The Gulfstream G400 is set to be one of the smallest aircraft the American business jet manufacturer sells, trailing only the Gulfstream G280, and will launch with a 26.3 meter (86.3 feet) long cabin. This twin-engine business jet will fall into the large cabin class of the private aviation industry. However, due to a lengthy flight testing and certification process, the type has not yet been certified.

Per Gulfstream’s latest announcements, this aircraft will hopefully be certified and enter production in 2025. Other business jets currently in this market include the Dassault Falcon 2000 series, Bombardier Global 5000, Embraer Legacy 600 series, and some of Gulfstream’s other products. Let’s take a closer look at where the aircraft is in the certification process, some notable design features the aircraft has, the predicted purchase price, and future operating costs.

Brief history

Gulfstream originally announced the G400 in October 2021. The company intends to begin producing the G400 and delivering the aircraft in 2025. Two similar Gulfstream business jets, the G500 and G600, are in a similar category, although they are slightly longer and were announced in October 2014. Therefore, both the G500 and G600 are currently in production.

Currently, Gulfstream intends to utilize five test aircraft for the certification program. The company also expects the certification process to drag on longer than the certification process of some of the company’s other programs. This will include a longer flight-testing program as well.

Photo: Gulfstream

The reason for this is the addition of new PW800 engines. The Pratt & Whitney PW812GA engines on the G400 are a different variant than other certified engines. The United States government and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) changed several certification requirements after the Boeing 737 MAX was grounded. This meant that the flight testing required to certify the new aircraft and new PW800 engine variant would be more extensive than in past programs. However, despite this recent realization, Gulfstream still intends to deliver its first G400 in 2025.

Notable design features

The aircraft will be certified with the same type rating as the G500 and G600, which are currently in production, the GVII type rating. The G400 has a shorter cabin length than the G500 and G600 but shares many similar features, including a fuselage with the same width and height as the fuselage of the G500. The G400 is expected to have the following measurements and specifications:

The fuselage and the rest of the airframe are made from typical aluminum alloys to ensure the aircraft remains lightweight. The G400 also utilizes composite materials on various aircraft structures, including the horizontal stabilizer, the rudder, the elevator, the radome, and the winglets, among other parts. The G400 is slightly smaller than the competing Bombardier Global 5000 but marginally larger than the competing Dassault Falcon 2000.

Overall, the cabin can be split into two and a half zones and will feature ten windows. This long fuselage can fit up to 12 total passengers. The cabin altitude will be just 4,850 feet. Gulfstream also offers a clean air system that uses plasma ionization technology to purify cabin air.

Photo: Gulfstream 

As mentioned earlier, the G400 is set to be powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada turbofan engines, the P&WC PW812GA. These aircraft each provide nearly 13,500 pounds of thrust on takeoff. This significant amount of thrust helps power the aircraft to a maximum operating speed of Mach 0.90 (594 miles per hour) and a typical cruise speed of Mach 0.85 (561 miles per hour) to Mach 0.88 (581 miles per hour).

Gulfstream’s G400 will have a maximum cruise altitude of 51,000 feet, similar to other Gulfstream jets. Gulfstream intends the G400 to reach a maximum range of 4,200 nautical miles (4,833 miles), which can connect Denver to London, Miami to São Paulo, and Tokyo to Dubai. Additionally, the intended maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) is nearly 70,000 pounds, with a maximum payload of 4,050 pounds and a fuel capacity of 23,350 pounds. Gulfstream has its takeoff distance projected at 5,000 feet, 300 feet shorter than the slightly larger G500 and 700 feet shorter than the G600.

Inside the cockpit, the G400 utilizes active control sidesticks to control the aircraft; the avionics system that uses these controls is the Gulfstream Symmetry Flight Deck. This system utilizes four main displays and three touchscreens to control the aircraft. It also features an enhanced flight vision system and a predicted landing performance system to assist with flying.

Future pricing and operating costs

When Gulfstream revealed the new G400 in 2021, it was set to become the industry’s first new aircraft in the large cabin market in over ten years. Gulfstream also quoted the new aircraft would enter the industry with a base price tag of $34.5 million per Aviation Week.

The predicted cost to operate the aircraft can vary depending on the amount of time flown. Liberty Jet predicts the cost to range from $1.5 million to $3 million per year. The bottom of this range is estimated when flying 200 hours per year, and the top is calculated for an individual flying 400 hours per year. These estimates include fuel costs that are evaluated at $7.23 per gallon. Additional operating costs may include maintenance, engine overhaul, crew, handling, training, insurance, and hangar rental, among other expenses.