A Flying machine for the magnificent

Even if you fork out over $65 million (Rs 273.2 crore), the value of a mid-size corporate acquisition, you’ll still have to wait until 2017 to get the G-650, Gulfstream’s latest business jet, because the waiting list is long. The company has sold around 200 and started deliveries towards the end of last year. A third of the orders came from individuals, 64% from companies, and the remaining from government clients. Reliance Industries, the Tatas, and the Sahara Group were the first to book the jet.

The G-650 is Gulfstream’s fastest jet, with a top speed of Mach 0.925. It can seat eight and fly nonstop from Mumbai to Seattle, Tokyo, London, Cape Town, or Sydney. For the first time, a jet can do Chicago to Beijing (11,525 km) in 12 hours and 49 minutes. Steve Cass, Gulfstream’s vice president, says there were five Gulfstream aircraft in India in 2001. By 2012, that number had quadrupled. However, flying a G-650 between local destinations would be a waste, says Rajeev Wadhwa, chairman of Baron Aviation, a charter jet company. “It shouldn’t be the first aircraft you buy ... it’s geared for international travel. You don’t buy a Rolls Royce for everyday office travel.”