Second-quarter aircraft deliveries soared by 54% year over year (YOY) at Gulfstream Aerospace, reaching 37 aircraft, including six super-midsize G280s and 31 large-cabin jets. While G280 handovers remained unchanged from a year ago, large-cabin jet shipments increased by 72%, driven primarily by 11 deliveries of the recently certified G700. First-half deliveries rose nearly 36% YOY to 61 jets, comprising nine G280s and 52 large cabins, aligning with parent company General Dynamics’ forecast of approximately 150 for the year.
According to General Dynamics chairman and CEO Phebe Novakovic, 15 G700 deliveries were planned for the quarter, but four were deferred to July due to cabin STC approvals. One is now delivered to the customer, while the other three are “imminent.” She reaffirmed that Gulfstream will deliver between 50 and 52 G700s this year, with plans for an additional 16 by October and another 23 to 25 in the fourth quarter.
The slower start for the G700 was attributed to a late certification requirement involving wire bundling in the tail section, necessitating tail removal on already manufactured aircraft for this “minor” modification before delivery. Novakovic noted that this issue is now “largely behind us.”