More Than A Flight Of Fancy
ON PAPER, THE extra three metres of interior space between Gulfstream’s new G700 and its next-largest model, the G650, may not seem significant. But on the G700 mock-up at Gulfstream’s headquarters in Savannah, Georgia, it was clear the designers had obsessed about every centimetre. “We already had seating for 13 in front,” says Tim O’Hara, Gulfstream’s director of design innovation. “For long missions, it made more sense to have a bedroom.”
A bedroom with its own en suite is the ultimate asset of any jet interior, and on the world’s largest, it’s a sanctuary. The bed’s smart-foam mattress declined, with a button push on the plane’s smartphone app, from recumbent seating into full- sleep position, while the lights dimmed and the oval windows went from transparent to dark. Instantly, the soft-lit room, with equally soft music, became more luxe hotel than all-business lounge.
Scale aside – the cabin’s 17m length and 2.4m width look palatial – the differentiators between the G700 and other business jets are the small,
exceptional views and natural light – if this was the real world.
Up front, the designers dressed the galley in Casablanca marble. Its clean shade, black-tinted cabinets and leather-covered lounge gave the galley an understated, elegant look without compromising openness and functionality. The real difference, however, was the more than three-metre-long countertop and stainless-steel sink, which provide exceptional working space, along with a large fridge, generous storage, a conventional oven and a microwave.
“The optimisation of the galley came through user testing – about 30 flight attendants made meals during the multi-year design phase and gave feedback, and we made changes,” says O’Hara. “This is its fourth iteration.”
During the five-year design period, owners, pilots and in-house designers also provided input. O’Hara’s team came up with 10 test modules for seats and then used them at their desks.
For hours. “There’s a big difference between sitting in a seat for 15 minutes and eight hours,” he says. “By the end, they were all fighting for the designs they liked best because of the comfort and enhanced ergonomics.”
I did my own testing in the second zone, experiencing not only the cosy white-leather recliners (which drop to sleeping mode) but also Gulfstream’s design evolution. O’Hara’s team created a special handle for adjusting positions; instead of jutting out, the designers embedded it into the contour of the armrest, so it’s not only more comfortable for the human
“The optimisation of the galley came through user testing – about 30 flight attendants made meals during the multiyear design phase and gave feedback, and we
made changes.”
everywhere, concealed behind the conventional-looking exterior.
My favourite zone was the entertainment area, where, as the 43-inch screen rises from a credenza, the lights and windows automatically darken. There are no speakers; instead, the surround sound is projected via transducers behind wall panels. The experience of watching a movie is transporting, just as one might expect from a US$75 million business jet. “This is actually a world first for anyone,” says O’Hara.
In the rear bedroom, the circadian lighting and low cabin altitude should ensure a refreshing sleep so you’re fully awake when the G700 drops you gently on another continent.
gulfstream.com