Gulfstream delivers final G550

Gulfstream Aerospace already announced that it would cease production of the Gulfstream G550 in 2021 (back in June 2020), and recently they delivered the final one, VP-CBK (msn 5628). In total 631 examples of the best-selling business jet were built. This is not the final delivery though, as some military special mission aircraft are still to be delivered.

The G550 was first announced in 1999 as the Gulfstream V-SP, an upgrade to the Gulfstream V. Deliveries started in 2003 and in the eighteen years since, it has averaged around 35 deliveries per year. Production-wise, the G550 has far surpassed its predecessor, of which 193 were built over five years.

Over the years the G550 has found widespread use with military users as a special mission aircraft for SIGINT (Signals Intelligence), ELINT (Electronic Intelligence), EW (Early Warning) and AEW (Airborne Early Warning) purposes.

Some of the military variants still to be delivered include the Australian MC-55 Peregrine, the American EC-37B Compass Call and four examples for Morocco.

In the Gulfstream line-up, the G550 has been replaced by the G600. Only time will tell if the G600 will be as successful as its versatile predecessor and whether as many customers will be found for the bizjet.