Operating a GV

[Groundpounder]

This is kind of silly, but what is with the beacons, or lack thereof on the GV? The one lonely beacon is mounted behind the main gear, and seems like it is only visable when you are directly behind the aircraft. Is drag so critical that they couldn't mount one on the top of the fuselage, or at least on the belly behind the nose gear?

 

[GVFlyer]

This is kind of silly, but what is with the beacons, or lack thereof on the GV? The one lonely beacon is mounted behind the main gear, and seems like it is only visable when you are directly behind the aircraft. Is drag so critical that they couldn't mount one on the top of the fuselage, or at least on the belly behind the nose gear?

You are right that drag is critical and Gulfstream does everything it can to minimize drag count, but that is not what's at play here. The jet's traffic avoidance lighting is too powerful to be used on the ramp.

There's no shortage of lights on the Gulfstream, in addition to the landing lights, three taxi lights, wheel well lights and emergency lighting system the jet has:

The beacon which is used primarily to alert outside observers the aircraft engines are operating.

The strobe lights which provide the aircraft with a lighting system that will make it more visible to other aircraft. It consists of three strobe light assemblies, one in each wing tip and one in the tailcone. We don't turn these on until taking the runway and turn them off leaving the runway, so perhaps you haven't seen them.

The double navigation lights provide the aircraft with lighting for navigation and directional recognition.

Ice inspection lights provide a means of illuminating the leading edge of the wing for ice inspection and to increase aircraft conspicuity in the terminal area.

Wing tip lights that assist in clearing the wing tips while taxing at night and for increased visibility in congested areas.

Pulse lights which pulse the 600,000 candle power landing lights below 18,000 feet, again for greater conspicuity.

Logo lights which illuminate the vertical fin and the lower surface of the horizontal stabilizer and look cool.

GV








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[Groundpounder]

Yes, I know it has strobes, landing lights, nav lights, and so on. But I can tell you from experience, its sometimes very hard to see a taxiing aircraft on the ground when there isn't some sort of flashing beacon at night in the rain or snow when you are driving around on the ramp. Look at aircraft such as the 737, Airbus, and so on, and they have two very bright red strobe lights that are used for beacons on the ground. Those aircraft are very easy to see from all angles around the aircraft. The beacon light on the G-5 is not visible from the front of the aircraft. I don't know why they don't put something on the forward fuselage that will make the aircraft stick out more when on the ground.

 

[fokkerjet]

Warning....BBQ Hijacking

GV,

I just passed through SAV this afternoon (driving); I stopped at Muthers for some BBQ, and THEY WERE CLOSED! What's up with that? 900 miles for some carry-out, and they were closed........I was so disappointed that I sulked all the way to Brunswick for some questionable BBQ at Sonny's. I did enjoy the "trailier trash" in the booth next to me; Mom, Dad, Sis and Grandma........Sis was discribing her piercings to everyone, along with how many girls in her "highschool" class that were "knocked up". In case you're wondering; 4.

 

[Flying Illini]

Any interesting piercings we should know about?

 

[fokkerjet]

Not that she shared with the family, but she did say the tatto parlor took pictures of her and didn't charge her for the piercings........

 

[GVFlyer]

GV,



.....Sis was discribing her piercings to everyone, along with how many girls in her "highschool" class that were "knocked up". In case you're wondering; 4.

How many by a family member?

GV

 

[GVFlyer]

Yes, I know it has strobes, landing lights, nav lights, and so on. But I can tell you from experience, its sometimes very hard to see a taxiing aircraft on the ground when there isn't some sort of flashing beacon at night in the rain or snow when you are driving around on the ramp. Look at aircraft such as the 737, Airbus, and so on, and they have two very bright red strobe lights that are used for beacons on the ground. Those aircraft are very easy to see from all angles around the aircraft. The beacon light on the G-5 is not visible from the front of the aircraft. I don't know why they don't put something on the forward fuselage that will make the aircraft stick out more when on the ground.

I look like a parade when I'm taxiing at night - I taxi with the ice lights, the logo lights, the wingtip lights and and only kill the taxi lights when I see the guy with the light wands.

The upper fuselage beacon went away with the G-IVSP due to space constraints within the pressure vessel.

GV