Gulfstream III

Gulfstream III
	C-20 Gulfstream III operated by the United States Navy (BuNo 163692)
Role	Business jet
Manufacturer	Gulfstream Aerospace
First flight	2 December 1979
Introduction	1980
Primary users	United States; Gabon ; India ; Italy
Developed from	Grumman Gulfstream II
Variants	Gulfstream IV/G400/G450

The Gulfstream III, a business jet produced by Gulfstream Aerospace, is an improved variant of the Grumman Gulfstream II.

Design and development

The Gulfstream III was built at Savannah, Georgia in the United States and was designed as an improved variant of the Grumman Gulfstream II. Design studies were performed by Grumman Aerospace Corporation in collaboration with Gulfstream American Corporation. Design of the Gulfstream III started with an effort to synthesize a completely new wing employing NASA supercritical airfoil sections and winglets. Optimization studies considering weight, drag, fuel volume, cost, and performance indicated that a substantial portion of the new wing benefit could be secured with modifications to the existing wing. As a result, the new wing concept was canceled and work began on design modifications that would retain the Gulfstream II wing box structure and trailing edge surfaces.^[2] The inboard wing was extended in chord and recontoured, to reduce the aircraft's high-speed drag. The wing span was increased by six feet and five-foot winglets were added. In addition, the fuselage was lengthened by an additional two-foot section aft of the main door and the radome was extended and re-contoured. A new curved windscreen was incorporated, changes were made to the cockpit instruments and autopilot and the maximum take-off weight was increased. The aircraft received type approval from the American Federal Aviation Administration in September 1980.^[3]

Variants

Civil variants

Model G-1159A Gulfstream III - Two or three-crew executive, corporate transport aircraft.

Military variants

C-20A - United States Air Force variant configured for 14 passengers and 5 crew; phased out of USAF service in 2002, one example transferred to NASA for use at the Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base as a test aircraft.^[4]^[5]^[6]
C-20B - United States Air Force variant with upgraded electronics, used for Operational Support Airlift (OSA) and Special Assignment Airlift Missions (SAAM).^[4]
C-20C - United States Air Force C-20B with upgraded and "hardened" secure communications, often utilized as backup aircraft accompanying the VC-25A aircraft when it is operating as Air Force One^[4]
C-20D - United States Navy Operational Support Airlift (OSA) aircraft with modified communications equipment for use by the Navy, normally in support of high-ranking naval officials^[4]
C-20E - Stretched fuselage/redesigned wing variant for use by the United States Army as an Operational Support Airlift (OSA) aircraft^[4]^[7]
Gulfstream III SRA-1 - Special reconnaissance and surveillance version for export.
Gulfstream III SMA-3 - Export model for Denmark, fitted with a Texas Instruments APS-127 search radar. Three maritime reconnaissance and patrol, fisheries protection, search and rescue, and VIP transport aircraft were built for the Royal Danish Air Force in 1983. No longer in service.

NOTE: United States Army C-20F and C-20J, United States Navy/United States Marine Corps C-20G, and United States Air Force C-20H aircraft are all Gulfstream IV variants

Special Mission Variants

The NASA Gulfstream III (83-0502 cn 389) has been fitted with a centerline pylon to allow it to carry the UAVSAR pod.^[8]

The Phoenix Air Group operates two former Royal Danish Air Force SMA-3 aircraft (N173PA cn 313, N163PA cn 249) and a Gulfstream III (N186PA cn 317).^[9] One aircraft provides airborne maritime range surveillance for the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) and other Department of Defense range facilities using a high definition Texas Instruments APS-127 Surface Search Radar system.^[10]

N30LX (cn 438) has been modified by the addition of a ventral canoe and sensor turret as the "Dragon Star" Airborne Multi-Intelligence Laboratory for use by Lockheed Martin.^[11]

Two Gulfstream IIIs, K2961 (cn 494) and K2962 (cn 495), equipped with long-range oblique photography cameras mounted in the fuselage, were delivered to the Indian Air Force.^[12]^[13]

Operators

Military and government operators

Military and government operators of the Gulfstream III and C-20 include:

Algeria
Cameroon

Cameroon Air Force

Ivory Coast
Denmark

Royal Danish Air Force

Gabon
Ghana

Ghana Air Force

Italy

Italian Air Force

India

Indian Air Force

Ireland

Irish Air Corps - leased aircraft

Mexico

Mexican Air Force - (former operator)

Morocco

Royal Moroccan Air Force

Oman
Saudi Arabia
Togo
Uganda

Ugandan Air Force

United States

Venezuela

Venezuelan Air Force

Zimbabwe

Air Force of Zimbabwe

Accidents and incidents

August 3, 1996 - Flew into mountain during final approach to Vagar Airport on Faroe Islands. The Gulfstream III (F-330) from RDAF - Royal Danish Air Force was destroyed killing all 9 people on board, including the Danish Chief of Defence Jørgen Garde.
March 29, 2001 - While trying to land at Aspen-Pitkin County Airport, an Avjet Gulfstream III crashed into a hill, killing all 18 people on board.

Specifications (Gulfstream III)

Data from Jane's Civil and Military Aircraft Upgrades 1994–95^[14]

General characteristics

Crew: Two or three
Capacity: 19 passengers (standard seating)
Aspect ratio: 6.0:1

Performance

References

^ Taylor 1982, pp. 383–384.
^ Boppe, Charles W., "Computational Aerodynamic Design: X-29, the Gulfstream Series and a Tactical Fighter", SAE paper 851789, 1985 Wright Brothers Award Paper, presented at the Aerospace Technology Conference & Exposition, Long Beach California, October 1985.
^ Mead, Lawrence M., Coppi, Charles and Strakosch, John, A Case Study By Grumman Aerospace Corporation and Gulfstream American Corporation on the Gulfstream III, AIAA Professional Study Series, June 1980
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Model Designation of Military Aerospace Vehicles, DoD 4120.15L, 2004-05-12
^ http://www.af.mil/information/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=87
^ http://www.dfrc.nasa.gov/gallery/Photo/C-20A/HTML/EC02-0221-6.html
^ The United States Military Aviation Directory, AIRTime Publishing, Norwalk, CT, c2000, ISBN 1-88058-29-3
^ G-III UAVSAR Retrieved 31 July 2011.
^ Full Details of Active Gulfstream IIIs Retrieved 31 July 2011.
^ 'Military Ops Range Clearing' Retrieved 31 July 2011.
^ ;Enter The Dragon Retrieved 31 July 2011.
^ Picture of the Gulfstream Aerospace G-1159A Gulfstream III aircraft Retrieved 31 July 2011.
^ Picture of the Gulfstream Aerospace G-1159A Gulfstream III aircraft Retrieved 31 July 2011.
^ Michell 1994, p. 313.

Michell, Simon. Jane's Civil and Military Aircraft Upgrades 1994–95. Coulsdon, UK:Jane's Information Group, 1994. ISBN 0-7106-1208-7.
Taylor, John W. R. (editor). Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1982–83. London:Jane's Yearbooks, 1982. ISBN 0-7106-0748-2.

[Janes_82_p383-4-1] Taylor 1982, pp. 383–384.

[2] Boppe, Charles W., "Computational Aerodynamic Design: X-29, the Gulfstream Series and a Tactical Fighter", SAE paper 851789, 1985 Wright Brothers Award Paper, presented at the Aerospace Technology Conference & Exposition, Long Beach California, October 1985.

[3] Mead, Lawrence M., Coppi, Charles and Strakosch, John, A Case Study By Grumman Aerospace Corporation and Gulfstream American Corporation on the Gulfstream III, AIAA Professional Study Series, June 1980

[dod-4] Model Designation of Military Aerospace Vehicles, DoD 4120.15L, 2004-05-12

[5] ttp://www.af.mil/information/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=87

[6] ttp://www.dfrc.nasa.gov/gallery/Photo/C-20A/HTML/EC02-0221-6.html

[7] The United States Military Aviation Directory, AIRTime Publishing, Norwalk, CT, c2000, ISBN 1-88058-29-3

[8] G-III UAVSAR Retrieved 31 July 2011.

[9] Full Details of Active Gulfstream IIIs Retrieved 31 July 2011.

[10] 'Military Ops Range Clearing' Retrieved 31 July 2011.

[11] ;Enter The Dragon Retrieved 31 July 2011.

[12] Picture of the Gulfstream Aerospace G-1159A Gulfstream III aircraft Retrieved 31 July 2011.

[13] Picture of the Gulfstream Aerospace G-1159A Gulfstream III aircraft Retrieved 31 July 2011.

[Janes_up_94_p313-14] Michell 1994, p. 313.

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Military versions	C-4 C-11 C-20 C-20F/G/H C-37A C-37B C-38A X-54