Gulfstream Claims Record China Flight

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A Gulfstream jet has claimed a new world speed record by flying between Edinburgh, Scotland, and Beijing in just eight hours and 47 minutes. The Scotsman reported Saturday that the Gulfstream company had submitted applications to the National Aeronautic Association to confirm the new records set on the special charter flight, which was designed to show the luxury jet's performance for potential buyers. Aviation writer Jim Ferguson told the Scotsman the number of jets will likely increase at Edinburgh Airport as the city's economy continues to grow. He said, "This is the kind of aircraft that can only be afforded by the seriously rich and has interior lay-outs that can be mind-boggling; Gulfstream was clearly out to impress people who are not normally impressed." Ferguson estimated that the jet would have been flying at an altitude of around 40,000 feet at an average speed of Mach 0.87, just short of the speed of sound. Passengers heading to China would usually have to fly with British Airways via Heathrow, Air France via Paris or KLM via Amsterdam.