Matt Thurber, editor-in-chief at AIN Media Group, has been flying since 1975 and writing about aviation since 1978 and now has the best job in the world, running editorial operations for Aviation International News, Business Jet Traveler, and FutureFlight.aero. In addition to working as an A&amp;P mechanic on everything from Piper Cubs to turboprops, Matt taught flying at his father’s flight school in Plymouth, Mass., in the early 1980s, flew for an aircraft owner/pilot, and for two summer seasons hunted swordfish near the George’s Banks off the East Coast from a Piper Super Cub. An ATP certificated fixed-wing pilot and CFII and commercial helicopter pilot, Matt is type-rated in the Citation 500 and Gulfstream V/550. Based in the Pacific Northwest, Matt and his team cover the entire aviation scene including business aircraft, helicopters, avionics, safety, manufacturing, charter, fractionals, technology, air transport, advanced air mobility, defense, and other subjects of interest to AIN, BJT, and FutureFlight readers.

Editor-in-Chief

Gulfstream designs, develops, manufactures, markets, and services business jet aircraft.

Matt Thurber

Gulfstream has delivered 72 of its flagship G700s since deliveries began in April 2024, including 14 in the Middle East. One of those—a customer-owned airplane—is on display at the Dubai Airshow, along with a company G800 that set another city-pair speed record on its way to Dubai.
Departing from Phuket, Thailand, the G800 made the trip in 5 hours 38 minutes. This is the eighth city-pair record for the G800, which received FAA and EASA certification in April. Another one of its records was a flight from Miami to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in 12 hours 33 minutes.
“The G700 has been exceeding performance expectations since it entered service just last year. It is absolutely a differentiator for Gulfstream and for the entire business aviation industry, and it has been the smoothest transition into customer delivery that we have ever experienced,” according to the company.
“A major advantage of the G700 is its spacious cabin. This gives customers a lot of versatility when it comes to fully utilizing and configuring the cabin to meet their individual needs. Mixing all the possible seating configurations—with four different galley configurations, seven different crew area configurations, and eight different aft lavatory configurations—offers customers endless ways&nbsp;to design their cabin. Customers are taking advantage of all five zones in ways that best suit their personal preferences, reflecting the uniqueness of each customer.”
For the Middle East market, ultra-long-range jets such as the G700 and G800 are “hugely” important, said Scott Evans, director of demonstration, airborne customer support, and corporate flight operations. “We’re seeing tremendous interest in the Middle East. Some G700 customers are already looking for another G700. This is a multi-continent connector. Whether it’s the G700 or G800,” he added, sometimes political considerations require flying around global hotspots. “We just change the Mach a little bit and we keep going.” In terms of flexibility and security, he added, “Everything is a positive when connecting two intended cities without a stop.”
The G800 replaces the G650 in Gulfstream’s lineup and can fly 8,200 nm at the long-range cruise speed of Mach 0.85, compared to the G650’s 7,500 nm. “We’re doing things that the G650 did, even though it’s 10 feet longer,” Evans said, “and it’s 6% to 9% more efficient. It’s amazing to see in one short generation what we’re able to drive into these airplanes in terms of efficiency.”
“We’ve now got a fantastic product line,” added Paul Robinson, director, technical sales support. The ultra-long-range jets will be joined by the G400, with a range of 4,200 nm, and the G300, which will replace the super-midsize G280. The latter’s Collins-based avionics are being upgraded to Gulfstream’s Harmony suite, which adopts features common to the longer-range jets’ Honeywell-based Symmetry flight deck. Harmony is also Honeywell-based, but with three flight displays instead of the larger jets’ four and no data concentrator network.
“Harmony is a great name for all that amazing safety and workload-saving [technology],” Evans said. “[It adds] a harmonized flight deck airplane into our family,” hence the new name. “This is a huge part of our drive to create the safest business aircraft in the industry.
“The G650 created the foundation of where we are now,” Evans concluded. “The G550 changed the world, and the G650 added another thousand miles of capability. This market needs the ability to go fast for long distances. When we need that maximum range, [our aircraft] like to do it.”

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

Record-setting G800 Anchors Gulfstream’s Dubai Static Display

The jet arrived from Phuket, Thailand, after a 5-hour 38-minute flight

The G800 replaces the G650 in Gulfstream’s lineup and can fly 8,200 nm at the long-range cruise speed of Mach 0.85, compared to the G650’s 7,500 nm.

Record-setting G800 Anchors Gulfstream Dubai Display

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

David Donald

News about commercial airlines, including regulations, aircraft orders, safety, acquisitions, and mergers.

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

Boeing also sold seven more 737 Max narrowbodies to Ethiopian Airlines

Emirates Commits to More Boeing 777Xs

Essential news and analysis on the defense aerospace business. Your trusted source for new and ongoing programs and requirements in military aircraft (manned and unmanned), engines, avionics, weapons and associated systems, including ground-based air defense.

Russia’s latest fighter spearheads the nation’s participation at the Dubai Airshow

Russia’s Sukhoi Su-57E ‘Felon’ Makes Dubai Debut

Charlotte Bailey

News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

News and issues concerning general aviation, specifically airplanes and helicopters powered by piston and alternative engines (i.e., non-turbine powered aircraft). Subjects include aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

Overflight approvals fall through after the aircraft’s Africa tour

Textron's SkyCourier Misses Its Dubai Airshow Debut 

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

Association is highlighting interest in business aviation among Middle East’s growing HNWI population 

MEBAA Preps for ‘Surging’ Interest at 2026 Bizav Event

The South American nation is to acquire 17 aircraft, including a pair of two-seaters

Colombia Signs for Saab Gripen E/F

Charles Alcock

News and developments about aircraft engines, including turbofan, turboprop, turboshaft and piston.

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

Dubai Airshow 2025

In this article

Gulfstream G700/G800

Gulfstream

More In Aircraft

Emirates Commits to More Boeing 777Xs

Boeing also sold seven more 737 Max narrowbodies to Ethiopian Airlines

Russia’s Sukhoi Su-57E ‘Felon’ Makes Dubai Debut

Russia’s latest fighter spearheads the nation’s participation at the Dubai Airshow

Textron's SkyCourier Misses Its Dubai Airshow Debut

Overflight approvals fall through after the aircraft’s Africa tour

MEBAA Preps for ‘Surging’ Interest at 2026 Bizav Event

Association is highlighting interest in business aviation among Middle East’s growing HNWI population

Colombia Signs for Saab Gripen E/F

The South American nation is to acquire 17 aircraft, including a pair of two-seaters

Boeing Insists 777X Widebody Is Worth the Wait

777-9 appearance at Dubai show marks 12th anniversary of program launch

Emirati Knights Parade New Steeds

The UAE’s national aerobatic team is now flying the Hongdu L-15 Falcon from China

Dubai Airshow Stands Out for Airliner Orders and Military Surprises

More than 300 new aircraft orders and commitments anticipated during show week

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN