Conversion of Gulfstream II VH-ASG

In 1986 Gulfstream II VH-ASG underwent conversion to GIIB standard. The conversion included a complete wing replacement with a GIII wing, including winglets.

Department of Aviation Airworthiness Surveyor Lindsay Wise was sent to the Gulfstream factory at Savannah, Georgia, (where these photos were taken) to check that all certification requirements relating to the conversion were met.

The photos show the aircraft after the wing replacement - the unpainted areas indicate parts replaced in the conversion.

Conversion of Gulfstream II VH-ASG - 1986

In 1986 Gulfstream II VH-ASG underwent conversion to GIIB standard. The conversion included a complete wing replacement with a GIII wing, including winglets. Department of Aviation Airworthiness Surveyor Lindsay Wise was sent to the Gulfstream factory at Savannah, Georgia, (where these photos were taken) to check that all certification requirements relating to the conversion were met. The photos show the aircraft after the wing replacement - the unpainted areas indicate parts replaced in the conversion.

This aircraft was rolled out as a Gulfstream II (c/n 95) in July 1970, initially registered N887GA. After test flying at the factory, it was fitted out and painted in Los Angeles before being handed over to Broken Hill Pty Ltd (BHP) in April 1971. It departed Oakland, California, as VH-ASG on 20 April under the command of Captain J More for its ferry to Australia via Hawaii, Samoa and Fiji, arriving at Melbourne/Essendon on 23 April. In Australia it was based at Essendon and operated for BHP by Associated Airlines. Gordon Reid, then working at Essendon for TAA, remembers its first take-off from Essendon, on an air test: "Compared to the modern Gulfstream the original GII was noisy. I remember standing outside the TAA terminal on the south side of the finger on 30 April 1971. VH-ASG was taking off on Runway 26 so you couldn't see the aircraft at the end of the runway. However when he spooled up you got a cloud of black smoke and this magical banshee wail as it set off down the runway." VH-ASG was eventually traded in on G-IV VH-ASQ and departed Australia on 26 Spetember 1993 for the Gulfstream factory in Savannah. (Photos: Lindsay Wise collection) Back to the main Airworthiness index Back to the main Items of General Interest index