News Release

WING JOIN, POWER ON, ENGINE INSTALL SUCCESSFUL FOR GULFSTREAM G250

Company’s Newest Mid-Cabin Aircraft On Schedule For First Flight Later This Year

SAVANNAH, Ga., June 15, 2009 - Gulfstream Aerospace, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE:GD), recently celebrated the wing join, power on and engine mount of its newest mid-cabin jet, the Gulfstream G250.

The all-new advanced transonic wing was joined to the fuselage on May 12, 2009, at Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) near Tel Aviv, Israel, in a process that took less than two hours. The wing was designed and built by Spirit AeroSystems in Tulsa, Okla., using state-of-the-art 3D modeling techniques.

Electrical power was applied to the G250 on May 5, 2009. As a result, the electrical system successfully distributed power to several aircraft components, including the avionics. The adaptive flight displays were one of the many features that were operational following the power on.

With electricity supplied and the wing in place, the aircraft was ready to move into the systems test position. It rolled there on its own wheels after the main and nose landing gears were installed on May 13, 2009. And on June 1, 2009, the twin Honeywell HTF7250G engines, each of which provides 7,445 pounds of thrust, were mounted on the airframe.

"The G250 program major milestones – the fuselage join earlier and now the wing join, power on and engine install – have gone smoothly," said Pres Henne, senior vice president, Programs, Engineering and Test, Gulfstream.  "We are delighted that we are on target for another milestone – the G250’s first flight – later this year." 

The G250 offers the largest cabin and the longest range at the fastest speed in the industry’s mid-size class.

It has an all-new, advanced transonic wing design that has been optimized for high-speed cruise and improved takeoff performance. At maximum takeoff weight, the G250 can take off from a 5,000-foot runway. Its 3,400-nautical-mile range means the G250 can fly nonstop from New York to London or from London to Dubai.

The aircraft’s fuel-efficient engines feature reduced emissions, longer maintenance intervals and decreased noise levels. They also offer excellent climb performance, propelling the G250 to a flight level of 41,000 feet in less than 20 minutes.

Gulfstream expects the G250 will be certified in 2011 and intends to commence deliveries of the aircraft the same year.

"We are on track toward first flight of the G250, with major systems installed and starting of ground tests," said David Dagan, corporate vice president and general manager, Commercial Aircraft Group, IAI.

Initial-phase manufacturing for the G250 takes place at IAI headquarters near the Ben Gurion International Airport just outside of Tel Aviv.  Gulfstream has an office at IAI to oversee production.

Final-phase manufacturing for the G250 will take place at the Gulfstream "Center of Excellence" completion facility for mid-cabin aircraft in Dallas.  The G250 Program office is located in Savannah.

NOTE TO EDITORS

Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), designs, develops, manufactures, markets, services and supports the world’s most technologically advanced business-jet aircraft. Gulfstream has produced some 1,800 aircraft for customers around the world since 1958. To meet the diverse transportation needs of the future, Gulfstream offers a comprehensive fleet of aircraft, comprising the wide-cabin, high-speed Gulfstream G150®; the large-cabin, mid-range Gulfstream G200®; the new large-cabin, mid-range Gulfstream G250®; the large-cabin, mid-range Gulfstream G350®; the large-cabin, long-range G450®; the large-cabin, ultra-long-range Gulfstream G500®; the large-cabin, ultra-long-range Gulfstream G550® and the ultra-large-cabin, ultra-long-range G650®. Gulfstream also offers aircraft ownership services via Gulfstream Financial Services Division and Gulfstream Pre-Owned Aircraft Sales®. The company employs more than 9,700 people at seven major locations. We invite you to visit our Web site for more information and photos of Gulfstream aircraft at www.gulfstream.com.

General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), headquartered in Falls Church, Va., employs approximately 92,900 people worldwide. The company is a market leader in business aviation; land and expeditionary combat systems, armaments and munitions; shipbuilding and marine systems; and information systems and technologies. More information about General Dynamics is available online at www.gd.com.