. This remarkable achievement highlights the aircraft’s capabilities and showcases the advancements in aviation technology.

With its state-of-the-art avionics systems and sleek design optimized for speed and efficiency, the Gulfstream G500 sets new industry standards and redefines the possibilities of business aviation.

Other records set by the G500 (reported by James Wybrand in AIN in 2018) commenced in February on flights connecting Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and the Caribbean and included a Singapore-to-Dubai leg completed in six hours and 54 minutes at an average speed of Mach 0.90. A pair of transatlantic records were also established during the tour: Luanda, Angola to Foz Do Iguaçu, Brazil in eight hours and nine minutes at Mach 0.90; and Lagos, Nigeria to Bridgetown, Barbados in nine hours and eight minutes at Mach 0.87. For a flight from Kona, Hawaii to Melbourne, Australia, speed was dialed back to Mach 0.85, but the G500 still set a record of 10 hours and 37 minutes in making the transit.

The Gulfstream G500’s record-setting flight serves as an inspiration for the future of aviation, encouraging further exploration and advancements. It signifies the transformative power of technology in shaping the business aviation landscape.

This record has since been exceeded by Citation 10X+ and the Bombardier Global 800 – but those are stories for another day.