Aerospace

Gulfstream G800 makes First International Flight.

Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. revealed today that the brand-new Gulfstream G800 made its first international flight only a few weeks after the aircraft’s initial flight.

Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. revealed today that the brand-new Gulfstream G800 made its first international flight only a few weeks after the aircraft’s initial flight. In order to support Gulfstream’s participation at the Farnborough International Airshow, the G800 flew from Savannah to the Gulfstream Customer Support centre in Farnborough, England. On June 28, the G800 made its maiden flight. Shortly after, the Gulfstream flight test team completed additional testing requirements, including a long-duration flight of more than eight hours and operations above the aircraft’s maximum operating speed and cruise altitude of Mach 0.925 and 51,000 feet/15,545 metres, respectively.

Mark Burns, president of Gulfstream, noted that the G800’s transatlantic journey so soon after first flight was remarkable. “We are able to fly the G800 with exceptional efficiency and bring the aircraft directly to customers early in the flight test programme, as we have at Farnborough, because of our strategic planning and the investments Gulfstream has made in our new aircraft programmes. It’s appropriate that the G800’s international debut took place in the Gulfstream Farnborough Service Center, one of our newest and most advanced facilities.

The Gulfstream Farnborough Service Center has more than 200 employees and 30 international regulatory certifications since it opened in the summer of 2020. Up to 13 of Gulfstream’s bigger aircraft, including the G650ER, G700, and G800, can be housed in the 225,000 square foot/20,903 square meter facility, which also provides aftermarket modifications and maintenance, repair, and overhaul services.

The G800 is the longest-range business aircraft in the market, with a range of 8,000 nautical miles (14,816 km) at Mach 0.85 and 7,000 nm (12,964 km) at Mach 0.90. It has the Gulfstream Symmetry Flight Deck, which uses the most touch-screen technology in the market and has active-control side sticks. The G800 cabin can be set up with up to four living spaces that can accommodate up to 19 passengers and 10 people in beds. The G800 has the lowest cabin height in the sector, plasma ionization purification, and 100% fresh, never recirculated air as additional features.

Aerospace

Boeing’s Aurora Flight Sciences Expands Columbus Plant by 50,000 Sqft

Credit:Aurora Flight Sciences

Aurora Flight Sciences, a subsidiary of Boeing, has launched a significant expansion of its manufacturing facility near the Golden Triangle Regional Airport in Columbus, Mississippi.

This ambitious project will add 50,000 square feet of new space, renovate 40,000 square feet of the existing facility, and introduce advanced automation equipment, robotics, and non-destructive inspection technologies. mcas boeing enhancements will support the growing demand for Aurora’s aerospace systems business.

Since its establishment, Aurora Mississippi has specialized in the production of advanced composite components and assemblies for both military and commercial aircraft. The company first opened in 2005 at Mississippi State University’s Raspet Flight Research Laboratory in Starkville before relocating to its current site in Columbus two years later.

Initially occupying 21,000 square feet, the facility has since grown to encompass over 120,000 square feet, featuring cutting-edge manufacturing technologies such as automated fiber placement. Aurora’s latest expansion is a strategic investment aimed at increasing production capacity for composite components like boeing titanium used in executive jets and the MQ-25TM Stingray composite skins, a key project for its parent company, Boeing.

Additionally, the facility will produce components for NASA’s X-66 sustainable flight demonstrator aircraft, further diversifying its portfolio. Currently employing around 100 full-time staff in Mississippi, Aurora plans to hire more than 60 additional team members by the end of 2025.

Aurora’s expansion project underscores its commitment to Mississippi’s growing aerospace and advanced manufacturing sector. The company maintains strong partnerships with Mississippi State University (MSU) and East Mississippi Community College (EMCC), contributing to research, higher education, and workforce development in advanced manufacturing.

Additionally, Aurora actively supports local K-12 STEM education through summer camps and collaborates with high school vocational education programs. The expansion and renovation project will be carried out in phases over the next two years, with completion expected by 2026. This development marks a significant milestone in Aurora’s ongoing growth and its role in advancing aerospace manufacturing in Mississippi.