On 5 December 2025 Gulfstream Aerospace achieved a major program milestone when its new G300 super-midsize business jet completed its maiden flight. The prototype conducted a 2-hour 25-minute sortie, climbed to 30,000 ft and cruised at about Mach 0.75, beginning the official flight-test campaign that follows more than 2,000 hours of ground testing. Company leadership described the event as a “remarkable achievement” for a jet positioned to succeed the G280.

Key characteristics

Gulfstream presents the G300 as a next-generation super-midsize aircraft combining long range, high cruise speeds, modern avionics and a spacious cabin. Principal published performance and specification highlights include:

• Range: ~3,600 nm (6,667 km) at long-range cruise (the site lists both 3,600 nm long-range and a high-speed cruise capability of about 3,000 nm).
• Cruise / Speed: Typical long-range cruise at Mach 0.80, high-speed cruise up to Mach 0.84 and an MO limit near Mach 0.85.
• Engines / Systems: Powered by Honeywell HTF7250G family engines (manufacturer and flight-test articles reference Honeywell powerplants and an advanced “Harmony” flight deck with multiple touchscreens and phase-of-flight intelligence).
• Altitude & field performance: Initial cruise altitudes targeted near 43,000 ft (13,100 m) with relatively short balanced field takeoff distances (~4,780 ft / 1,457 m at MTOW on standard conditions listed by Gulfstream).
• Cabin & payload: Gulfstream positions the G300 to offer a comfortable super-midsize cabin with panoramic oval windows and seating typically marketed for around 12–14 passengers depending on layout, plus generous baggage volume consistent with the class.

These figures place the G300 as a true long-range super-midsize entry: fast, capable of transcontinental missions, and intended to combine Gulfstream comfort and systems common to the manufacturer’s larger families.

Market positioning and target customers

Gulfstream is positioning the G300 to replace the G280 and to appeal to corporate flight departments, charter operators and high-net-worth individuals seeking transcontinental capability without stepping up to ultra-long-range heavies. The product brief and launch messaging emphasise a balance of speed, range, cabin comfort and advanced avionics — attributes attractive to customers who fly missions such as New York–London, Dubai–Moscow or cross-continental US sectors with fewer stops. Gulfstream’s existing global service network and strong brand in the upper segments are strategic advantages for market uptake.

Main competitors

The G300 enters a crowded super-midsize market where several established and newer models compete on range, operating economics and cabin experience. Principal competitors include:

• Bombardier Challenger 3500 / 350 — a direct incumbent in the super-midsize market known for a roomy cabin and strong aftermarket support; often compared on comfort and operating economics.
• Embraer Praetor 600 — a long-range contender offering competitive range and modern systems; it has disrupted the segment with value pricing and strong performance.
• Cessna (Textron) Citation Longitude — competes on operating costs and simplicity, with a slightly different price/performance trade-off.
• Gulfstream G280 (predecessor / internal benchmark) — the model the G300 replaces; buyers considering fleet commonality may view G300 as the logical upgrade within Gulfstream’s lineup.
• Dassault Falcon 2000 series and other mid-sized types also serve overlapping mission profiles and can be considered competitive alternatives depending on specific range, runway or cabin priorities.

Market success will depend on how the G300’s actual operating economics, dispatch reliability, cabin layout flexibility and residual values compare in buyer evaluations, as well as Gulfstream’s ability to convert orders from customers who may currently operate alternatives.

Strategic and commercial outlook

Gulfstream’s timing — unveiling the G300 in 2025 and moving rapidly into flight testing — aims to capture demand from corporations and charter operators renewing fleets after a multi-year buying cycle. The super-midsize segment remains attractive because it hits a “sweet spot” for many missions: more range and comfort than light midsize jets without the acquisition and operating costs of the largest ultra-long-range types. If Gulfstream demonstrates the advertised range, speed and the expected reliability from early testing through certification, the G300 could take meaningful share — particularly from operators seeking Gulfstream’s brand, pilot training commonality and global support network.

Conclusion

The G300’s successful first flight on 5 December 2025 starts a flight-test programme that will prove whether the jet can deliver Gulfstream’s combination of speed, range and cabin comfort at competitive operating costs. Entering a packed super-midsize market, its prospects will hinge on certification timing, demonstrable operating economics, and Gulfstream’s ability to convert customer interest into orders — but the maiden flight is a clear early signal that the programme is advancing on schedule.

AeroMorning                                                                                       December 5, 2025