Gulfstream unveiled the new G650 cabin during the NBAA. Some of the highlights are electric seats; redundant systems; a state-of-the-art cabin management system; unmatched cabin sound levels; the industry’s lowest cabin altitude; and a large, easy-to-use galley. These newly designed features provide operators with enhanced reliability, comfort, convenience and control. Every element of the cabin’s design, including small details like the cell-phone chargers, passenger service units, cup holders and faucets, has been rethought and redesigned.
“The whole is more than the sum of its parts,” said Pres Henne, senior vice president, Programs, Engineering and Test, Gulfstream. “There is nothing else like this in the air. The G650 will serve as a platform for the evolution of Gulfstream interior design and keep the company miles ahead of the competition.
“An aircraft that goes farther and faster deserves a cabin that is bigger and better. So that’s what we did. It all started with the windows. The first sketch we did was of a cup holder and a single window. That simple drawing led to an aircraft interior where form follows function, where system functionality is guaranteed, where 16 super-sized windows flood the cabin with light, and where intuitive controls give passengers the power to create a cabin tailored to their specific needs,” Henne said.
Comfort
The interior enhancements began with the 16 signature Gulfstream G650 windows. Measuring 28 inches across, these larger windows drove the design of the aircraft’s taller, wider fuselage, allowing Gulfstream to raise the windows 3.4 inches for optimum viewing by seated passengers.
In addition to the abundant natural light the windows provide, the cabin features LED lighting throughout, including motion-activated lights in the drawers, cabinets and closets. With RGB capability, passengers can select any color, including multiple shades of white, for up- and down-wash lighting.
G650 seat controls
Measuring 75 inches high and 98 inches wide, the G650 cabin is not only the largest purpose-built business-jet cabin in the industry; it is also the most comfortable. The increased area allows for dramatically restyled seats, more legroom and larger seats and tables. Yet, for all that, the G650 has a maximum takeoff weight under 100,000 pounds (45,360 kg) for access to most business airports.
For the first time in a Gulfstream aircraft, two of the cabin’s standard seats are electrically operated and feature heated back and base cushions, four-way pan tilt, back cushion massage, single-position memory preset and press-and-hold controls for full upright and full flat positions. Controls for those functions are located in the outboard armrest. The inboard armrest can be used for miscellaneous storage or an optional 12.1-inch, high-definition personal monitor. The ledges contain covered docking stations for a passenger control unit (PCU) and a wireless phone. Both the electric and manual seats feature electric lumbar support, press-and-hold electronic release seat tracking/swivel and full-flat berthing capability.
Additionally, the G650 offers an easy-to-berth divan that converts to an 80-by-41-inch flat surface. In its upright position, the divan sits closer to the ground and provides a 104-degree back angle for optimum seated comfort.
“This divan is the direct result of working with our Customer Advisory Board,” said Andrew Fulford, manager, Design Operations, Gulfstream. “Board members suggested making the divan more couch-like. With the added benefit of one-touch berthing, this new divan is exactly what they wanted.”
The G650 cabin environment is further enhanced by the lowest cabin altitude in the industry: 4,850 feet (1,478 m) at a flight level of 51,000 feet (15,545 meters). The cabin also offers industry-leading cabin sound levels, 100 percent fresh air and an advanced environmental control system with quieter air distribution and independently vented lavatories.
Reliability
Gulfstream designed the cabin systems (waste, water, communication, lighting, power, cabin control and entertainment) to ensure no single point failure will result in the loss of cabin functionality. This philosophy, known as Cabin EssentialTM, applies to every aspect of the cabin, including the audio/video distribution system, the new CabinViewTM passenger flight information system and the Gulfstream Cabin Management System (GCMS).
Should a failure occur, maintenance personnel will receive a message via PlaneConnectTM, a highly advanced system that transmits reports on the aircraft to experts on the ground while the jet is still in the air.
For the first time in the company’s history, Gulfstream has installed and will test a complete interior on one of the program’s five flight-test aircraft (Serial Number 6004).
“We want to validate the design in a real-world environment before we start delivering the G650 to customers,” Henne said. “Toward that end, we outfitted our G650 Integration Test Facility in Savannah with many of the aircraft’s interior systems and have already begun evaluating them on the ground. But we also want to test them in the air. The interior we installed on 6004 will allow us to do that. The point is to ensure the cabin is as reliable as possible.”
Control
The Gulfstream Cabin Management System (GCMS) provides digital control of cabin systems through touch screens, capacitive touch switches and Passenger Control Units. Using an iPod touch® that is synched to a particular seat on the aircraft, passengers will be able to control the lighting, temperature, speakers, monitors, entertainment equipment, window shades, CabinView system and attendant call for their specified location on the aircraft.
They’ll also be able to set and save their preferences for a particular activity, including working, dining, relaxing and sleeping. For example, if their preferred working conditions involve the reading light, a closed window shade and a certain color temperature for the indirect lighting, they’ll be able to save those preferences under the “work” label. When “work” is selected from the menu, the GCMS will automatically adjust to the preset conditions for that environment.
“The GCMS uses a platform many people are already familiar with, the iPod touch, which is an easy device to use,” said Bob Geary, director, Research and Development, Final Phase, Gulfstream. “Because each seat comes with its own Passenger Control Unit, passengers can create an environment ideally suited to their needs during that particular flight. They have total control over their environment and there’s really no learning curve, especially since the system works with other personal handheld devices as well.”
Intuitive Design
Convenience is the hallmark of the G650 cabin. It begins with the galley, which is similar to a gourmet kitchen. Large and ergonomically designed, the galley houses a stainless-steel appliance stack with two coffee makers, a microwave and a convection oven; a refrigerator with freezer and removable shelves; solid-surface countertops with a removable cutting board over the sink; two exposed windows for natural lighting; and a 10-inch touch screen.
“You can walk up to it and it’s reminiscent of the kitchen in your house,” Henne said. “The touch controls are completely intuitive. That capability extends to the cabin touch screen, where the flight attendant can easily power up or power down the entire cabin to preset options with a single tap. For that matter, a passenger can just as easily use the touch screen because of the intuitive nature of the controls.”
Additional conveniences can be found in the electrically operated pocket door in the forward cabin bulkhead and the electrically operated console tables. Based on its storage capacity alone, the free-standing credenza is another convenience multiplier. In addition to four different storage areas, the credenza includes a three-in-one printer/scanner/fax and a 26-inch monitor with electric lift.
The G650 also features a crew rest area with a 17-inch monitor and 80 inches of berthing surface.
The convenience applies to the installation of the cabin as well.
“Maintenance personnel will be delighted to find that they only need 10 tools to remove and install the interior,” said Dennis Stuligross, senior vice president, Operations, Gulfstream. “Our commitment to continuously improving and streamlining the manufacturing process benefits our customers not only while their interiors are being installed, but also through the aircraft’s many years of service. Easy installation and removal translate into reduced downtime for our operators. We understand our customers need to have an aircraft that’s ready to go when they are.”
Cabin Debut
Gulfstream demonstrated the cabin’s capabilities at a special event two days before the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) Meeting and Convention in Atlanta. The cabin is outfitted with the flight-test interior, including a testing station to gather data.
