Boeing Unveils BAMS G550

Boeing has unveiled their entry in the US Navy Broad Area Maritime Surveillance program (BAMS). They are offering a derivative of the G550 long range business jet. They are competing against the Lockheed Martin/General Atomics Mariner and Northrop Grumman RQ-4N Global Hawk. Boeing's entry will be capable of flying manned or unmanned, and they are expected to emphasize the G550s strengths over the UAVs.


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Nice jet. I am assuming they will be used frequently soon. Zaphod58, cool post. Wish I was flying on vacation in something like that on my next trip. It's good to see the airplane manufacturers coming up with new and fresh designs. I sometimes find it hard to believe that we are still flying around in technology that was really made prior to the 1950's, when you consider the Nazi's made some of the first jets. And a lot of the jetliners in the air today are still circa late '70's. Oh well, it's good to see progress. Cool plane.

I just wanted to insert the pic of this plane for the thread:



Is this the first step to civilian planes being operated without pilots in the cockpit ?

The G550 business jet has been around for awhile. It's one of the nicest, most comfortable ways to travel if you have the money for it (roughly $40 million). Gulfstream started with the G-II back in 1965. Many services around the world chose it for many missions.

G-II:




Then in 1978, the G-III flew. It was a G-II with an improved wing and wingspan, winglets, extra fuel tanks, a reprofiled nose, and stretched fuselage. It was produced from 1980-1986.

G-III:



In 1985, the G-IV made its first flight. This was a significant improvement over the G-III. It included Rolls Royce Tay engines, which were much improved in noise, and fuel consumption over the Spey engines used on the G-II/III. It also has a stretched fuselage, an improved wing, increased span tailplane, and the first "true" glass cockpit with six full color CRT screens.

G-IV:



The G-V (G550) first flew in 1995. It was designed to fly intercontinentally, and had set at least 36 records by 1997. It was the first to use the BMW Rolls-Royce BR-710 engines, has a completely redesigned wing, and a stretched fuselage.

G-V exterior:



G-V interior:



G-V cockpit:



What's interesting about the Boeing BAMS entry is that they say it can fly unmanned.