Aviatrade’s predictions for the Gulfstream Pre-Owned Marketplace in October 2023 and with a more recent follow-up, have pretty much been proved prescient.

The following notes are by no means exhaustive and are meant as an overview of current offerings. Aviatrade can directly focus on any model and provide constructive guidance to an interested buyer.

The “price-reduced” and “price-changed” (a subtle attempt to soften the blow!) announcements are not yet too frequent, but a conversation with any of the Gulfstream sales people and G450/G550/G650 brokers/consultants will usually elicit a comment to the effect of “make us a reasonable offer”.

In fact, Aviatrade has been active in all of the long-range Gulfstream aircraft models over the recent months and conversations with various owners and brokers indicate that the ever-increasing inventories (with the exception of Gulfstream G700) will continue to do so. Therefore, pricing pressure and current global economic conditions will push the Gulfstream pre-owned sector firmly into buyers’ hands, with self-evident opportunities for attractive deals.

The officially “listed for sale” Gulfstream aircraft do not tell the entire story. There are always a number of each make and model that remain quietly for sale and are “off-market”. Aviatrade usually has access to these aircraft via our long-established international network.

Aircraft cosmetic condition and interior configuration, total hours, engine and APU programs, maintenance status and provenance all influence both asking price and eventual sale price.

A refurbished G450 interior with aft stateroom and forward galley (unusual in G450’s)

The Covid-19 era premiums have certainly now completely evaporated and G450’s are an excellent entrée to the cabin-class flying experience.

The G500 replaced the G450, but the current price differential in the pre-owned marketplace (minimum $15MM) slows down the absorption rate of used G500’s. The G500 has advantages over the G450, range / cabin volume / avionics, but not really a quantum leap in overall performance.

There are ten GVII-G500’s for sale and except for perhaps the very late models, (post-2021-22), these Gulfstream G500’s will sell in the mid-high $30MM’s.

A G500 with preferred interior configuration, forward galley, no crew rest.

This sector of the Gulfstream pre-owned marketplace is probably the most fertile ground for “deals”, especially given the range capability. However, careful evaluation of maintenance/inspection history and ASC compliance is required so that there are no post-acquisition “surprises”.

Aviatrade has previously mentioned the preferred interior configurations and this element also factors into purchase price.

There are thirty eight G550’s for sale, ranging from 2004 to 2019 (last year of production). Aviatrade sees a sizable gap between published asking prices and realistic sale prices, especially given the sheer number of G550’s for sale and the downward pressure on pricing.

At the low end of the  G550 pre-owned marketplace and mindful of Aviatrade’s comments above, a G550 could cost as little as circa $12MM.

This is the successor to the Gulfstream G550 and this model also suffers from the pre-owned pricing gap between the very capable G550 and the G600.

There are currently only three G600’s for sale and one is under contract. Asking prices are in the narrow range of $49MM+ (two G600’s) to mid-$50MM’s (this is a 2023 model, uniquely selling without owner use from a now defunct flight department). We suspect that the 2023 model is selling circa $53MM.

Aviatrade represented a 2021 model and the owner was asking $47.5MM, but ultimately decided not to sell (at least for the time being !).

This model is beginning to show stress in the pre-owned Gulfstream market with circa fifteen G650ER’s available for sale and a handful (four) G650’s).

The early model G650ER’s (pre-2017) will probably sell for under $40MM and perhaps into the low $40MM’s. In the case of basic G650’s (non-ER modification), the prices for early models will be in the very low $30MM’s. This is the 2013-2015 vintage.

Early model G650 (2015) with forward galley and crew rest, the preferred layout

The late model G650ER’s, 2020 and upwards, will sell in the mid-$40MM’s up to low $50MM’s for a low-time aircraft with the preferred interior configuration and neutral cosmetics.

A somewhat “eye-catching” G650ER interior, with forward galley AND crew rest

With regard to the interior configuration question; Gulfstream attempted to match the “four zone” availability of the Bombardier Global 7500. The Gulfstream solution was to offer a four-zone interior…”sans crew-rest”. This option has turned out to be a dent in pre-owned G650ER prices. The main reason is that very few owners are willing to share one of the four zones as crew rest, even if officially designated for crew rest.

A typical Gulfstream G700 interior configuration

No G700’s have officially entered the pre-owned sales arena as yet, but Aviatrade is aware of at least one G700 that will sell as soon as it is delivered to its first owner.

Pricing expected to be above $80MM (a premium to the factory price is to be expected, given the backlog of almost two years for G700 orders).

As an overall observation; the G650ER has more range than the latest technology (fly-by-wire / digital) G600 and in Aviatrade’s opinion and “pound for pound”, the G650ER will be a better investment. Granted that the G650ER production will cease next year, but the obsolescence of this model is a long way off.

The technical advances in the G600 are mostly at the “sharp end”…larger windows and lower cabin altitude, etc., notwithstanding.

The Gulfstream model line-up is still considered as the “gold standard” in private jets, although Bombardier is now knocking on the hangar door to claim this title as Bombardier continues to improve its global network and service center access.

Aviatrade is always available to offer expert guidance appropriate to any required mission profile and Aviatrade’s non-public / confidential “intel” will greatly benefit any first-time pre-owned Gulfstream buyer, upgrade of a pre-owned aircraft or acquisition of a new aircraft.