The Gulfstream V (Model GV, pronounced "G-five") is a large, long-range
business jet
A business jet, private jet, or bizjet is a jet aircraft designed for transporting small groups of people, typically business executives and high-ranking coworker, associates. Business jets are generally designed for faster air travel and more ...
aircraft produced by
Gulfstream Aerospace
Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation is an American aircraft company and a subsidiary of General Dynamics.
Gulfstream designs, develops, manufactures, markets, and services business jet aircraft. Gulfstream has produced more than 2,000 aircraft sinc ...
, derived from the previous
Gulfstream IV
The Gulfstream IV (or G-IV or GIV) and derivatives are a family of twinjet aircraft, mainly for private or Business jet, business use. They were designed and built by Gulfstream Aerospace, a General Dynamics company based in Savannah, Georgia, ...
. It flies up to , up to and has a range. It typically accommodates four crew and 14 passengers. It first flew on November 28, 1995, and entered service in June 1997.
It is used by the US military under the designation C-37A.
It is followed by an improved version, the
Gulfstream 550
The Gulfstream G550 is an American business jet aircraft produced by the General Dynamics' Gulfstream Aerospace unit in Savannah, Georgia, US. The certification designation is GV-SP. A version with reduced fuel capacity was marketed as the G50 ...
(Model GV-SP).
Development

In the early 1990s, the Gulfstream V (GV) was developed as a response to the
Bombardier Global Express
The Bombardier Global Express is a large cabin, long-range business jet designed and manufactured by Bombardier Aviation.
Announced in October 1991, it first flew in October 1996, received its Canadian type certification in July 1998 and ente ...
.
[
It was certified on April 11, 1997.]
Capable of flying up to , it rolled out in 1995 and was Gulfstream's first ultra-long range business jet. Total production of the Gulfstream V was 193 aircraft.
By 2018, 1997-1999 Gulfstream GVs were trading at $8.8-10.25 million.
By 2019, a GV was worth around $10 million: below $6 million for a fixer to up to $13 million for a late model low-time aircraft.[
]
Design
Compared to the Gulfstream IV
The Gulfstream IV (or G-IV or GIV) and derivatives are a family of twinjet aircraft, mainly for private or Business jet, business use. They were designed and built by Gulfstream Aerospace, a General Dynamics company based in Savannah, Georgia, ...
, the engines are changed from Rolls-Royce Tay to Rolls-Royce BR700
The Rolls-Royce BR700 is a family of turbofan engines for regional jets and corporate jets. It is manufactured in Dahlewitz, Germany, by Rolls-Royce Deutschland: this was initially a joint venture of BMW and Rolls-Royce plc established in 1990 t ...
-710A1-10 with increased thrust, higher bypass ratio, and Full Authority Digital Engine Control
A full authority digital engine (or electronics) control (FADEC) is a system consisting of a digital computer, called an "electronic engine controller" (EEC) or "engine control unit" (ECU), and its related accessories that control all aspects of ai ...
s (FADEC). Operating ceiling is increased from . It has thrust reversers and composite flight control surfaces. The horizontal tail area is 30% larger, wingspan is increased from , the fuselage is lengthened by forward of the main entry door, and by aft of the wing. Maximum takeoff and landing weights are increased by 15%.[
It has a new semi supercritical wing for a fuel capacity of more than the G-IV.
The three zone cabin is similar to the G-IV, smaller than the Global Express, while its dispatch reliability, cabin noise and ]fuel efficiency
Fuel efficiency (or fuel economy) is a form of thermal efficiency, meaning the ratio of effort to result of a process that converts chemical energy, chemical potential energy contained in a carrier (fuel) into kinetic energy or Mechanical work, w ...
compare favourably against its competitors of the same era.
Compared to the comparably priced Global Express, the GV offers more range and is more fuel efficient
Fuel efficiency (or fuel economy) is a form of thermal efficiency, meaning the ratio of effort to result of a process that converts chemical potential energy contained in a carrier (fuel) into kinetic energy or work. Overall fuel efficiency may v ...
while the Bombardier offers better runway performance, a larger cabin and a softer ride.
BR710 overhaul comes at 8,000 hour or 10 years if it comes earlier and costs $1.25 million per engine.
Variants
;G-V
:Production aircraft powered by two BMW-Rolls-Royce 700-710A1-10 engines.
;C-37A
:United States military designation for the G-V aircraft.
;C-20C
:Modified C-20B with enhanced, secure communications. Used to support senior-level personnel and to provide backup for Air Force One.Only 3 delivered to the Air Force in 1985 as the Reagan administration’s massive investment in “continuity of government” operations upgraded the government’s command-and-control systems. Their tail numbers were 50049, 50050 and 60403.One of three aircraft long tasked with evacuating the president in an emergency and preserving the so-called National Command Authorities, the officials with authority to launch nuclear weapons. The C-20Cs had slightly older dial-and-gauge cockpits to help protect the plane from the electromagnetic pulse that would accompany a nearby nuclear explosion. The gear aboard is top-notch, with special satellite communications networks and special classified defensive measures that would protect the plane during an attack.
Operators
Civil operators
The majority of G-Vs are operated by corporate and individual owners. Mark Cuban
Mark Cuban (born July 31, 1958) is an American businessman and television personality. He is the former principal owner and current minority owner of the Dallas Mavericks of the National Basketball Association (NBA) and co-owner of 2929 Entertain ...
paid $40 million for a Gulfstream V in October 1999, earning a Guinness Record of "largest single e-commerce transaction". Steve Jobs
Steven Paul Jobs (February 24, 1955 – October 5, 2011) was an American businessman, inventor, and investor best known for co-founding the technology company Apple Inc. Jobs was also the founder of NeXT and chairman and majority shareholder o ...
received a Gulfstream V as compensation from Apple in 2000.
Government and military operators
* Algerian Air Force
The Algerian Air Force (, ) is the aerial arm of the Algerian People's National Army.
History
The Algerian Air Force was created to support the fight of the People's National Army against the French occupying forces. It came as part of the ...
operates the Gulfstream V for VIP transport
* Hellenic Air Force
The Hellenic Air Force (HAF; , sometimes abbreviated as ΠΑ) is the air force of Greece (''Hellenic'' being the endonym for ''Greek'' in the Greek language). It is considered to be one of the largest air forces in NATO, and is globally placed 1 ...
operates one Gulfstream V for VIP transport.
;
* A Special Electronic Mission Aircraft (SEMA), based on a highly modified Gulfstream G-V aircraft, was delivered to the Israeli Ministry of Defense
The Ministry of Defense (, acronym: ) of the government of Israel, is the governmental department responsible for defending the State of Israel from internal and external military threats. Its political head is the defense minister of Israel, ...
in June 2005.
;
* Italian Air Force
The Italian Air Force (; AM, ) is the air force of the Italy, Italian Republic. The Italian Air Force was founded as an independent service arm on 28 March 1923 by Victor Emmanuel III of Italy, King Victor Emmanuel III as the ("Royal Air Force ...
operates two G550-based AEW&C systems ( IAI EL/W-2085). The first aircraft was delivered on 19 December 2016. The second aircraft was delivered on 23 January 2018.
;
* Singapore Air Force operates four G550-based AEW&C systems ( IAI EL/W-2085).
;
* Japan Coast Guard
The is the coast guard responsible for the protection of the Geography of Japan#Composition, topography and geography, coastline of Japan under the oversight of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. It consists of about ...
received the sole C-37A on January 17, 2005. Dubbed "Umi Washi" (Sea Eagle), the aircraft will be operated by the JCG for maritime surveillance search and rescue. The second aircraft was delivered in mid-2005.
;
* The State of Kuwait
Kuwait, officially the State of Kuwait, is a country in West Asia and the geopolitical region known as the Middle East. It is situated in the northern edge of the Arabian Peninsula at the head of the Persian Gulf, bordering Iraq to Iraq–Kuwait ...
operates a G-V aircraft in a transport role for the royal family.
;
* Saudi Arabia operates two GVs in a medevac
Medical evacuation, often shortened to medevac or medivac, is the timely and efficient movement and en route care provided by medical personnel to patients requiring evacuation or transport using medically equipped air ambulances, helicopters an ...
configuration.
;
The 89th Airlift Wing's 99th Airlift Squadron, Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland, operates four C-37As. The 6th Air Mobility Wing's 310th Airlift Squadron, MacDill Air Force Base
MacDill Air Force Base (MacDill AFB) is an active United States Air Force installation located 4 miles (6.4 km) south-southwest of downtown Tampa, Florida.
The "host wing" for MacDill AFB is the 6th Air Refueling Wing (6 ARW), assig ...
, Florida operates three C-37As. The 15th Airlift Wing's 65th Airlift Squadron, Hickam Air Force Base
Hickam Air Force Base is a United States Air Force (USAF) United States Air Force installation, installation, named in honor of aviation pioneer Lieutenant Colonel (United States), Lieutenant Colonel Horace Meek Hickam. The installation merged ...
, Hawaii operates one C-37A. The 86th Airlift Wing's 76th Airlift Squadron, Ramstein Air Base
Ramstein Air Base is a United States Air Force installation located in Rhineland-Palatinate, southwestern Germany. It serves as the headquarters for the United States Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa (USAFE-AFAFRICA) and NATO Alli ...
, Germany has two C-37As. The Executive Transport Detachment Pacific, Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii operates one C-37A. The United States Army Priority Air Transport Det. (USAPAT), Andrews AFB, MD, operates two C-37As.
On March 11, 2005, Gulfstream delivered an ultra-long-range G-V to the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR). The aircraft—known as the High-performance, Instrumented Airborne Platform for Environmental Research (HIAPER), based in Boulder
In geology, a boulder (or rarely bowlder) is a rock fragment with size greater than in diameter. Smaller pieces are called cobbles and pebbles. While a boulder may be small enough to move or roll manually, others are extremely massive. In ...
, Colorado, is being used by environmental and atmospheric scientists from both public and private research facilities. The GV was chosen by NCAR for its exceptionally high cruising altitude, long range, endurance, payload, reliability, and low operating costs, as well as worldwide product support. The HIAPER Gulfstream V is modified to accept wing/pylon mounted instrumentation.
* United States Air Force
The United States Air Force (USAF) is the Air force, air service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is one of the six United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Tracing its ori ...
operates the C-37A as command/executive transport
* United States Army
The United States Army (USA) is the primary Land warfare, land service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is designated as the Army of the United States in the United States Constitution.Article II, section 2, clause 1 of th ...
operates the C-37A as command/executive transport; 2 as of January 2025
* United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps (USMC), also referred to as the United States Marines or simply the Marines, is the maritime land force service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is responsible for conducting expeditionar ...
operates the C-37A as command/executive transport
* United States Navy
The United States Navy (USN) is the naval warfare, maritime military branch, service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is the world's most powerful navy with the largest Displacement (ship), displacement, at 4.5 millio ...
operates the C-37A as command/executive transport
* United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is the maritime security, search and rescue, and Admiralty law, law enforcement military branch, service branch of the armed forces of the United States. It is one of the country's eight Uniformed services ...
operates one C-37A and one C-37B for executive transportation of the Secretary of Homeland Security
The United States secretary of homeland security is the head of the United States Department of Homeland Security, the federal department tasked with ensuring public safety in the United States. The secretary is a member of the Cabinet of the U ...
and the Coast Guard Commandant as of June 2022.
* Federal Aviation Administration
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is a Federal government of the United States, U.S. federal government agency within the United States Department of Transportation, U.S. Department of Transportation that regulates civil aviation in t ...
operates one Gulfstream G-IV with tail number N1.
* Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is the domestic Intelligence agency, intelligence and Security agency, security service of the United States and Federal law enforcement in the United States, its principal federal law enforcement ag ...
& Department of Justice
A justice ministry, ministry of justice, or department of justice, is a ministry or other government agency in charge of the administration of justice. The ministry or department is often headed by a minister of justice (minister for justice in a ...
operate one Gulfstream G-V.
* Federal Emergency Management Agency
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is an agency of the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS), initially created under President Jimmy Carter by Presidential Reorganization Plan No. 3 of 1978 and implemented by two Exec ...
operates one Gulfstream G-V for team transport in disaster response.
* National Center for Atmospheric Research
The US National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR ) is a US federally funded research and development center (FFRDC) managed by the nonprofit University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) and funded by the National Science Foundat ...
operates one Gulfstream G-V for scientific research.
* The National Aeronautics and Space Administration
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA ) is an independent agency of the US federal government responsible for the United States's civil space program, aeronautics research and space research. Established in 1958, it su ...
operates one Gulfstream G-V (N95NA) at the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center which takes part in research flights as well as to transport NASA astronauts returning from the International Space Station
The International Space Station (ISS) is a large space station that was Assembly of the International Space Station, assembled and is maintained in low Earth orbit by a collaboration of five space agencies and their contractors: NASA (United ...
back to the JSC in Houston upon their landing in Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan, officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a landlocked country primarily in Central Asia, with a European Kazakhstan, small portion in Eastern Europe. It borders Russia to the Kazakhstan–Russia border, north and west, China to th ...
.
Specifications
See also
References
External links
*
{{Current US Coast Guard aircraft
Gulfstream aircraft
1990s United States business aircraft
Twinjets
T-tail aircraft
Aircraft first flown in 1995
Low-wing aircraft
Aircraft with retractable tricycle landing gear