Aircrafttotal Encyclopedia


A USCG VC-4A Gulfstream I in flight, 1964
Role	Business aircraft
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	Grumman
First flight	August 14, 1958^[1]
Produced	1959–1969^[2]
Number built	200

After first rejecting an idea to develop the Grumman Widgeon as an executive transport, the company studied producing an executive transport based on a turbine-powered variant of the naval utility transport Grumman TF-1 Trader. The company had already determined that any new aircraft would have to be turboprop-powered and the Rolls-Royce Dart engine was chosen. Further studies showed that the Trader-based design would not sell and they needed an all-new design with a low-wing and room to stand up in the cabin. In June 1957 the design of G-159 was finalised and Grumman started selling slots on the production line at $10,000 each. The initial customers worked with Grumman on the detailed design and avionics fit. The G-159 was given the name Gulfstream and on 14 August 1958 the first aircraft, registered N701G, took off from Bethpage, New York on its maiden flight. By 2 May 1959 the aircraft was awarded a type certificate by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

The Grumman Gulfstream I (company designation G-159) is a twin-turboprop business aircraft. It first flew on August 14, 1958.

Operational history

Walt Disney Company G-I on display in Florida

As of August 2006, a total of 44 Grumman Gulfstream I aircraft remained in service. The major operator is Phoenix Air in the United States with 13 aircraft. Some 19 other airlines also operate the type. A G-I purchased by Walt Disney in 1964 and last flown on Oct. 8, 1992 was on display at Disney's Hollywood Studios and is set to be moved to Palm Springs Air Museum. The aircraft logged 8800 flights and 20,000 flight hours with notable passengers Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, Jimmy Carter, Julie Andrews, Hugh O'Brian, and Annette Funicello.^[The Broadcasting Board of Governors operated a Gulfstream I as an airborne broadcasting studio for Radio y Televisión Martí in international airspace near Cuba from 2006 to 2013.

Variants

G-159 Gulfstream I: Twin-engined executive, corporate transport aircraft with accommodation for up to 14 passengers, powered by two 2,210-shp (1648-kW) Rolls-Royce Dart RDa.7/2 Mk 529-8X turboprop engines. 200 built.
G-159C Gulfstream I-C: Stretched regional airline version. Five G-I aircraft were converted into Gulfstream I-Cs, by having the fuselage lengthened by 10 ft 8 in (3.25 m) to provide seating for up to 37 passengers.
VC-4A: VIP transport version for the US Coast Guard. One built.
TC-4B: United States military designation for a cancelled order for ten aircraft for the United States Navy for the navigation training and transport duties.
TC-4C Academe: TC-4C aircraft used by VA-42 at Davis-Monthan in 2018

United States military designation for a bombardier, navigator trainer for the US Navy and Marine Corps, first flown in 1967. Aircraft were fitted with a Grumman A-6 Intruder nose radome, a simulated A-6 cockpit and four bombardier/navigator consoles for A-6 crew training, nine built. The aircraft used by VA-42 was last seen in 2018 at the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (AMARG). The "Green Pawn" emblem is still visible on the tail.

Grumman Aerospace Corporation,

Grumman Aerospace Corporation
Grumman Gulfstream I

General characteristics

Crew: 2
Length: 41 ft 0 in (12.50 m)
Wingspan: 48 ft 0 in (14.63 m)
Height: 12 ft 8 in (3.86 m)
Wing area: 360 sq ft (33 m²)
Aspect ratio: 5.35:1

Powerplant

Empty weight: 12,054 lb (5,468 kg)
Gross weight: 15,544 lb (7,051 kg) (Normal take-off weight, IR mission)
Max takeoff weight: 18,109 lb (8,214 kg) (SLAR mission)
Fuel capacity: 276 US gal (230 imp gal; 1,040 L) internal fuel
Powerplant: 2 × Lycoming T53-L-701 turboprops, 1,400 shp (1,000 kW) each
Propellers: 3-bladed Hamilton Standard Type 53C51-27 constant-speed propellers, 10 ft 0 in (3.05 m) diameter

Specifications

Maximum speed: 305 mph (491 km/h, 265 kn) (IR mission)
Cruise speed: 207 mph (333 km/h, 180 kn) (econ. cruise)
Stall speed: 84 mph (135 km/h,
Never exceed speed: (720 km/h,
Range: 944 mi (1,519 km, 820 nmi) with external tanks (SLAR mission)
Endurance: 4.35 hr (SLAR mission)
Service ceiling: 25,000 ft (7,600 m)

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Links to Youtube & Others

In early 1968, while flying an OV-1 over South Vietnam, U.S. Army Captain Ken Lee shot down a MiG-17 “Fresco” fighter jet with his XM14 .50 in. (12.7 mm) caliber gun pods as well as two M159 unguided rocket pods, becoming the only Army Aviator to ever down a MiG

Grumman Gulfstream I

The F-14 Tomcat was designed as both an air superiority fighter and a long-range naval interceptor.

Youtube Link

At the time of filming, the only recognizable star in the movie was Tom Cruise, who was known as a teen idol from 1983’s “Risky Business.”.

Grumman
Grumman Gulfstream I