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Gulfstream Aerospace has Rolled Out it’s new Flagship Aircraft, the All-new Gulfstream G650

Gulfstream Aerospace, now a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD) and once upon a time a part of Grumman, today revealed its new flagship business jet, the all-new Gulfstream G650, at company headquarters in Savannah. The aircraft rolled out under its own power. First announced in March 2008, the ultra-large-cabin, ultra-long-range G650 remains on schedule for customer deliveries in 2012. Approximately 7,000 people gathered at the new G650 manufacturing building for the aircraft’s debut. The audience included state and local dignitaries, customers, certifying authorities, supplier representatives, members of the G650 development team and many other employees at the Savannah facility.
The aircraft raises the bar in every area including price and it is a great achivement that is has been developed on schedule and without developmen glitches Read more…

Eclipse was a game changer and an historic episode in aviation. When it finally fell on its sword or was forced to face reality many were deeply saddened but few were really surprised. it had all sounded too good to be true from the outset and so it turned out to be. The normal routine fighting over the corps has been prolonged but maybe it is over and perhaps just maybe Eclipse has a future and a secure place in Aviation.
Just yesterday a Federal Judge approved the $40 million purchase of Eclipse Aviation.
This gives the Albuquerque-based manufacturer a chance to restart production and support of its light jet. Read more…

Textron Inc (TXT.N) expects deliveries of corporate jets to continue to decline next year, with recovery likely to trail corporate America’s return to profit growth by a year and a half, the diversified U.S. manufacturer’s chief executive said on Tuesday.

“I think deliveries will be slightly less next year than this year,” CEO Lewis Campbell told an investor conference in Florida that was monitored over the Internet. “Don’t read me as bullish on the return of business jets. I’m not bullish on it. We haven’t reached the bottom yet.”

Demand for business aircraft has collapsed this year, as a brutal recession left companies looking for any way to cut spending. The sector has been further hit by an image blow — private jets became something of a symbol of corporate excess after the heads of big Detroit automakers used them to fly to Washington to seek federal aid.

Textron’s Cessna unit, the world’s largest maker of corporate aircraft, now expects to deliver 290 to 300 planes this year, down from 467 in 2008. It is cutting its staff by about 45 percent, to a target of 8,900 people by the year’s end, and postponed plans for a new class of larger aircraft as it looks to cut costs

Cessna will face a large number of order cancellations in the second quarter as a result of the decision to suspend that larger aircraft, which would have been called the Columbus.

History shows that a rebound in demand for business aircraft tends to follow a recovery in overall corporate profits by six to eight quarters, Campbell said.

Textron’s competitors in corporate jets include the Gulfstream unit of General Dynamics Corp (GD.N) and Canada’s Bombardier Inc (BBDb.TO).

Full Articale at http://www.reuters.com/article/hotStocksNews/idUSTRE54I3PQ20090519