This recent partial press release from Bombardier for its Global 8000 throws a not-so-subtle gauntlet down to Gulfstream’s G800. (the emphasis is Aviatrade’s)

“The jet’s 54-foot 5-inch-long cabin has the longest seated length size in its class, the company said, a cabin altitude of 2,900 feet above FL410, and the ability to be configured with four living spaces and a separate crew rest area.”

Four zone with crew rest and forward galley, Global 8000 cabin

This of course refers to the fact that Gulfstream opted to retain the G650 fuselage when squeezing out the extra range for the G800. Granted the Gulfstream G800 embodies some primary and sub-system improvements but upgrades such as the digital fly-by-wire are sometimes lost on the person in the cabin who pays the bills.

The Gulfstream G800

A prior Aviatrade blog reported the Gulfstream wing-fuselage mating history:

Gulfstream Cabin Configurations

For those unaware of the various G650 cabin configurations, the G650 (G800) fuselage can only have a forward dedicated crew rest compartment if the cabin consists of three zones.

Three zone G800 cabin with forward crew rest and galley

If the G650 (G800) cabin is equipped with four zones, it loses the dedicated crew rest compartment and the owner/operator is obliged to nominate one of the four cabin zones as a “crew rest area”.

Therefore your favourite pilots are going to be “zonked-out” somewhere in one of the G800 cabin zones.

Gulfstream G800 four zone interior with forward galley and no crew rest

These “four zoners” seem to be most popular among Mid-East and Asian owners because they afford more cabin space and possibly extra seats.

Also, these owners seem to be less concerned with flight attendants in the crew complement.

Gulfstream G800 Cabin for Charter Operations

Those Gulfstream owners contemplating charter operation with a G800 will probably need to adopt the three zone interior (with dedicated crew-rest) because various aircraft regulatory authorities will make life difficult for any operator who wants to anoint/dedicate a passenger cabin zone as crew rest.

The Next Iteration of the G700

Therefore, what Gulfstream needs to do is to somehow step up the G700 fuel load to match the range and cabin configuration of the Global 8000. Until then, Bombardier has the edge with its Global 8000.

The Gulfstream G700ER can’t be too far away?