Summary
- The G-IV-SP can carry 12 passengers over 4,109 miles with efficient engines. It is developed from the G-IV and features a comfortable, wide cabin.
- Today, the jet is no longer manufactured; prospective owners should, therefore, take note that a secondhand G-IV-SP can cost around $3.4 million, but maintenance is costly.
- The legacy of the G-IV and its brother, the G-IV-SP, continues with newer models like the G400 and G550, shaping luxury aviation.
Gulfstream is a staple of business aviation; based in Savannah, Georgia, the manufacturer has been producing private jets since 1958. From ultra-long-range workhorses like the brand-new G800 to the backbone of ultra-luxury charters, the G650, the OEM has been creating jets catering to all the needs of jet-setters and private airlines.
However, no aircraft is as iconic as the aircraft we will look at in this article. It was in production for well over 30 years, from its first flight in 1985 until the end of production ended in 2018. Some readers may have guessed it; in this article, we will analyze the G-IV family, with a particular interest in the G-IV SP. It was one of the first jets where passengers could comfortably stand and walk around the cabin, boasting an unprecedented range, which gave it the name “Special Performance,” and is an inspiration to business jets, like the groundwork for the G800, the plane with the most range ever produced.
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What are the technical characteristics of the Gulfstream G-IV SP?
This Gulfstream is considered a large jet. This means that the aircraft can carry 12 passengers over long distances. The specialist website Magellan Jets indicates a range of 4109 miles. If an operator were to base their aircraft in London Luton, it would be able to reach popular destinations like Dubai and New York in just one tank and reach Los Angeles or Singapore with only one technical stop.
This is thanks, in part, to the Rolls-Royce Tay Mk. 611-8 engines produce 13,850 pounds of thrust each, consuming around 415 gallons of fuel per hour. For an aircraft produced in the 90s, it had remarkably efficient engines, allowing it to have unprecedented range, which, much like the 747SP, gave it the name “Special Performance.”
A feature greatly appreciated by users of the SP and the wider G-IV family is the large cabin. With a height of 6.1 feet and a width of 7.3 feet, well within the average height of a human being. This allows extra comfort for the passenger as they can walk around the cabin without bending; this is especially useful given the long journeys the G-IV-SP is used for.
Fun Fact: Tom Cruise, known as “Maverick” in Top Gun, is a well-known operator of the G-IV.
How much does a G-IV-SP cost today?
Unfortunately, the G-IV-SP is no longer available from Gulfstream itself. Prospective owners looking to purchase vintage jets under the SP name will have to turn to brokers for aircraft in the second-hand market. Typically, it will be sold at negotiated prices with brokers during airshows or on their websites.
The jets can also be found on specialist second-hand websites such as controller.com. This website says the cheapest G-IV-SP will cost around 3,4 million dollars. However, a plane typically had tens of thousands of flight hours and at least a couple thousand cycles at this price tag. While they may appear cheap, the maintenance will be considerable.
Those wishing to get their hands on the get may want to know that newer G-IV-SPs are technically available. But they will not bear their original names. This is because, in the early 2000s, the American OEM modernized its lineup and renamed it.
The jets received glass cockpits, meaning digital flight displays and fly-by-wire avionics. The G-IV was, therefore, renamed G400, and the SP variant was renamed G450, and while production ended in 2018, the oldest jets would only be 19 years old as production only started in 2005. Once again, according to globalair.com, a secondhand G450 from 2016 would cost almost 17 million dollars.
What is the future of aircraft?
The SP and G450 are no longer produced but still have a strong legacy. It lives on as the G400, which is still available for sale on the OEM’s website. According to AMLU, the G400 costs an astonishing 34 million dollars. However, most readers will know that is different from how aircraft are purchased new. Clients rarely pay the tag price, as it is tailored to them following intense negotiations.
Photo: Gulfstream
The G-IV family was later developed into the G-V family, which is even more prevalent. It has even been mentioned in a song by DJ Galantis. This updated aircraft was then also developed into the G-550. All Gulfstreams today, including the G800, are derived from the shape of the original aircraft: the G-IV.
3 Unique Variants Of The Gulfstream G-IV
The Gulfstream IV has been configured in unique and unique configurations, including hurricane watch.
Bottom Line
The G-IV and the G-IV-SP have been the foundation stone of today’s Gulfstream. Their impressive range and comfort have defined luxury flying for decades to come. While today, potential buyers can only get their hands on them on the second-hand market, the legacy of Tom Cruise’s jet will live on with the G550 and the other most state-of-the-art jets made in Savannah.
Photo: Gulfstream
Have you seen a G-IV or G-IV-SP at your local airfield? What do you think of them? Or better yet, have you flown on one? What was it like? Let us know in the comments below.
