Gulfstream III

The Gulfstream III grew out of the GII: a larger wing with factory winglets, a slightly longer fuselage and a new curved windscreen. The cabin is 1.85 m high and 2.21 m wide, usually with 12 to 14 seats, a galley, a toilet and a hold that can be reached in flight. With eight passengers the GIII covers 6,760 km, so from Western Europe it reaches the Canaries, Iceland and the Gulf without refuelling.

Worth knowing before you ask for one:

• About 200 were built, many for air forces and government agencies
• The engines are the same loud Rolls-Royce Spey as on the GII
• In offers from European charter operators the type turns up very rarely

Cabin: 12 to 14 seats, galley and toilet

The cabin is about 0.6 m longer than in the GII, roughly 10.9 m, with the same height and width. Four club seats usually face each other at the front, a table group or a divan sits in the middle, and more armchairs fill the rear. The galley is by the door, the toilet at the back and the hold behind it.

A hold for long trips

The hold lies behind the toilet inside the pressurised cabin, so you can fetch something from a case during the flight. With a full cabin on a long trip to the Canaries or Dubai, weight and fuel decide how much you can take, so the operator asks for a baggage list in advance.

Range, runways and airports

The range of 6,760 km applies to eight passengers with IFR reserves. Westbound in winter and with every seat taken it shrinks, which matters most on a transatlantic leg.

Airports for a GIII:

Noise rules for the GIII in Europe

Without a hushkit the Gulfstream III meets only Chapter 2 of the ICAO noise rules. Austria, Belgium and Switzerland do not admit such aircraft, many other airports restrict them at night or charge higher fees, and in the contiguous USA they may not fly at all. EASA approved the QS3 kit that lifts the GIII to Chapter 3, but only a few aircraft carry it.

Gulfstream III routes from European hubs

Prices are one way for the whole aircraft with crew and fuel, without airport fees and passenger taxes. Flight time follows the great circle plus taxi, climb and approach; to the Gulf it depends on which airspace is open, and the quote gives the exact figure.

Up to two hours: capitals, Riviera and islands

Two to four hours: Lisbon, Iceland and the Aegean

Beyond four hours: Canaries, Gulf and New York

• London - New York (7:05 h) is the longest row and needs a hushkitted aircraft, as Chapter 2 jets may not fly in the contiguous USA; with a full cabin and a strong winter headwind the operator may plan a fuel stop
• Munich and Nice to Dubai sit well within range, but the routing depends on open airspace
• Mykonos gives private aircraft about 40 minutes of parking in summer, so the jet waits on another island

On the same routes we usually also quote a GIV-SP, which is quieter, younger and easier to find.

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

What a Gulfstream III charter costs

The rate starts at EUR 8,300 per flight hour for the whole aircraft, with crew and fuel. On a short leg the price is well above the rate times the flight time, as the minimum charge, positioning and handling are fixed: London Farnborough - Paris takes 0:55 h and starts at EUR 15,000.

Longer legs spread those costs. London - Lisbon starts at EUR 27,000, Paris - Tenerife at EUR 40,000 and London - New York at EUR 63,000 one way, for two passengers or fourteen.

On London Farnborough - Lisbon the price per person depends only on how many fly:

Ways to keep the cost down

Empty Legs on large jets

Empty Legs on the GIII are almost unknown in Europe, as hardly any aircraft fly here. On other large jets they appear more often, mostly between business cities and the Mediterranean, and can cost 30-60% less than a normal charter; date and route are fixed, and the operator may cancel the leg. Send your route and a window of dates to empty-legs@jets.flights or through the Empty Legs page.

Alternatives with a similar cabin

Clients who ask for a GIII usually receive an offer for one of these aircraft as well.

How to book

Send us:

• route, date and number of passengers;
• baggage, skis, golf equipment and any pets;
• if you want a GIII specifically, or a GIV-SP or G450 is also fine.

We check free aircraft with operators holding an AOC, their noise certificate and equipment, and send alternatives in the same reply. We always try to find the best match, but each case depends on the operator's schedule and contract. EU citizens flying to the UK need an ETA, and travellers to the USA an approved ESTA or a visa.

Questions about the Gulfstream III

• • Can I charter a Gulfstream III in Europe?

  • Very rarely. European charter operators practically do not use the type, and the remaining aircraft often belong to governments, specialist companies and private owners. We usually quote a GIV-SP, G450 or Challenger 604 instead.

• • How much does a trip cost?

  • From EUR 8,300 per flight hour. Hamburg - Palma starts at EUR 28,000 and Munich - Dubai at EUR 55,000 one way for the whole aircraft, plus airport fees, passenger taxes and usually positioning.

• • What is included in the price?

  • The aircraft with crew and fuel. Airport and handling fees, possible noise surcharges, passenger taxes, catering, de-icing and the crew's hotel on overnight trips come on top.

• • How can I pay less?

  • Accept a younger aircraft of the same size that is based closer to you, and fly out and back on the same day where duty time allows.

• • Are there Empty Legs on the GIII?

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

• • Why can it not land in Switzerland?

  • Because of the Spey engines' noise. Without a certified hushkit the jet meets only Chapter 2, and Austria, Belgium and Switzerland do not admit such aircraft.

• • How many people fit, and how far can it fly?

  • Usually 12 to 14, most comfortably six to eight. With eight on board the range is about 6,760 km: the Canaries, Iceland, Morocco and the Gulf without a stop.

• • What is the difference between the GIII and the GII?

  • The GIII has a larger wing with winglets for more range, a fuselage about 0.6 m longer and a new curved windscreen. The engines are the same.

• • Can I bring my dog?

  • Yes, in the cabin, once the operator has agreed before booking. Within the EU the dog needs a microchip, a pet passport and a rabies vaccination at least 21 days before travel; the UK, Ireland, Malta, Finland and Norway also require tapeworm treatment 1-5 days before entry.