London just became a hub for yet another global leader with the launch of the London Sales and Commissioning suite for Gulfstream Jets. I was lucky enough to be in attendance for the first media look at the ultimate playground, and for a certified car guy like me, it’s one that had me hooked at the mere mention of a configurator.
Sat discreetly in the heart of Mayfair and set over 5,500 square feet with Old Bond Street a literal stone’s throw away, one makes their way up five floors to be released into an oasis of clean lines, cool tones, and – dare you miss it – two whacking great mock-ups of jet fuselages. Here, customers can while away time feeling, touching, lunging and fiddling with the huge variety of fits and finishes. I never knew the sheer scale of personalisation options possible within a single seat, let alone across the voluminous space that a Gulfstream affords.
The space is neatly segregated with opaque glass and partitions splitting the administrative and office side. A large suite houses cabinets and drawers resplendent with hides, fabrics, inlays and veneers; a place in which clients are invited to work with their commissioning directors to create the ultimate feel and textural details of their aircraft. State-of-the-art digital modelling invites clients to see the impact of partitions and fabric choices, as well as how graphic design flourishes on items such as carpets will play out across the space. Hell, I could have spent hours poring over the crockery, cutlery and glassware choices alone.
There is a large area set as a viewing suite for – well, I almost said the pièce de resistance, but even this isn’t quite that. One sits in front of a vast wall-sized LED screen that houses the main configuration suite. As I said, as a man of the automotive cloth, this was manna from heaven. Endless, endless combinations of seats, credenzas, beds, toilets, showers, staff space and galley variations.
No matter your desires, they can be distilled down to the nth degree, all visualised in 3D, in real-time and in crystal clarity. For the largest aircrafts in the range, the G700 and the G800, these configurations present in glorious technicolour what can be achieved in contemporary aviation design, all with the ability to personalise each of the stages with unique additions. Perhaps one wishes for the exterior colour to match one’s Rolls-Royce. Or the same bedding or glassware that you use at home – special wishes for the specialest of wishes.
Now, what I viewed as the true pièce de résistance is the previously mentioned mock-ups, where the dream really does come to life. It’s set up to demonstrate fit and finish, and to allow the client to feel the huge variety possible within the seat crafting. In situ are a full-size G400 cabin mock-ups, as well as those for the Gulfstream G700 and Gulfstream G800 cabins, too. These sit alongside the award-winning Gulfstream G500 and Gulfstream G600 customisable seat collections. Stitching, bolsters, electrical controls – all are configurable. By sitting in the ‘cabins’, one can also appreciate the space which allows you to contextualise the configurator even further. The intention is clear and all-enveloping; it’s about giving the client insight into dimensions in situ and how certain colours, aesthetics or floorplan may influence the feel and usability of the aircraft.
Mirroring suites in New York, Beverly Hills and the company’s home in Savannah, the London centre draws upon the capital’s pull as a destination and home to many family offices the world over. The design of each is similar but not identical – “cousins, not siblings” was the phrase I heard in reference to that.
As we know, Gulfstream stands as the leader in private aviation with a product lineup that serves a huge demographic of buyers. The overhaul and launch of the new sales and commissioning suite further reinforces its stature at the forefront of aviation design and innovation, and it’s a goal achieved to magnificent effect.
