Grumman Gulfstream I

The Grumman Gulfstream I (company designation G-159) is a twin-turboprop business aircraft. It first flew on August 14, 1958.

Gulfstream I
A USCG VC-4A Gulfstream I in flight, 1964
Role Business aircraft
National origin United States
Manufacturer Grumman
First flight August 14, 1958[1]
Produced 1959–1969[2]
Number built 200

Design and development

After first rejecting an idea to develop the Grumman Widgeon as an executive transport, the company studied producing an executive transport based on a turbine-powered variant of the naval utility transport Grumman TF-1 Trader. The company had already determined that any new aircraft would have to be turboprop-powered and the Rolls-Royce Dart engine was chosen. Further studies showed that the Trader-based design would not sell and they needed an all-new design with a low-wing and room to stand up in the cabin. In June 1957 the design of G-159 was finalised and Grumman started selling slots on the production line at $10,000 each. The initial customers worked with Grumman on the detailed design and avionics fit. The G-159 was given the name Gulfstream and on 14 August 1958 the first aircraft, registered N701G, took off from Bethpage, New York on its maiden flight. By 2 May 1959 the aircraft was awarded a type certificate by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

The Gulfstream I is a low-wing cantilever monoplane with a semi-monocoque aluminium alloy fuselage structure. The aircraft is powered by two Rolls-Royce Dart turboprops with Rotol four-bladed constant speed propellers. The Gulfstream I has a retractable tricycle landing gear, with twin wheels on the two main units and the nose gear. The cabin is designed to take up to twenty-four passengers in a high-density arrangement or only eight in an executive layout, although ten to twelve was more usual. The aircraft has a hydraulically operated airstair in the forward cabin for entry and exit.

The United States military version for this plane is the C-4 Academe. The TC-4 is a version with added instruments and navigation. It was used by the US Navy for bombardier/navigator training for the A-6 Intruder. A VC-4A variant was flown by the United States Coast Guard as an executive transport until the early 1980s. It was later used as a logistics and long-range command and control aircraft until 2001.[3]

A 37-passenger stretched version, the G-159C, was developed by Gulfstream for regional airline use. Five were delivered from November 1980.[4] Air North (based in Plattsburgh NY and which subsequently changed its name to Brockway Air) was one of the few airlines in the U.S. to use this version before its acquisition by Brockway Glass. Another Gulfstream I-C airline operator was Chaparral Airlines which flew passenger services as American Eagle via a codesharing agreement with American Airlines. Royale Airlines also operated the G-I in scheduled passenger service in the U.S. operating as Continental Connection on behalf of Continental Airlines; however, its aircraft were standard length G-159 models and thus were not the stretched version. Several other airlines in the U.S. as well air carriers in Africa, Canada, Europe and the Mideast also operated standard Gulfstream Is in scheduled passenger service, including Peregrine Air Services in the U.K. which operated airline flights for British Airways.

Operational history
Walt Disney Company G-I on display in Florida

As of August 2006, a total of 44 Grumman Gulfstream I aircraft remained in service. The major operator is Phoenix Air in the United States with 13 aircraft. Some 19 other airlines also operate the type.[5] A G-I purchased by Walt Disney in 1964 and last flown on Oct. 8, 1992 was on display at Disney's Hollywood Studios and is set to be moved to Palm Springs Air Museum.[6] The aircraft logged 8800 flights and 20,000 flight hours with notable passengers Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, Jimmy Carter, Julie Andrews, Hugh O'Brian, and Annette Funicello.[7] The Broadcasting Board of Governors operated a Gulfstream I as an airborne broadcasting studio for Radio y Televisión Martí in international airspace near Cuba from 2006 to 2013.[8]

Variants
A U.S. Navy TC-4C Academe from VA-42 at NAS Oceana, 1989.
G-159 Gulfstream I
Twin-engined executive, corporate transport aircraft with accommodation for up to 14 passengers, powered by two 2,210-ehp (1648-kW) Rolls-Royce Dart RDa.7/2 Mk 529-8X turboprop engines. 200 built.
G-159C Gulfstream I-C
Stretched regional airline version. Five G-I aircraft were converted into Gulfstream I-Cs, by having the fuselage lengthened by 10 ft 8 in (3.25 m) to provide seating for up to 37 passengers.
VC-4A
VIP transport version for the US Coast Guard. One built.
TC-4B
United States military designation for a cancelled order for ten aircraft for the United States Navy for the navigation training and transport duties.
TC-4C Academe
TC-4C aircraft used by VA-42 at Davis-Monthan in 2018

United States military designation for a bombardier, navigator trainer for the US Navy and Marine Corps, first flown in 1967. Aircraft were fitted with a Grumman A-6 Intruder nose radome, a simulated A-6 cockpit and four bombardier/navigator consoles for A-6 crew training, nine built. The aircraft used by VA-42 was last seen in 2018 at the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (AMARG). The "Green Pawn" emblem is still visible on the tail.

Operators

Most of the 200 Gulfstream I propjets were operated by corporate customers, with a smaller number operated by regional or commuter airlines as well as by government agencies and the military. NASA, the U.S. space agency, flew the Gulfstream I as a passenger transport aircraft and operated seven G-Is. Throughout the 1970s and mid-80s the Ford Motor Company operated a G-1 for their executives in Brazil. The Walt Disney Company operated Gulfstream S.N. 121 with the factory assigned tail number N732G from December of 1963 to October 4, 1967, when it was changed to N234MM.

Civilian operators
Gulfstream I of Cimber Air operating a scheduled service from Copenhagen Airport in 1981
 Canada
 Denmark
  • Cimber Air - Former scheduled passenger airline operator.
Democratic Republic of the Congo Democratic Republic of Congo
  • Malu Aviation
 France
 Gabon
 Israel
  • Aeroel Airways - Former scheduled passenger airline operator.
 Kenya
  • East African Safari Air - Former scheduled passenger airline operator.
  • Kenya Flamingo Airways - Former scheduled passenger airline operator.
 Spain
  • Seven Air - Former scheduled passenger airline operator.
 Sweden
 United Kingdom
 United States
  • Air North - Former scheduled passenger airline operator of the stretched, 37-passenger Gulfstream I-C. Air North, which operated in the northeast U.S., subsequently changed its name to Brockway Air.
  • Air US - Former scheduled passenger airline operator flying several commuter routes from Denver Stapleton International Airport (DEN). Fleet included stretched, 37-passenger Gulfstream I-C aircraft.
  • Bonanza Air Lines - Former scheduled passenger airline operator.
  • Chaparral Airlines - Former scheduled passenger airline operator of the stretched, 37-passenger Gulfstream I-C. Chaparral operated as American Eagle providing passenger feed for the American Airlines hub located at the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW).
  • Coleman Air Transport - Former scheduled passenger airline operator which operated a small hub at the Chicago Rockford International Airport (RFD) in Illinois.[9]
Nasa G-I at Prestwick, 1989
  • NASA - Former operator with seven G-I aircraft being used to transport NASA and space program contractor personnel between the civilian space agency's various centers and facilities in the U.S.
  • Phoenix Air
  • Royale Airlines - Former scheduled passenger airline operator with some flights operated via a code-sharing agreement with Continental Airlines providing passenger feed for the Continental hub located at Houston Intercontinental Airport (IAH).
  • Scenic Air - Former scheduled passenger airline operator with service from Oakland International Airport (OAK).
  • Southeast Airlines - Former scheduled passenger airline operator.
  • Susquehanna Airlines - Former scheduled passenger airline operator.

Military operators
G-159 at the Hellenic Air Force Museum at Dekelia (Tatoi), Athens, Greece
 Greece
 United States

Specifications

Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1965-66 [1]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 2
  • Capacity: 10–24 passengers / 4,270 lb (1,937 kg) maximum payload
  • Length: 63 ft 9 in (19.43 m)
  • Wingspan: 78 ft 6 in (23.93 m)
  • Height: 22 ft 9 in (6.93 m)
  • Wing area: 610.3 sq ft (56.70 m2)
  • Aspect ratio: 10
  • Airfoil: root: NACA 63A-214; tip: NACA 63A-314
  • Empty weight: 21,900 lb (9,934 kg) equipped
  • Maximum zero-fuel weight: 26,170 lb (11,871 kg)
  • Max takeoff weight: 35,100 lb (15,921 kg)
  • Maximum landing weight: 33,600 lb (15,241 kg)
  • Fuel capacity: 1,550 US gal (1,290.6 imp gal; 5,867.4 L) in integral wing tanks
  • Powerplant: 2 × Rolls-Royce Dart Mk.529 or Mk.529-8E turboprop, 2,190 shp (1,630 kW) each equivalent
  • Propellers: 4-bladed Rotol constant-speed fully-feathering propellers

Performance

  • Cruise speed: 348 mph (560 km/h, 302 kn) maximum cruise, at 25,000 ft (7,600 m) at MTOW
288 mph (250 kn; 463 km/h) economical cruise, at 25,000 ft (7,600 m) at MTOW
  • Approach speed; 128 mph (111 kn; 206 km/h)
  • Range: 2,540 mi (4,090 km, 2,210 nmi) with max. fuel, 2,740 lb (1,243 kg) payload, 45 minutes hold and 200 mi (174 nmi; 322 km) diversion
  • Service ceiling: 33,600 ft (10,200 m)
  • Rate of climb: 1,900 ft/min (9.7 m/s)
  • Wing loading: 57.2 lb/sq ft (279 kg/m2)
  • Take-off run: 2,550 ft (777 m)
  • Take-off distance to 50 ft (15 m): 2,875 ft (876 m)
  • Landing run: 1,525 ft (465 m)
  • Landing distance from 50 ft (15 m): 2,125 ft (648 m)
  • FAA take-off field length: 4,350 ft (1,326 m)
  • FAA landing field length: 4,000 ft (1,219 m)

See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

References
Notes
  1. Taylor 1965, p.238.
  2. "Grumman G-159 Gulfstream I | Airliners.net". Archived from the original on 2010-04-29. Retrieved 2009-01-15.
  3. "U. S. Coast Guard Aircraft Types list". USCG web site. Retrieved 2006-12-27.
  4. Frawley, p.132
  5. Flight International, 3–9 October 2006
  6. "Walt Disney's Airplane Returns to Palm Springs After D23 Expo". 9 September 2022.
  7. Air Progress: 73. March 1993. {{cite journal}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  8. Amy Thompson (October 2014). "AeroMartí Signs Off The airplane that doubled as a TV station". Air & Space Magazine.
  9. http://www.departedflights.com, Nov. 15, 1979 Official Airline Guide (OAG), Rockford flight schedules
  10. "Hellenic Air Force Museum exhibits". Hellenic Air Force.
  11. Harding 1990, pp. 131–133.
Bibliography
  • Frawley, Gerard (2003). The International Directory of Civil Aircraft, 2003-2004. Fyshwick, ACT, Australia: Aerospace Publications Pty Ltd. p. 132. ISBN 1-875671-58-7.
  • Harding, Stephen (1990). U.S. Army Aircraft Since 1947. Shrewsbury, UK: Airlife. ISBN 1-85310-102-8.
  • Taylor, John W. R. (1965). Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1965-66. London: Samson Low, Marston.
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