Gulfstream Fleet Grows Sixfold in Russia

The fleet of its Russian-based Gulfstream business jets has grown more than sixfold in the last six years, the Savannah, Ga.-based aircraft manufacturer said yesterday at the first day of the three-day Jet Expo 2013 show in Moscow. It said there are 53 customer-operated Gulfstreams in Russia and a combined 76 in Russia and the wider Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). In 2007 those numbers were eight and 11, respectively, Gulfstream said. “We sold our first aircraft to a Russian customer in 2002 and have experienced remarkable growth since then,” said Gulfstream president Larry Flynn. “We have the biggest market share in the large-cabin segment, but we’ve also had success with sales of our midsize jet models. The recent opening of our sales and design center in London is a direct result of strong customer response in Russia and other parts of Europe.” To support the growing fleet in Russia and the CIS, Gulfstream has more than $120 million in parts and materials inventory at three European locations: London Luton; Madrid; and Basel, Switzerland.