Gulfstream G100 - Misplaced Pages

(Redirected from C-38A Courier) Business jet

IAI 1125 Astra/Gulfstream G100/G150

General information
Type	Business jet
Manufacturer	Gulfstream Aerospace
Status	In service
Primary user	United States Navy
Number built	265: 145 Astra/G100 + 120 G150
History
Manufactured	1985–2017
First flight	1984
Developed from	IAI Westwind
Variants	Gulfstream G200

The Gulfstream G100, formerly known as the IAI Astra SPX, is an Israel Aerospace Industries-manufactured twin-engine business jet, that was produced for Gulfstream Aerospace. Deliveries began in 1986. The United States Navy employs the aircraft as the C-38A Courier. A later derivative known as the G150 was launched in 2002. Gulfstream announced the final sale of the G150 in September 2016 and the last delivery by mid-2017.

Design and development

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) developed the Astra from its Model 1124 Westwind business jet. Work on an improved Westwind began in the late 1970s, with the first prototype flight on 19 March 1984. The first production Astra flew on 20 March 1985, with FAA certification granted on 29 August 1985 and customer deliveries starting in 1986.

The original 1125 Astra was replaced by the Astra SP, announced in 1989; 37 were built. The third variant, the Astra SPX, flew for the first time in August 1994. This variant was renamed G100 from September 2002 following Gulfstream's acquisition of Galaxy Aerospace, which held the Astra type certificate, in May 2001.

In September 2002, Gulfstream announced the improved G150, based on the G100. This last variant features a wider (12 in) and longer fuselage (16 in aft of rear pressure bulkhead) updated avionics and an increase in maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) to 26,100 pounds (11,839 kg) compared to the G100's MTOW of 24,650 pounds (11,181 kg). It first flew on 3 May 2005 and was certified by the FAA in late 2005. It has been certified for the steeper-than-normal approach path required to land at London City Airport. Production of the G100 was discontinued following certification of the G150. IAI continued to manufacture G150s in Israel and the completed airframes were then flown to Dallas in the U.S. for interior outfitting. In September 2016, Gulfstream announced that, owing to slow sales, production would be stopped, with delivery of the final aircraft due in mid-2017.

The Astra was further developed in the 1990s; the wing was modified and mated to a completely new fuselage. This development became the IAI Galaxy (later the Gulfstream G200).

By 2018, Gulfstream G150s from 2006–2008 were in the range of $3.8 to $4.8 million.

Operational history

The G100 was ordered for the United States Air Force in 1997 as the C-38A Courier. The C-38A was operated by the 201st Airlift Squadron at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland until 2015. The C-38A replaced the earlier Learjet C-21. The C-38A differs from the standard Gulfstream G100, being fitted with various military avionics systems.

The C-38A was also ordered for the United States Navy, replacing North American T-2 Buckeyes at Naval Air Station Patuxent River beginning in September 2015. Two aircraft remain in service as of 2023, both former 201st Airlift Squadron C-38's. The C-38 is tasked with acting as a chase plane, radar test target, and pilot proficiency aircraft for the test and evaluation squadron VX-20.

In 2012, an IAI Astra operated by the Eritrean Air Force as the Eritrean presidential aircraft was stolen by two pilots, both serving Eritrean Air Force officers. They flew the Astra to Saudi Arabia and requested political asylum after landing at Jizan Regional Airport.

Variants

IAI 1125 Astra

Original version, powered by two 16.46 kilonewtons (3,700 lbf) Garrett TFE731-3A-200G turbofans. A total of 32 built.

IAI 1125 Astra SP

Version with modified aerodynamics (giving 53 nautical miles (61 mi; 98 km) increase in range), improved avionics and revised interior. A total of 36 built from 1990.

IAI 1125 Astra SPX

More powerful (18.90 kilonewtons (4,250 lbf) Honeywell TFE-731-40R-200G) engines and fitted with winglets. Increased weights and range.

Gulfstream G100

marketing name of the IAI 1125 after the programme was taken over by Gulfstream Aerospace in 2001. A total of 77 Astra SPX and G100 aircraft were built.

Gulfstream G150

Improved version of G100 with wider and longer cabin, a revised nose and uprated (19.7 kilonewtons (4,400 lbf)) engines. Nearly 120 were in service in 2016.

Notable accidents and incidents

On March 10 2024, an IAI 1125 Astra SP registration N1125A crashed on approach to Ingalls Field Airport, Hot Springs, Virginia. It struck trees and hillside terrain short of the runway. The aircraft was owned and operated by SkyJet Elite and had 5 people on board at the time of the accident.

Operators

Eritrea

Eritrean Air Force one 1125 Astra aircraft operated as presidential transport

India

Indian Air Force operates two Gulfstream G100s.

Taiwan

AIDC operates one Astra SPX aircraft as a target tug

United States

United States Navy operates two former USAF C-38A Astra SPX
- VX-20 – Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland

Specifications (G-100)

Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 2003–2004

General characteristics

Crew: 2
Capacity: 6–9 passengers
Length: 16.94 m (55 ft 7 in)
Wingspan: 16.64 m (54 ft 7 in) (over winglets)
Height: 5.54 m (18 ft 2 in)
Wing area: 29.41 m (316.6 sq ft)
Aspect ratio: 8.8:1
Airfoil: IAI Sigma-2
Empty weight: 6,214 kg (13,700 lb)
Max takeoff weight: 11,181 kg (24,650 lb)
Fuel capacity: 4,910 L (1,300 US gal; 1,080 imp gal) usable
Powerplant: 2 × Honeywell TFE731-40-R-200G turbofans, 18.9 kN (4,250 lbf) thrust each

Performance

Maximum speed: Mach 0.875
Cruise speed: 896 km/h (557 mph, 484 kn)
Range: 5,462 km (3,394 mi, 2,949 nmi) (max fuel, four passengers)
Service ceiling: 14,000 m (45,000 ft)
Rate of climb: 19.33 m/s (3,805 ft/min)
Fuel consumption: 1750 lb. per hour

Avionics

Collins Pro Line 4

References

^ Gerzanics, Mike (28 February 2006). "FLIGHT TEST: Gulfstream G150 – Space Machine". Flightglobal.
^ "Gulfstream sells final G150, marks end of 10-year production run" (Press release). Gulfstream. 28 September 2016. Archived from the original on 6 July 2019. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
Relman 1993, p. 314.
^ Relman 1993, p. 316.
"First Flight: Gulfstream G150". Aero-News Network. 3 May 2005. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
"FAA Type Certificate Data Sheet No. A16NM Revision 8 – Gulfstream Aerospace 1125 Westwind Astra; Astra SPX; Gulfstream 100; Gulfstream G150" (PDF). 23 May 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 November 2016. Retrieved 24 April 2016.
G150 Steep Approach to London City approaches reach 5.5 degrees Aviation Week. Accessed: 9 January 2011.
Sarsfield, Kate (28 September 2016). "Gulfstream calls time on struggling G150". Flightglobal.
"The Israel IAI-1126 Galaxy/Gulfstream G200"
Mark Huber (December 2018). "For many models, market hitting the apex" (PDF). Aviation International News. pp. 20–21, 24. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 December 2018. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
"C-38 Courier". www.globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 24 April 2016.
T-2C Buckeye ends 56-year Navy career Archived 3 October 2015 at the Wayback Machine Naval Air Systems Command
^ Oliva, Leandro (7 October 2012). "REPORT: Air Force Captains Steal Eritrean Presidential Jet, Defect to Saudi Arabia". Business Insider. Allure Media. Archived from the original on 20 April 2018. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
Lambert 1993, pp. 182–183.
^ Jackson 2003, p. 623.
Lambert 1993, p. 182.
Jackson 2003, pp. 622–623.
"Accident IAI 1125 Astra SP N1125A". aviation-safety.net. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
"N1125A (1990 ISRAEL AIRCRAFT INDUSTRIES 1125 WESTWIND ASTRA owned by AVIATION TRUST COMPANY LLC TRUSTEE) Aircraft Registration". FlightAware. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
Hoyle Flight International 8–14 December 2015, p. 39.
"TRADE REGISTERS". armstrade.sipri.org. SIPRI. Archived from the original on 14 April 2010. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
"NAVAIR C-38". navair.navy.mil. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
Jackson 2003, pp. 623–624.
David Esler (27 October 2016). "Honeywell's Super-Midsize HTF7000 Engine". Business & Commercial Aviation. Aviation Week.

Hoyle, Craig (8–14 December 2015). "World Air Forces Directory". Flight International. Vol. 188, no. 5517. pp. 26–53. ISSN 0015-3710.
Jackson, Paul, ed. (2003). Jane's All The World's Aircraft 2003–2004. Coulsdon, UK: Jane's Information Group. ISBN 0-7106-2537-5.
Lambert, Mark, ed. (1993). Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1993–1994. Coulsdon, UK: Jane's Data Division. ISBN 0-7106-1066-1.
Relman, Paul (December 1993). "IAI Astra: Israel's star-struck biz jet". Air International. Vol. 45, no. 6. pp. 313–319. ISSN 0306-5634.

External links

"C-38 Courier". Globalsecurity.org. 7 July 2011.
"Gulfstream's Generous G150" (PDF). Business & Commercial Aviation. November 2005.

v t e Gulfstream aircraft
Grumman	G-159 G-1159 G-I G-II
American Jet Industries/ Gulfstream American	Hustler Peregrine 600 Peregrine
Gulfstream	550 690C 690D 695 695A 695B Jetprop 840 Jetprop 900 Jetprop 980 Jetprop 1000 Jetprop 1200 Peregrine 600 Peregrine 100 G-1159A G-1159B G-IV GIV-X G-V GV-SP GVI GVII G100/G150 G200 G280 G-IIB G-III G-IV/GIV-SP G-V G300/G350/G400/G450 G500/G550 G500/G600 G650/G650ER G700
Military versions	C-4 C-11 C-20 C-20F/G/H C-37A C-37B C-38A X-54

v t e Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) aircraft and missiles
Fighter aircraft	Nesher Kfir Nammer Lavi
Other military aircraft	Arava Seascan Tzukit
Business jets	Westwind Astra / G100 Galaxy / G200 / G250 G280
UAVs	Scout Pioneer Hunter Ranger Searcher Bird-Eye I-View Heron 1 Super Heron (Heron HF) Eitan (Heron TP) Panther Ghost Pawan
Loitering munitions	Harpy 1 Harop (Harpy 2) Harpy NG Green Dragon Rotem L
Missiles	Shavit Jericho LAHAT Nimrod Barak 1 Barak 8 Gabriel JUMPER LORA Arrow Arrow 3 SkySniper Wind Demon
Under license from Fouga. • Joint venture with RUAG. • Joint venture with Rafael. • Joint venture with DRDO. • Joint venture with Boeing.

v t e 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-13 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 C-41A C-42 C-43 C-44 C-45 C-46 C-47 C-47F C-47T AC-47 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 C-70B C-71 C-72 C-73 C-74 C-75 C-76 C-77 C-77B–D C-78 C-79 C-80 C-81 C-82 C-83 C-83A C-83B 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-117D C-118 C-119 AC-119 C-120 C-121 C-121F EC-121 C-122 C-123 C-123A C-124 C-125 C-126 C-127 C-127 (I) C-127 (II) C-128 C-129 C-130 C-130J AC-130 DC-130 EC-130/H HC-130 KC-130 LC-130 MC-130 WC-130 C-131 NC-131H C-132 C-133 C-134 C-135 KC-135 C-136 C-137 YC-137 (I) YC-137 (II) C-137 C-138 C-139 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 C-7 RC-7 C-8 C-9 C-10 C-10 KC-10 C-11 C-12 RC-12 C-13 C-14 C-15 C-16 C-17 C-18 C-19 C-20 C-20A–D C-20F–J C-21 C-22 C-23 C-24 C-25 C-26 C-27 C-27J C-28 C-29 C-30 C-31 C-32 C-33 C-34 C-35 C-36 C-37 C-37B C-38 C-39 C-40 C-41 C-42 C-43 C-44 C-45 C-46
Revived original sequence (2005–present)	C-143 C-144 C-145 C-146 C-147
Non-sequential designations	C-767 C-880
Related designations	CT-39 CT-43 CV-2 CV-7
Not assigned • Assigned to multiple types • Unconfirmed

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