Gulfstream is now using a new 3D Paint Projection Process on its aircraft. The process is used to apply custom designed paint schemes to new and used aircraft at the site. The paint system is located at the Savannah Completion Center in Georgia. The new 3D paint system allows the company to increase the flexibility and quality of its design application. The new paint facility in Savannah was opened in September, 2015.
The paint system software is based on the Delta Sigma ProjectionWorks. That commercial 3D software program was first used to display the location of rivets and other fasteners for aircraft manufacturers. The system and software was then modified by the engineers at Gulfstream, allowing for the paint schemes to be projected in multiple dimensions. It is designed to compensating for the airplane fuselage curvature, which eliminates possible image distortion. With the new systems implementation, the older 2D design system has been retired.
Gulfstream announces flat first quarter
General Dynamics, the parent company of Gulfstream Aerospace, reported first-quarter operating profits of $1.05 billion last May. The only bad news was that Gulfstream plane deliveries were down. While its sales in the quarter were good for large and midsize jets, deliveries were down nearly 16 percent. Sales remained strong for the flagship Gulfstream G650-ER. That top of the line business jet has all of its delivery slots sold out for the next 24 months. However, there are reports that the G650 is beginning to see a slowdown in sales. Those slowing sales have forced parent General Dynamics to lower the asking price for the G650 to a range of around $60 to $70 million.
Another problem the company is seeing is a decline in demand for its G550 and G450 aircraft. Customers seem to be waiting for the newer G500 and G600 models that are scheduled to be delivered in 2018 and 2019, respectively. Those aircraft are starting to incur some delays that are likely to push those delivery dates out. Gulfstream did layoff about 1,000 direct and indirect employees from the Savannah site at the end of 2015.
Image from gulfstream.com