The Munich Security Conference is an annual conference on international security policy that is been held in Munich, Bavaria, Germany since 1963. Over the past four decades the Munich Security Conference has become the most important independent forum for the exchange of views by international security policy decision-makers. Each year it brings together about 350 senior figures from more than 70 countries around the world. The list of attendees includes heads of states, governments and international organizations, ministers, members of parliament, high-ranking representatives of armed forces, science, civil society, as well as business and media. The conference is held annually in February. The venue is the Hotel Bayerischer Hof in Munich, Bavaria, Germany.

Of course all these VIP’s arrive at Munich Franz Josef Strauβ airport (MUC). Check out my small report here. 

On July 1, 2021, Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. announced it had delivered the final commercial Gulfstream G550 to an international customer, increasing the worldwide fleet to 631. The delivery took place June 30, 2021, as VP-CBK (c/n: 5628). But now, almost 3 years in the future, deliveries of the G550 are not finished at all. Various military special mission aircraft are still to be fitted-out and delivered e.g., the ordered Australian MC-55 Peregrine (total of 4) and the American EA-37B Compass Call (total of 10). Of the last 100 G550 airframes built over 30 are delivered or reserved as Special Mission Aircraft. This shows the great value of the G550 airframe for all kind of missions outside the ‘normal’ VIP role. An overview list was compiled by Gulfbiz.nl (and thanks to Jim) to give the current situation regarding these aircraft. Not all details are clear but various reports and logs give some insight in the current status. Click here or on the picture above for the overview and more details.

Japan, the land of the rising sun. But also, the land of some very rare Gulfstream aircraft. Mainly operated by government agencies or defense forces they almost never leave the Japanese islands. How does this exclusive fleet look like? See the article by clicking here or on the picture above. 

On July 15, 2023, the second G800 flight test aircraft (N802GD, c/n: 88002) made its first flight. The aircraft flew out of Gulfstream’s Savannah (GA) headquarters on a 30/70 blend of sustainable aviation fuel. The G800 took off on Saturday, July 15, at 9:27 a.m., flew for 3 hours and 26 minutes and reached a top speed of Mach 0.935. The second G800 flight test aircraft is dedicated to environmental control systems, avionics and flight controls and builds on the more than 1,600 test points already accomplished by the first G800 flight test article (N800G, c/n: 88001) ((C) www.gulfstream.com).

After several Covid years with almost no aircraft spotting possible, 2023 finally gave the opportunity again to fly abroad and visit the US for the first time since 2019. And to make the most of it I decided to combine 2 hobbies in 1 trip. Read the trip report by clicking here or on the picture above. 

On 5 July 2022 the Dutch Ministry of Defense (Ministerie van Defensie) announced that a used Gulfstream G650ER was bought as a replacement of the current 35 years old Gulfstream IV (V-11, c/n: 1009). V-11 was one of the first G-IVs built (1987) as N427GA and in service with the Royal Netherlands Air Force since 1996. Also announced was that the aircraft would be equipped with an Elbit Systems Direct Infrared Counter Measures (DIRCM) system and an Electronic Warfare system.

The bought G650ER (c/n: 6117) was built in 2015 (2000 flying hours). The aircraft (N650HE) was ferried from Montana to Basel for modifications 22/23 June 2022. On the 26th of July 2022 the registration was changed to HB-JKT (Jet Aviation Business Jets AG). On the 1st of March 2023 the aircraft was noted at Basel with a taped HB-JKT serial on the tail. A testflight was performed. On the 9th of March 2023 the registration was cancelled. The new registration becoming V-117. Airframe 6117 was registered during earlier life as N617GA, N650ZK, N650HF (Harbor Freight Tools in May 2015) and N650HE. The aircraft is a G650ER and was converted as such 24 April 2020. On 15 March 2023 the aircraft arrived at its future homebase Eindhoven airport (334 Squadron). It was being delivered to the Defensie Materieel Organisatie (DMO) which is part of the Ministry of Defense. On the 24th of March the military type certificate (MTC) was issued. The aircraft can now be used operationally. But before that the aircraft needs to be equipped with a self-defense system. For that it was transferred back to Basel for fit-out by AMAC Aerospace the 3rd of April 2023. The V-11 was delivered to Lelystad Airport on the 30th of June 2023. The aircraft is sold to Zeusch Aviation and will be registered as PH-ZUZ.

‘’Just Do It’’ also applies to the corporate aircraft fleet and hangars operated by Nike. At a corner of Hillsboro Airport (HIO), which is close to Beaverton, Nike constructed the Air Hangar 1 and Ochoco Private Hangar, and inside of them, Nike’s own Gulfstream air force. Built in 2002, Nike’s 40,000 square feet corporate hangar is named Air Hangar 1 (a reference to their iconic Air Force 1 shoe). The facility is capable of sheltering three full-size business jets. Next to the Air Hangar 1 a new structure rose adjacent to Air Hangar 1 in 2014 for the private use of Nike’s billionaire co-founder, Phil Knight. Officially named Ochoco Private Hangar and occupying nearly 30,000 square feet, Knight’s personal hangar is large enough to house two private jets. For the full Nike corporate aircraft fleet history click on the photo above or here.