“The G250 performed exceptionally well,” said Pres Henne, senior vice president, Programs, Engineering and Test, Gulfstream. “During one particular flight, the crew encountered icing concentrations in excess of the regulatory design envelope. The aircraft remained in this condition for an equivalent icing exposure time of more than 50 minutes to allow adequate accumulation of ice. Despite the extremely demanding conditions and ice accumulation on all untreated surfaces, the aircraft performed flawlessly." 

The anti-ice system on the leading edge of the G250 wing was adapted from large-cabin Gulfstream aircraft. Heated bleed air from the engines is routed to the leading edges to prevent ice formation. S/N 2002 will now undergo overnight cold-soak trials, having completed a similar test in Finland. The aircraft has also completed hot-weather testing on the coast of the Red Sea. 

S/N 2003 has started function and reliability testing in Israel, where the G250 is manufactured in cooperation with Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). Function and reliability tests demonstrate that the aircraft, its components and its systems consistently operate as expected. Reaching this point is considered a major milestone toward certification.  

With flight test well under way, manufacturing continues for the first production aircraft, S/N 2004. The empennage and wing have been joined to the fuselage, and installation of the aircraft’s systems has begun.