Flutter Testing Milestone Achieved by Gulfstream G500

Gulfstream has announced that the first of their three flight-test G500 aircraft has completed flutter testing, logging more than 320 hours over 50 flights. The longest flight reached five hours, achieved an altitude of 53,000 feet and reached a maximum speed of Mach .999.

Entry into service is expected in 2018, with the FAA and EASA certification process planned for 2017.

Testing will continue with air data system tests, performance, including brakes and handling, flight controls and field testing.