Frag Out! Magazine
Issue link: https://fragout.uberflip.com/i/861022
The purchase order for two Gulfstream G550s business jets was signed in November 2016, and its value amount- ed to approx. 150 million USD. The delivery took so short a time because the US manufacturer builds their aircraft on a speculative basis, with the built aircraft waiting for customers – which was the case with both planes sold to Poland, both of which were subject to test flights in 4Q2016. After an initial acceptance of the aircraft at Gulfstream's plant in Savannah, the planes were transferred to the service center in Appleton in mid-January, where they had their interiors fitted and furnished, and were painted as required. In the case of plane no. 0001, named after Prince Józef Poniatowski, the works finished in early July, which opened the doors to initiate formal acceptance procedures and to hand the aircraft over to Poland, which took place in the USA on 18 June. Afterwards, the aircraft was transferred to Bermuda, where it was removed from the American plane register and handed over to Poland, who was responsible for the process of depositioning it to its destination from that moment on. In the end, the plane reached Poland on 21 June, landing at the airport in Warsaw late in the morning. The second plane, registered as N554GD and to bear the number of 0002 and the name of Kazimierz Pułaski in the near future, is scheduled to arrive to Poland by mid-Au- gust. The interior of the Polish G550 has been arranged to car- ry 16 persons traveling in seats and on sofas. Pilots will be able to take advantage of modern equipment that lets them operate the aircraft safely in virtually any weather conditions – and what's important to stress is that this equipment is installed as standard in all G550s leaving Gulfstream's factory. The G550s allows to fly across the whole Europe and across almost the whole world – it will be possible to reach any destination in the USA, Africa, or Asia without a refueling. Moreover, the aircraft's range will also include the north part of South America. www.fragoutmag.com