Gulfstream's first fully outfitted G400 completes maiden flight

Gulfstream has flown the first fully outfitted test aircraft in its G400 program, advancing the large-cabin jet toward certification. The aircraft departed Dallas Love Field on 14 October, flew for 2 hours and 46 minutes, and reached an altitude of 48,000 feet.

The test jet is configured with 11 passengers across two-and-a-half living areas and is dedicated to evaluating cabin systems, equipment functionality and passenger comfort in flight. According to Flying Magazine, this fully outfitted aircraft is the fourth and final model to join the G400 test fleet. Gulfstream President Mark Burns said in a statement that "the aircraft continues to perform exceptionally well as we advance through the rigorous certification program."

No firm certification date has been announced. Flying Magazine reported that Burns declined to predict when the G400 will be certified at this week's National Business Aviation Association Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition in Las Vegas. The aircraft was announced in 2021 alongside the ultra-long-range G800, with Gulfstream at the time anticipating first deliveries in 2025. The first G400 test article flew in August 2024.

Testing programme and specifications

The G400 test fleet has now completed high-altitude testing in Telluride, Colorado, and cold-weather testing in Iqaluit, Canada. The aircraft is powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada PW812GA engines and has a projected range of 4,200 nautical miles at Mach 0.85, according to the manufacturers' specifications. The jet is designed to accommodate up to 12 passengers in its largest configuration, though customers will have a choice of cabin layouts for nine, 11 or 12 passengers.

The aircraft uses Gulfstream's Symmetry Flight Deck, with touchscreen controls and active control sidesticks. It also features a landing-performance system designed to help pilots recognise the risk of a runway overrun during an approach.

Speed record and sustainability milestone

A second G400 experimental aircraft set a new city-pair speed record on its flight from Miami to Las Vegas ahead of the NBAA-BACE convention. That aircraft completed the journey in 4 hours and 8 minutes at an average speed of Mach 0.89 using a blend of sustainable aviation fuel.

AeroTime reported that the G400 was introduced in 2021 with a base price of $34.5 million. Gulfstream announced at NBAA-BACE that its dedicated spare-parts inventory now represents an investment of more than $3 billion, alongside expanded distribution, repair and overhaul capabilities.

The first G300, the entry-level model in Gulfstream's new generation, flew in December 2025. Flying Magazine reported that Burns said "a second airplane will fly here very soon," and a third G300 test article is in production by licensee Israel Aerospace Industries.