The Gulfstream G100, formerly known as the IAI Astra SPX, is an Israel Aerospace Industries-manufactured twin-engine

business jet A business jet, private jet, or bizjet is a jet aircraft designed for transporting small groups of people. Business jets may be adapted for other roles, such as the evacuation of casualties or express parcel deliveries, and some are used by pub ...

, that was produced for Gulfstream Aerospace. Deliveries began in 1986. The

United States Air Force The United States Air Force (USAF) is the air service branch of the United States Armed Forces, and is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Originally created on 1 August 1907, as a part of the United States Army Signal ...

employs the aircraft as the C-38 Courier. A later derivative known as the G150 was launched in 2002. Gulfstream announced the final sale of the G150 in September 2016 and the last delivery by mid-2017.

Design and development

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) developed the Astra from its Model 1124 Westwind business jet. Work on an improved Westwind began in the late 1970s,Relman 1993, p. 314. with the first prototype flight on 19 March 1984.Relman 1993, p. 316. The first production Astra flew on 20 March 1985, with

FAA The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is the largest transportation agency of the U.S. government and regulates all aspects of civil aviation in the country as well as over surrounding international waters. Its powers include air traffic m ...

certification granted on 29 August 1985 and customer deliveries starting in 1986. The original 1125 Astra was replaced by the Astra SP, announced in 1989; 37 were built. The third variant, the ''Astra SPX'', flew for the first time in August 1994. This variant was renamed G100 from September 2002 following Gulfstream's acquisition of Galaxy Aerospace, which held the Astra

type certificate A type certificate signifies the airworthiness of a particular category of aircraft, according to its manufacturing design (''type design''). It confirms that the aircraft of a new type intended for serial production, is in compliance with applica ...

, in May 2001. In September 2002, Gulfstream announced the improved G150, based on the G100. This last variant features a wider (12 in) and longer fuselage (16 in aft of rear pressure bulkhead) updated

avionics Avionics (a blend word, blend of ''aviation'' and ''electronics'') are the Electronics, electronic systems used on aircraft. Avionic systems include communications, Air navigation, navigation, the display and management of multiple systems, ...

and an increase in

maximum takeoff weight The maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) or maximum gross takeoff weight (MGTOW) or maximum takeoff mass (MTOM) of an aircraft is the maximum weight at which the pilot is allowed to attempt to take off, due to structural or other limits. The analogous ...

(MTOW) to compared to the G100's MTOW of . It was certified by the FAA in late 2005. It has been certified for the steeper-than-normal approach path required to land at

London City Airport London City Airport is a regional airport in London, England. It is located in the Royal Docks in the Borough of Newham, approximately east of the City of London and east of Canary Wharf. These are the twin centres of London's financial ...

.G150 Steep Approach to London City approaches reach 5.5 degrees
'' Aviation Week''. Accessed: 9 January 2011. Production of the G100 was discontinued following certification of the G150. IAI continued to manufacture G150s in Israel and the completed airframes were then flown to the U.S. for interior outfitting. In September 2016, Gulfstream announced that, owing to slow sales, production would be stopped, with delivery of the final aircraft due in mid-2017. The Astra was further developed in the 1990s; the wing was modified and mated to a completely new fuselage. This development became the IAI Galaxy (later the Gulfstream G200). By 2018, Gulfstream G150s from 2006–2008 were in the range of $3.8 to $4.8 million.

Operational history

The G100 was ordered for the

in 1997 as the ''C-38A Courier''. The C-38A was operated by the

201st Airlift Squadron The 201st Airlift Squadron flies Boeing C-40 Clipper. It is a unit of the District of Columbia Air National Guard. Its parent unit is the 113th Wing. Mission The 201st Airlift Squadron provides short notice worldwide transportation for the Exe ...

Andrews Air Force Base Andrews Air Force Base (Andrews AFB, AAFB) is the airfield portion of Joint Base Andrews, which is under the jurisdiction of the United States Air Force. In 2009, Andrews Air Force Base merged with Naval Air Facility Washington to form Joint B ...

in Maryland. The C-38A replaced the earlier

Learjet C-21 The Learjet Model 35 and Model 36 are a series of American multi-role business jets and military transport aircraft manufactured by Learjet. When used by the United States Air Force they carry the designation C-21A. The aircraft are powered by ...

. The C-38A differs from the standard Gulfstream G100, being fitted with various military avionics systems. The C-38A was also ordered for the

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...

, replacing

North American T-2 Buckeye The North American T-2 Buckeye was the United States Navy's intermediate training aircraft, intended to introduce U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps student naval aviators and student naval flight officers to jets. It entered service in 1959, begi ...

s at Naval Air Station Patuxent River beginning in September 2015. The C-38 is tasked with acting as a chase plane, radar test target, and pilot proficiency aircraft for the test and evaluation squadron

VX-20 VX-20, Air Test and Evaluation Squadron Twenty, (''AIRTEVRON TWO ZERO'') is a United States Navy air test and evaluation squadron based at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland. Operations VX-20 operates a variety of Naval aircraft for testin ...

.T-2C Buckeye ends 56-year Navy career
'' Naval Air Systems Command'' In 2012, an IAI Astra operated by the

Eritrean Air Force The Eritrean Air Force (ERAF) is the air service branch of the Eritrean Defence Forces. History The Eritrean Air Force was established shortly after Eritrean War of Independence in 1994. It was first established by Commander Habtezion Hadgu, ...

as the Eritrean presidential aircraft was stolen by two pilots, both serving Eritrean Air Force officers. They flew the Astra to Saudi Arabia and requested political asylum after landing at

Jizan Regional Airport Jizan Regional Airport , is an airport serving Jizan (also spelled Gizan), the capital city of the Jizan Province in Saudi Arabia. It is also known as King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Airport ( ar, مطار الملك عبد الله الإقليمي), ...

Variants

;IAI 1125 Astra: Original version, powered by two Garrett TFE731-3A-200G turbofans.Lambert 1993, pp. 182–183. A total of 32 built.Jackson 2003, p. 623. ;IAI 1125 Astra SP: Version with modified aerodynamics (giving increase in range), improved avionics and revised interior.Lambert 1993, p. 182. A total of 36 built from 1990.Jackson 2003, pp. 622–623. ;IAI 1125 Astra SPX: More powerful ( Honeywell TFE-731-40R-200G) engines and fitted with

winglets Wingtip devices are intended to improve the efficiency of fixed-wing aircraft by reducing drag. Although there are several types of wing tip devices which function in different manners, their intended effect is always to reduce an aircraft' ...

. Increased weights and range. :*Gulfstream G100 :marketing name of the IAI 1125 after the programme was taken over by Gulfstream Aerospace in 2001. A total of 77 Astra SPX and G100 aircraft were built. ;: Improved version of G100 with wider and longer cabin, a revised nose and uprated () engines. Nearly 120 were in service in 2016.

Operators

;Eritrea *

one 1125 Astra aircraft operated as presidential transport ;India *

Indian Air Force The Indian Air Force (IAF) is the air arm of the Indian Armed Forces. Its complement of personnel and aircraft assets ranks third amongst the air forces of the world. Its primary mission is to secure Indian airspace and to conduct aerial w ...

operates two Gulfstream G100s. ;Taiwan * AIDC operates one Astra SPX aircraft as a target tug ;United States *

– Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland *

(

District of Columbia Air National Guard The District of Columbia Air National Guard (DC ANG) is the aerial militia and Air Force reserve organization of the District of Columbia, United States of America. It is, along with the District of Columbia Army National Guard, an element of the ...

) **

Joint Base Andrews Joint Base Andrews (JBA) is a United States military facility located in Prince George's County, Maryland. The facility is under the jurisdiction of the United States Air Force 316th Wing, Air Force District of Washington (AFDW). The base was e ...

, Maryland

Specifications (G-100)

References

* * * *

External links

* * {{US transport aircraft 2000s United States business aircraft 2000s United States military utility aircraft Twinjets G100 Aircraft first flown in 1994 Low-wing aircraft Cruciform tail aircraft