Gulfstream G650 / G650ER

ICAO type code: GLF6 · Gulfstream Aerospace · large-cabin business jet

G650 at a glance

First flight

2009

Length

99 ft 9 in (30.4 m)

Wingspan

99 ft 7 in (30.4 m)

Engines

2 × Rolls-Royce BR725 turbofans

Seats

11–19 passengers

Cruise speed

~488–516 kt (562–594 mph) / Mach 0.85–0.90

Service ceiling

51,000 ft

Range

~7,000 nmi (G650); ~7,500 nmi (G650ER)

How to recognize the G650

The G650 is long, sleek and fast, with Gulfstream's signature oval windows.

• Windows: large oval cabin windows, a Gulfstream trademark visible from a distance.
• Tail: a T-tail with a sharply swept fin.
• Wing: strongly swept, with blended winglets.
• Engines: two Rolls-Royce BR725 turbofans on the rear fuselage, large and long.
• Fuselage: long, wide and round; about the size of a small regional jet.
• Nose: pointed with a smooth line into the cockpit windows.
• Altitude and speed: it often cruises at FL450 to FL510, higher than almost any airliner.

The Challenger 350 is much smaller, with smaller windows. Newer Gulfstreams like the G700 and G800 look very similar but have different type codes (GA7C and GA8C).

The G650's cockpit has large, wraparound windows and a long, sharply pointed nose. Its engines are big for a business jet, mounted high on the rear fuselage in long, smooth nacelles. The fuselage is wider than earlier Gulfstreams like the G550, so it looks fat for its length when seen head-on. From below, the strongly swept wing and blended winglets give a distinct arrowhead outline, and on approach it flies faster than smaller business jets.

Where and when you'll see it

G650s are owned by large corporations, wealthy individuals and charter companies. They fly long trips such as New York to London, Los Angeles to Tokyo or Miami to South America, plus many domestic flights. Gulfstream builds them in Savannah, Georgia, so test flights are common there.

Typical cruise is FL450 to FL510, above most traffic. On ADS-B the type code is GLF6; callsigns are usually an N-number or charter operator code. Some owners use the FAA's privacy programs, so their jets may show generic callsigns; see PIA.

Because G650s fly long distances, you may see them crossing your area at FL450 to FL510 on transcontinental or transatlantic flights, far above airline traffic. They frequently use business airports such as Teterboro, Van Nuys, Palm Beach and Washington Dulles. Some fly for charter companies; others belong to corporations that keep their flight details private.

Easily confused with

• Bombardier Challenger 300 / 350: The Challenger 350 is smaller, with smaller round windows.
• Cessna Citation Latitude: The Citation Latitude is much smaller and has no winglets.

Quick facts

• The G650 can reach Mach 0.925, among the fastest civil aircraft flying.
• It can cruise at 51,000 ft, well above most airline traffic.
• Gulfstream has largely replaced it in production with the G700 and G800.

G650 questions

Cities where it's a regular

New York City · Boston

Spot one live

Open the live sky tool and look for GLF6 in the type column, or browse the live map on airplanes.live.