Gulfstream II

The Gulfstream II started the family of large Gulfstreams that later led to the GIV and the G450. Its cabin is 1.85 m high and 2.21 m wide, usually with 10 to 12 seats, a galley at the door and a toilet at the rear. Without wingtip tanks the GII covers about 5,100 km, enough for any European city from London or Paris without a fuel stop.

Cabin: stand-up height for 10 to 12

The cabin is about 10.3 m long, and the large oval windows later became a Gulfstream trademark. A usual layout has two groups of club seats and a divan along the side; the galley is by the door, the toilet at the rear and the baggage area behind it.

Baggage: 4.45 m³ behind the toilet

The GII hold sits inside the pressurised cabin and is reached through the toilet compartment, so a bag can be fetched during the flight. Large cases for six to eight people fit easily, and skis or golf bags too when the group is smaller.

Engines, range and runways

Two Rolls-Royce Spey 511-8 engines give 51 kN each. Wingtip tanks, fitted to part of the fleet, add about 555 km, and around 40 aircraft were converted into the GIIB with the wing of the Gulfstream III. Westbound in winter and with a full cabin the real range of a GII is shorter.

Runways of the main business airports are long enough for the GII. Cannes-Mandelieu and small Alpine airports usually drop out, so the Riviera means Nice, and for Courchevel the 537 m sloped altiport is far too short for the type and needs a special qualification.

Noise rules and European airspace

Gulfstream II routes from European hubs

The table shows what a trip would cost and how long it would take if a free aircraft of this type is found. Prices are one way for the whole aircraft with crew, without airport fees and passenger taxes. Flight time follows the great circle plus taxi, climb and approach.

Short hops: London, the Riviera and the islands

Two to four hours across Europe

Over four hours: Canaries and Cyprus

• Tenerife from Amsterdam and Larnaca - London are in the outer part of the range; with a winter headwind the operator may ask for fewer passengers or less baggage
• Mykonos gives private aircraft about 40 minutes of parking in summer, so the jet waits on another island
• New York always needs a fuel stop, and Dubai from Central Europe sits at the edge of the range and is usually planned with one; for both the GIV-SP is the obvious choice

The calculator shows an indicative price for a large jet of this class on the route you choose.

What a Gulfstream II charter costs

The indicative rate starts at EUR 8,300 per flight hour for the whole aircraft, with crew and fuel. A short leg costs more than the rate times the flight time, because the operator's minimum charge, positioning and handling are fixed costs: Paris Le Bourget - London takes 0:55 h and starts at EUR 14,000.

On longer legs these costs weigh less. London Farnborough - Nice starts at EUR 21,000 and London - Marrakesh at EUR 33,000, whether two or twelve people fly. In practice a free aircraft is rarely based in Europe, so a long positioning flight is often added.

The price is for the aircraft, so the share per person on London Farnborough - Nice falls with every passenger:

Paying less for a large cabin

• Accept a GIV-SP or Challenger 604: at a similar hourly rate they are far more often parked near your departure airport.
• Return the same day when the crew's duty time allows, so no hotel and no second positioning are needed.
• Give a window of departure times, so the operator can link your flight with another trip.
• For six people or fewer on legs under three hours, a super-midsize jet costs less.

Empty Legs

Empty Legs on the GII practically do not occur in Europe, as almost no aircraft fly here. On other large jets they appear more often and can be 30-60% cheaper than a normal charter, though date and route are fixed and the leg can be cancelled. Send your route and dates to empty-legs@jets.flights or through the Empty Legs page, and we search across the large-cabin class.

What to fly instead of a Gulfstream II

Because of age and noise we usually replace the GII with one of these aircraft, all with a similar or larger cabin and flying in Europe.

How to request the aircraft

Send us:

• route, date and preferred departure time;
• number of passengers and baggage, including skis or golf bags;
• any pet travelling with you, with breed and weight;
• if a GIV-SP, Challenger 604 or G450 is acceptable.

We check free aircraft of the type with operators holding an AOC, together with their noise certificate, and quote younger jets alongside. We always try to give both options, but each case depends on the operator's schedule and contract. Within Schengen there is no passport control, yet the operator needs passport or ID details of every passenger; EU citizens flying to the UK need an ETA.

Questions about the Gulfstream II

• • Can I charter a Gulfstream II in Europe?

  • Very rarely. European charter operators have almost none, and the remaining aircraft often belong to private owners. When you ask for one, we also quote a GIV-SP, G450 or Challenger 604.

• • How much does a flight cost?

  • From EUR 8,300 per flight hour for the whole aircraft. Paris - Nice starts at EUR 17,500 and Amsterdam - Palma at EUR 25,000 one way, before airport fees, passenger taxes and, usually, positioning from a distant base.

• • What makes up the price?

  • Flight time, positioning, airport and handling fees, possible noise surcharges, passenger taxes, catering, de-icing in winter and the crew's hotel on overnight trips.

• • How can I fly cheaper?

  • Accept a GIV-SP or Challenger 604 at a similar hourly rate, which are often based nearer to you, and keep the departure time flexible.

• • Are there Empty Legs on the GII?

  • Practically never in Europe. We look for Empty Legs on other large jets, which can be 30-60% cheaper on a fixed date.

• • Why is noise a problem?

  • The Spey engines are much louder than modern ones. Without a certified hushkit the jet meets only Chapter 2, which Austria, Belgium and Switzerland do not admit, and the EASA-approved QS3 kit is fitted to few aircraft.

• • How many passengers fit, and is there a toilet?

  • Usually 10 to 12, most comfortably 6 to 8. The toilet at the rear has a door, and the baggage area behind it can be reached in flight.

• • How far can the GII fly without a stop?

  • About 5,100 km without wingtip tanks: all of Europe, Marrakesh and the Canaries from most hubs. New York always needs a fuel stop.

• • Can I bring my dog?

  • Yes, in the cabin next to you once the operator knows the breed, weight and carrier. The EU requires a microchip, a rabies vaccination at least 21 days before travel and a pet passport; the UK, Ireland, Malta, Finland and Norway also require tapeworm treatment 1-5 days before entry.

• • How does it differ from the Gulfstream IISP?

  • The IISP is a Gulfstream II with winglets, which improve take-off and climb and add some range. The cabin and engines are the same. More on the Gulfstream IISP page.