Fokker Aerostructures supplies 300th tail to Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation

Today Fokker Aerostructures, part of Fokker Aerospace Group, will supply the 300th complete tail section for the business jet series GV from US aircraft builder Gulfstream Aerospace, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE:GD).
The 1st tail was delivered in 1995. The GV series from Gulfstream comprises three aircraft types, the original GV, the G500 and the G550. For all types Fokker Aerostructures is responsible for the design and manufacturing of the tail section.

The A/C types are market leaders in the large-cabin, ultra-long-range business jet aircraft category and hold records for speed and distance (A G550 recently established a city pair speed record flight between Milan and Beijing in 9,5 hours).
For both the GV and the G550, Gulfstream and its partners including Fokker Aerostructures, received twice the prestigious Collier Award.
The Gulfstream G550 is the most modern business jet for ultra-long distances and has already established 22 speed and 22 distance records. The aircraft flies at an altitude of 15,5 km and has a range of 12,500 km (non-stop New York/Tokyo).

The complete tail section was designed and developed by Fokker Aerostructures, and it is now manufactured and assembled in Papendrecht. The horizontal and vertical tailplanes are then shipped in huge crates to Savannah (Georgia) in the US.
Not only does Fokker Aerospace Group use materials for the production of the aircraft's tail section that are lighter and stronger than the traditional materials, but the relatively short production cycle times also deliver significant savings.

For the construction Fokker Aerostructures uses a combination of carbon and metal to achieve the ideal properties: low weight, high strength and excellent aerodynamics. In the facilities at Hoogeveen, lightweight floor panels using advanced 'thermoplastic' technology are manufactured. When Gulfstream wanted to reduce the weight of the rudder, it asked Fokker Aerostructures to redesign, develop and manufacture it. Through high commonality the new rudder was delivered for both the G500/550 and the G450 production. It will also be used as a spare part for the G200, G300, G400and GIV-SP. Thermoplastic technology is also used for this.

Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation and the GV Industry Team received the Robert J. Collier Award in 1997 and in 2003. This highest award in American aviation, the 'Oscar' in aviation, was awarded to them by the National Aeronautic Association for the 'use of the advanced design and efficient production techniques', together with innovative international partners, and for 'realising the world's first 'large-cabin, ultra-long range business jet'. Since Fokker Aerostructures is a (risk-sharing) partner in the GV programme, it also shared in the award. The applied technology and the pioneering work (of this non-American partner!) in aviation were especially praised.

Fokker Aerospace Group develops and produces advanced components and systems for the aviation and aerospace industry, and supplies integrated services and products to aircraft owners and operators. The group achieved a turnover of € 495 million in 2004 with 3,182 employees.

Press information:
Fokker Aerospace Group:
Marianne Mulder
Communications
Tel.: +31 (0)78 6419848
Cell.: +31 (0)6 51311217

Gulfstream Aerospace Company:
Robert N. Baugniet
Director Corporate Communications
Tel.: +1 (912) 965 7372
Cell.: +1 (912) 484 7372