LIKE A G6, BUT NOT THAT G6

BACK SEAT DRIVING (November 2010)—Like a G6: It climbed to the top of the Billboard Hot 100 and iTunes charts, having just gone double-platinum. It may be the biggest hit ever by an Asian American music group, and it’s the product of Los Angeles’ own Far East Movement. Are they really rapping about a discontinued Pontiac family sedan—a favorite of the rental car fleets? Uh, no. As it turns out, the electro-hip hop foursome is referring to the Gulfstream G650, a twin-engine private business jet aircraft by Gulfstream Aerospace. The aircraft isn’t even available yet. Gulfstream says it will reach production in 2012, with an estimated price tag between 58.5 and 65 million dollars. “For 50 years, our company has been on the forefront of business-jet aviation,” says Joe Lombardo, Gulfstream Aerospace president. “I can think of no better way to celebrate our golden anniversary than to introduce the Gulfstream G650.” Lombardo says the G650 will offer the longest range at the fastest speed of any aircraft in its class.

The G650 is powered by the new Rolls-Royce BR725 engine, which produces 16,100 pounds of thrust at take-off. Manufactured by Rolls-Royce in Germany, the BR725 engine features a 50-inch swept fan with 24 blades designed for improved flow, increased efficiency, reduced noise and lower emissions. Lombardo claims the G650 has fuel-burn levels comparable to those of smaller aircraft. As for Far East Movement (also known as FM), members Kev Nish (Kevin Nishimura), Prohgress (James Roh), J-Splif (Jae Choung), and DJ Virman (Virman Coquia) represent different generations of Japanese/Chinese, Korean, and Filipino ancestry within the Asian American community respectively, with the three original members (Kev Nish, Prohgress and J-Splif) having grown up in Los Angeles Koreatown. The newest member, DJ Virman, is also the main tour disk jockey for America’s Best Dance Crew and has been a mainstay on the number one hip-hop station in Los Angeles, KPWR 106, where he’s served as Power Mixer and Old Skool Show @ Noon DJ.

FM says their influences include the Pharcyde, Dr Dre, DJ Tiesto, Daft Punk, Guns N Roses, Linkin Park and Blink 182. “Our musical inspiration is as large as what we can hold on our iPods.” They released their first album, Free Wired, in October of 2010. FM has come a long way since their tune “Round Robin” was first featured in The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift. As for Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, the subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD) continues to manufacture some of the world’s most technologically advanced business-jet aircraft. Gulfstream’s fleet now includes the wide-cabin, high-speed Gulfstream G150®; the large-cabin, mid-range Gulfstream G200®; the new large-cabin, mid-range Gulfstream G250®; the large-cabin, mid-range Gulfstream G350®; the large-cabin, long-range G450®; the large-cabin, ultra-long-range Gulfstream G500®; the large-cabin, ultra-long-range Gulfstream G550® and soon the ultra-large-cabin, ultra-long-range G650®. The company employs approximately 9,000 people at seven locations. -RN For more information about Far East Movement, go to fareastmovement.com For more information about the Gulfstream G650, go to gulfstream.com As for the Pontiac G6, it’s discontinued.

SPECIFICATIONS Name of vehicle: 2012 Gulfstream G650 Price: $58.5-65.0 million (projected) EPA fuel economy rating: Unknown Engine(s): Two Rolls-Royce Deutschland BR725 turbofans, rated at 16,100 lbf (71.6 kN) each General characteristics* • Crew: 2 pilots • Capacity: 11 - 18 passengers • Payload: 6,500 lb (2,950 kg) • Length: 99 ft 9 in (30.41 m) • Wingspan: 99 ft 7 in (30.36 m) • Height: 25 ft 4 in (7.72 m) • Wing area: 1,283 ft² (119.2 m²) • Max takeoff weight: 99,600 lb (45,200 kg) • Maximum landing weight: 83,500 lb (37,876 kg) • Wing sweep: 36 degrees Performance* • Maximum speed: Mach 0.925 (530 knots, 610 mph, 982 km/h) • Long range cruise: Mach 0.85 (488 kn, 562 mph, 904 km/h) Fast cruise: Mach 0.90 (517 kn, 595 mph, 957 km/h) • Long range cruise: 7,000 nautical miles (8,050 mi, 12,960 km) Fast cruise: 5,000 nmi (5,750 mi, 9,260 km) * Estimated, based on company design review and analysis.