Gulfstream G100

Gulfstream G100

An Astra SPX (later called the Gulfstream G100) in Düsseldorf, Germany
Role	Business jet
Manufacturer	Gulfstream Aerospace
Status	Active service
Primary user	United States Air Force
Produced	2002-2005^[1]
Developed from	IAI Astra

The Gulfstream G100, formerly known as the Astra SPX, is an Israel Aircraft Industries-manufactured twin-engine business jet, now produced for Gulfstream Aerospace. The United States Air Force designation for the G100 is C-38 Courier.

Design and development

Astra evolved from the Rockwell Jet Commander aircraft, for which IAI had purchased the manufacturing license in 1968, and the IAI Westwind. The Astra wing design was modified and with a completely new fuselage created the Galaxy (later the Gulfstream G200) business jet during the 1990s.^[2]

Work on an improved Westwind began in the early 1980s, with the first prototype flight on 19 March 1984. The first production Astra flew in March 1985, FAA certification came in August 1985 and customer deliveries started in 1986.

The original 1125 Astra was replaced by the Astra SP, announced in 1989 of which 37 were built. The third variant, Astra SPX, flew in August 1994. This variant was renamed G100 from September 2002 following Gulfstream's acquisition of Galaxy Aerospace, which held the Astra certifications, in May 2001. IAI builds G100s in Israel and then flies the completed airframes to the United states for interior outfitting.

External video
G150

In September 2002 Gulfstream announced the improved G150, based on the G100. This new variant was due in 2005. It has been FAA certified for steep approach.^[3]

A C-38A of the District of Columbia Air National Guard

The C-38 Courier is currently in use by the United States Air Force with the 201st Airlift Squadron at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland. The C-38 has replaced the earlier C-21 Learjet. The C-38 differs from the standard Gulfstream G100, featuring US military-grade GPS, Tactical Air Navigation, UHF and VHF secure command radio, and Identification friend or foe system.

Specifications (Astra SPX)

Data from AOPA

General characteristics

Crew: 2
Capacity: 6-9 passengers
Length: 16.94 m (55 ft 7 in)
Wingspan: 16.05 m (52 ft 8 in)
Height: 5.54 m (18 ft 2 in)
Max takeoff weight: 11,181 kg (24,650 lb)
Powerplant: 2 × Honeywell TFE-731-40R Turbine, 18.9 kN (4,250 lbf) thrust each

Performance

Cruise speed: 861 km/h; 535 mph (465 kn)
Range: 4,661 km; 2,897 mi (2,517 nmi)

Avionics
Collins Pro Line 4

Operators

United States

United States Air Force

Air National Guard

113th Wing - Andrews AFB, Maryland

201st Airlift Squadron

References

↑ "Astra SPX". AOPA Pilot: T-2. November 2014.
↑ "The Israel IAI-1126 Galaxy/Gulfstream G200"
↑ G150 Steep Approach to London City approaches reach 5.5 degrees Aviation Week. Accessed: 9 January 2011.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to IAI Astra.

Gulfstream aircraft

Grumman	G-I G-II

American Jet Industries/ Gulfstream American	Hustler Peregrine 600 Peregrine

Gulfstream	G-III G-IV G-V Jetprop 840 Jetprop 900 Jetprop 980 Jetprop 1000 Jetprop 1200 Peregrine 600 Peregrine G100 G150 G200 G280 G300 G350 G400 G450 G500 (I) G500 (II) G550 G600 G650

Military versions	C-4 C-11 C-20 C-20F/G/H C-37A C-37B X-54

Aircraft and missiles produced by Israel Aerospace Industries

Fighter aircraft	Nesher Kfir Nammer Lavi

Other military aircraft	Arava Seascan Tzukit^[1]

Business jets	Westwind Astra / G100 Galaxy / G200 / G250

UAVs	Scout Pioneer Hunter Ranger^[2] Searcher Bird-Eye I-View Harpy 1 Harop (Harpy 2) Heron 1 Eitan (Heron TP) Panther Ghost

Missiles	Shavit Jericho LAHAT Nimrod Barak 1^[3] Barak 8^[4] Gabriel JUMPER LORA Arrow^[5] Arrow 3^[5]

^[1] Under license from Fouga. ^[2] Joint venture with RUAG. ^[3] Joint venture with Rafael. ^[4] Joint venture with DRDO. ^[5] Joint venture with Boeing.

United States military transport aircraft designations, Army/Air Force and Tri-Service systems

Army/Air Force sequence (1925-1962)	C-1 C-2 C-3 C-4 C-5 C-6 C-7 C-8 C-9 C-10 C-11 C-12 C-13¹ C-14 C-15 C-16 C-17 C-18 C-19 C-20 C-21 C-22 C-23 C-24 C-25 C-26 C-27 C-28 C-29 C-30 C-31 C-32 C-33 C-34 C-35 C-36 C-37 C-38 C-39 C-40 C-41/A C-42 C-43 C-44 C-45 C-46 C-47/T C-48 C-49 C-50 C-51 C-52 C-53 C-54 C-55 C-56 C-57 C-58 C-59 C-60 C-61 C-62 C-63 C-64 C-65 C-66 C-67 C-68 C-69 C-70/A/B/C/D C-71 C-72 C-73 C-74 C-75 C-76 C-77/B-D C-78 C-79 C-80 C-81 C-82 C-83 C-84 C-85 C-86 C-87 C-88 C-89 C-90 C-91 C-92 C-93 C-94 C-95 C-96 C-97/KC-97 C-98 C-99 C-100 C-101 C-102 C-103 C-104 C-105 C-106 C-107 C-108 C-109 C-110 C-111 C-112 C-113 C-114 C-115 C-116 C-117 C-118 C-119 C-120 C-121/F C-122 C-123/A C-124 C-125 C-126 C-127 (I) C-127 (II) C-128 C-129 C-130/J C-131 C-132 C-133 C-134 C-135/KC-135 C-136 C-137 C-138¹ C-139¹ C-140 C-141 C-142

Tri-service sequence (1962-present)	C-1 C-2 C-3 C-4 C-5 C-6 C-7/B C-8 C-9 C-10 C-11 C-12 C-13¹ C-14 C-15 C-16¹ C-17 C-18 C-19 C-20A-D/F-H C-21 C-22 C-23 C-24 C-25 C-26 C-27/J C-28 C-29 C-30¹ C-31 C-32 C-33 C-34¹ C-35 C-36 C-37 C-38 C-40 C-41 C-42¹ C-43¹ C-44¹ C-45 C-46

Revived original sequence (2005-present)	C-143 C-144 C-145 C-146

Non-sequential designations	C-767 C-880

¹ Not assigned See also: AC-47 • AC-119 • AC-130 • DC-130 • EC-130 • HC-130 • KC-130 • LC-130 • MC-130 • WC-130