Category: BizJet

Vertical Aerospace announced it has made European aviation history with the first-ever piloted wingborne flight of a winged electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft in open airspace.

The landmark flight of the VX4 prototype, piloted by Chief Test Pilot Simon Davies, saw the aircraft take-off, fly and land like a conventional aircraft, with lift generated by the wing.

Soaring across the UK countryside from Cotswold Airport, the VX4 prototype demonstrated controlled wingborne flight in open airspace for the first time, marking a critical step toward commercial deployment as part of Vertical’s Flightpath 2030 strategy.

The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) approved the flight through open airspace at Cotswold Airport, the UK’s largest private airport, by extending Vertical’s Permit to Fly. This followed a rigorous review of tens of thousands of pages of safety and technical documentation.

“Taking the aircraft beyond the airfield and cruising over the Cotswolds for the first time was truly special and a career highlight for me. Our performance predictions were absolutely spot on, and the aircraft took off as a natural extension of all the ground tests and preparation we’ve done,” said Simon Davies, chief test pilot. “There are aircraft which are safe and capable but not always enjoyable to fly. The VX4 was not only safe but was an absolute pleasure. It is responsive, smooth, simple to operate and the sound level from the propellers is quiet and pleasant in the cockpit. An honor to fly, and a real testament to the incredible team behind it.”

Vertical says it is currently the only company globally flying a piloted winged eVTOL prototype that’s been developed under a Design Organization Approval (DOA) from the CAA – a DOA is required to hold a Type Certificate, required for commercial passenger operations. The CAA is working closely with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) for their concurrent validation and certifying the VX4 to the highest safety standards required for commercial use.

“Achieving piloted wingborne flight in open airspace under the oversight of the UK CAA is an important moment in our certification journey,” said Stuart Simpson, CEO, Vertical Aerospace. “Operating under the UK’s rigorous regulatory framework means we share the burden of safety with our regulator – every step must be approved, and that’s by design. It amounts to a mini certification of our prototype and gives us a clearer, faster path to type certification. Our decision to put a pilot into the VX4 early was deliberate – real-world piloted flight delivers insights no simulation can. This milestone proves the capability of the aircraft and the maturity of our program as we move toward commercial operations.”

Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. recently announced the official unveiling of its reimagined London Sales and Design Center. Originally opened in 2013, the nearly 5,500-square-foot/511-square-meter space located in Mayfair gives customers based in or traveling through the city exclusive access to Gulfstream’s London-based sales executives and interior design team.

“Delivering an unparalleled experience for our customers is what defines the Gulfstream difference and is something we are continuously investing in,” said Mark Burns, president, Gulfstream. “Our curated portfolio of strategically located sales and design centers offers customers an opportunity to personally explore our aircraft cabins, seating options and outfitting materials so they can tailor their own aircraft to their liking. This redesigned London space is the latest location to further bring this bespoke experience to life.”

The London Sales and Design Center features a full-size Gulfstream G400 cabin mock-up and a Gulfstream G700 and Gulfstream G800 cabin mock-up along with the award-winning Gulfstream G500 and Gulfstream G600 customizable seat collections for customers to test the comfort and functionality of seating, flooring and materials in an actual cabin living area without leaving the city center. 

In the design showroom, Gulfstream’s interior design team guides customers through the vast selection of finishes, veneers, floor coverings, leathers, textiles and other interior outfitting materials available on-site. Dynamic technology, including 3D Cabin Creator and exterior paint visualization technology displayed via a large-scale powerwall, allows customers to delve into the multitude of flexible cabin configurations and full customization services Gulfstream offers.

In addition to London, Gulfstream’s sales and design centers are also located in Savannah, New York and Beverly Hills, California.

Textron Aviation announced a major program milestone for the Cessna Citation CJ4 Gen3 flight test program with the successful first flight of a second test article — P1. Testing on the P1 aircraft will focus on avionics, human factors and interiors. The Citation CJ4 Gen3 business jet is designed to keep pilots a step ahead in the cockpit by offering the next-generation Garmin G3000 PRIME avionics along with the most standard features in its class.

“This achievement continues the forward momentum of the CJ4 Gen3 program and reflects the dedication and expertise of our team in designing, certifying and delivering the best aircraft for our customers,” said Chris Hearne, senior vice president, engineering & programs. “By adding this test article to our flight test program, we are continuing rigorous testing as we work toward certification.”

Piloted by James Bearman and Corey Eckhart, the three hour and 29-minute initial flight centered on general avionics and system evaluations. The aircraft reached a maximum altitude of 45,000 feet and a maximum speed of 305 knots. Bearman said it performed to program expectations, with a smooth and seamless flight.

The Citation CJ4 Gen3 business jet was announced during the 2024 National Business Aviation Association – Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE), and the aircraft is expected to enter into service in 2026. The P1 test aircraft joins the program following the CJ4 Gen3 prototype, which completed its first flight in 2024. As a next-generation business jet, the CJ4 Gen3 builds upon the legendary history of the Citation family, which has long been recognized as the most popular line of business jets worldwide.

Gulfstream Aerospace announced the finalization of its expanded aircraft completions operations at St. Louis Downtown Airport during a ceremony to inaugurate the new space. Originally announced in 2023, this facility expansion provides the necessary resources to support full aircraft interior outfitting at Gulfstream’s St. Louis facility. 

“This St. Louis facility expansion is a continuation of our company-wide growth strategy to support the production of Gulfstream’s industry-leading fleet,” said Mark Burns, president, Gulfstream. “It positions our team to further support completions of our next-generation aircraft for customers all over the world as demand for these aircraft continues to grow.”

This expansion represents an investment of more than $30 million and adds to Gulfstream’s St. Louis maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility that opened in 2017 to provide dedicated hangar space and service to support the entire Gulfstream fleet. Gulfstream employs over 675 team members on-site in St. Louis and encompasses a total facility footprint of 645,013 square feet/59,993 square meters. 

In support of this growth, Gulfstream also added 200 new jobs. While many of these new positions have been filled, Gulfstream is still actively recruiting and hiring in St. Louis for numerous roles in avionics, interior installations, cabinet fabrication and cabinet finishing. 

“The St. Louis area is a booming aviation hub filled with skilled and capable talent, and that has played a role in our continued investment in the region,” added Burns. 

To help engage and develop its workforce at the St. Louis facility, Gulfstream is partnering with many local educational institutions. One of these initiatives is Gulfstream’s high school assistant program with Cahokia Heights and The Center for Academic and Vocational Excellence (CAVE) in Belleville. Students can enroll in this program and receive on-the-job experience while in school and then be placed in full-time positions at Gulfstream upon graduation. 

Other recent Gulfstream facility investments include all-new service centers in Mesa, Arizona, and Fort Worth, Texas; a world-class paint hangar in Appleton, Wisconsin; and the recently expanded Savannah service center. 

Gulfstream Aerospace announced the opening of its newest Gulfstream FAST location in White Plains, New York. Positioned at Westchester County Airport, highly skilled FAST technicians are available to support aircraft service needs both on-site and in the surrounding area. 

This news further supports Gulfstream’s global expansion of its FAST program, which has continued to grow and evolve over the years, increasing its field support readiness to better serve customers and the growing Gulfstream fleet. Today, Gulfstream Customer Support is focused on adding new FAST bases in areas with high customer activity, like White Plains. 

“We continually assess our service offerings based on fleet growth, aircraft movements and customer demand as we identify areas for expansion, enhancing our global footprint to better meet our customers’ needs,” said Lor Izzard, senior vice president, Gulfstream Customer Support. “Our customers remain at the center of everything we do, and this shift in forward deployment of our FAST teams was in direct response to their feedback.”

FAST originally launched in the U.S. to dispatch and swiftly respond to any aircraft on ground (AOG) situation. The team first expanded overseas in 2011, and the program has grown significantly since. Today there are 150 Gulfstream FAST technicians and 24 FAST bases worldwide. In 2024, the team expanded by more than 40% and new FAST team members have already been added this year with future growth opportunities in Western U.S., Europe, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific. 

FAST is part of Gulfstream’s Customer Support network, which comprises more than 5,500 team members and accounts for over 25% of Gulfstream’s total worldwide headcount.