FLEX JET
fallen out of the comfort
zone of most travellers.”
Gulfstream’s Crow says that
the collaboration has resulted in
some of the best designs the OEM
has accomplished. “We’ve enjoyed
a relationship where we challenge
convention,” he says.
The design process typically begins
18 months in advance of the aircraft going
into completion, and multiple concepts are
in progress simultaneously.
“It’s always best to take your time,” says Crow.
“Design is an iterative process that requires
creation, interpretation and reinterpretation, over and
over again. Ric Michaels typically comes with a theme,
which we then interpret in multiple ways. We could be
working on 12 schemes at a time.”
“These themes all take more time than the typical
spec session, because they’re complicated,” adds Michaels.
PERSONAL APPROACH
Crow and Michaels meet face to face multiple times
a year, making use of Gulfstream’s design centre in
Savannah, Georgia, as well as Flexjet’s private design
centre. This also means that Michaels can watch the
aircraft come through the completion centre.
“We have always thought of Gulfstream as a partner,
and we believe in their products very much,” says
Michaels. “On the flip side, I think working with Flexjet
has, in some ways, enabled Gulfstream to work out of
their normal colour palettes and design elements. We are
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056 JULY 2019
always challenging
them, and they’ve bent
over backwards to make
us happy.”
One of the most recent
designs, for a G650, is called
Cosmos, thanks to its spaceinspired
look. “The carpeting looks
somewhat like the Milky Way, and
the seats and the colour palette are
very modern,” says Michaels. “It’s a
theme we will probably duplicate. I prefer
the themes that are a little bit edgy.”
FRUITS OF THE FOREST
Many of the aircraft feature interesting
effects created with wood veneers – for
example where two wood species or types
of finish (for example, matt and gloss)
have been used in the same aircraft, where
the grains have been oriented in
unexpected ways and where intricate
inlays have been incorporated.
“There are so many little surprises in
our Gulfstream aircraft,” says Michaels.
“Among other things, we have hammer
plating, which is not the standard. It’s
important for us to find ways to
differentiate from the other choices
available to customers today.”
ABOVE: DESPITE BEING LESS
HARD WEARING THAN LEATHER,
SEATS HAVE FABRIC INSERTS FOR
COMFORT REASONS
BELOW: THE G450’S CENTRAL
DIVAN EXTENDS FOR SLEEPING,
SUPPORTING LONG FLIGHTS
Wear and tear
As fractional aircraft, Flexjet’s
fleet requires frequent updates.
“We put more hours on these
aircraft than typical operators do,”
says Ric Michaels.
At 36 months, all soft goods are
replaced. Components are also
replaced during inspections. “We
maintain spare ship sets of highwear
items such as carpets, that
we rotate during inspections as
needed,” says Michaels.
Longevity and durability are
factors when choosing materials,
but don’t override comfort and
luxury. “For example, all our
Gulfstream jets have leather seats
incorporating a plush fabric insert,
because it’s more comfortable to
sit on fabric than leather for eight
hours,” says Michaels. “Fabric
doesn’t have the wearability
of leather, but the trade-off is
important enough that we will
replace the fabric more often. We
also have custom carpets woven
with silk and so forth. These cost
us more and end up being higher
wear items, but it’s a viable choice
for our Red Label programme.”
Having a
standard exterior
look is important for
customers to recognise
Flexjet’s aircraft
on the ramp
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