Gulfstream has announced the first fully outfitted test aircraft in its next-generation G400 program completed its maiden flight, moving the large-cabin jet closer to certification.
The manufacturer Monday said the test article took off from Dallas Love Field (KDAL) in Texas and flew for about 2 hours and 46 minutes, reaching an altitude of 48,000 feet. The model is dedicated to evaluating cabin systems at altitude as well as testing functionality and comfort in flight. It flew in an 11-passenger configuration over two-and-a-half living areas.
Aviation Week reported that the fully outfitted jet is the fourth and final model to join the G400 test fleet, according to Mark Burns, president of Gulfstream.
“The aircraft continues to perform exceptionally well as we advance through the rigorous certification program,” Burns said in a news release.
Still, Burns, speaking this week at the National Business Aviation Association Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE) in Las Vegas, declined to predict when the G400 will be certified, according to Aviation Week. It was officially announced alongside the ultra-long range G800 in 2021, and Gulfstream at the time anticipated first deliveries in 2025.
These days, delays in aircraft certification programs are not uncommon. Dassault, for example, recently delayed certification of its Falcon 10X from 2027 to ’28 or ’29.
The first G400 test article flew in August 2024. According to Gulfstream, test aircraft have now completed high-altitude testing in Telluride, Colorado, cold-weather testing in Iqaluit, Canada, and “other validation efforts.”
The manufacturer also said Monday that one of its three experimental G400 test aircraft set a new city pair speed record between Miami and Las Vegas as it travelled to NBAA-BACE. It completed the flight in 4 hours and 8 minutes at an average speed of Mach 0.89, using a blend of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), Gulfstream said. The aircraft and cabin mock-up are on display at NBAA-BACE alongside the G700, G800, G500, G600, and a new G300 mock-up.
The first G300 flew in December. Burns said a “second airplane will fly here very soon,” according to Aviation Week. A third G300 test article is in production by licensee Israel Aerospace Industries.
According to Aviation International News, Burns said Gulfstream’s production rate in 2026 will be about 160 jets. But it soon aims to reach at least 200 aircraft annually, which would be a company record.
What to Know About the G400
Gulfstream in 2021 billed the new G400 as the industry’s first new large-cabin aircraft in more than a decade. It is not a replacement for any model on the company’s roster. Rather, it will sit in the sweet spot between the super-midsize G280—slated to be replaced by the G300—and the large-cabin G500/G600. Reported list price is around $34.5 million.
The G400’s aerodynamic clean-wing design and Pratt & Whitney PW812GA engines are designed to reduce fuel burn, emissions, and noise. It also features Gulfstream’s advanced high-speed wing and swept winglets, introduced on the G500/G600, to boost efficiency.
At its long-range cruise speed of Mach 0.85, the jet is designed to fly up to 4,200 nm, enabling nonstop trips from New York to Geneva, Switzerland, or Miami to São Paulo. At its high-speed cruise of Mach 0.88, range decreases slightly to 3,950 nm. The jet’s top speed will be Mach 0.90, and it will cruise up to 51,000 feet.
Like the G800, the G400 will come equipped with Gulfstream’s Symmetry Flight Deck, which includes electronically linked active control sidesticks and 10 touchscreen displays. It will also include a Predictive Landing Performance System (PLPS) designed to give pilots advanced warning of potential runway excursions using real-time data.
For passengers, the G400 will offer what Gulfstream says is the largest cabin and lowest cabin altitude (3,255 feet at 41,000 feet) in its class. It will have seating options for up to nine, 11, or 12 passengers, sleeping up to five. The jet will offer the same cabin width as the G500/G600, with cabin height of 6 feet 2 inches and interior length more than 42 feet. Other cabin features include an air purification system and 10 panoramic oval windows.
