Gulfstream II
Grumman / Gulfstream American · USA · first flew 1966 · transport aircraft
The Gulfstream II was the first jet-powered Gulfstream, evolving the turboprop GI airframe into a transatlantic-capable executive transport powered by Rolls-Royce Spey turbofans.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, swept |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × turbofan, tail-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Early classic T-tail twin with large oval portholes along a cylindrical fuselage — the definitive 1960s executive jet look |
| T — Tail | T-tail |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Early classic T-tail twin with large oval portholes along a cylindrical fuselage — the definitive 1960s executive jet look
- Rolls-Royce Spey engine pods are notably large and blunt-nosed compared with later turbofans
- No winglets; straight leading-edge wing root extension gives a distinctive kink at the fuselage join
The GII is larger and longer than the contemporary Learjet family and shows a more cylindrical, porthole-equipped fuselage versus the slender Learjet. Against the GIII it lacks the supercritical wing's noticeable leading-edge sweep change and has blunter engine nacelles.
Specifications
- The Gulfstream II has a length of 24.36 m (80 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 20.98 m (69 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 935 km/h (581 mph).
- Typical crew: 2 flight crew.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
First flown in October 1966, the GII entered service in 1967 and was produced until 1979 with 258 aircraft built. It established Gulfstream as the pre-eminent large-cabin bizjet brand. Many were later re-engined under the GIIIB programme with Spey Mk 511 engines for improved performance.
Variants
The GII was offered in standard form; operators later fitted winglets in the 1980s as an STC modification to improve fuel efficiency, creating what became informally known as the GIIB.
Where you'll see it
Essentially retired from European operations; occasional examples still fly with government and legacy operators in Africa and the Americas, and historically were familiar at Farnborough and Heathrow in the 1970s.
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