Gulfstream Aerospace is showing its newly announced “Elite” interiors for the G550 and G450 here at NBAA 2011. The extra-cost package incorporates much of the look, feel and functionality of the clean-lines interior the company developed for its new flagship G650 ultra-long-range business jet. “The Elite package is built on the brand DNA of the G650,” said Gulfstream president Larry Flynn.

The Elite includes the new wireless Gulfstream Cabin Management System (GCMS) with dual media servers and many of the aesthetic touches found in the G650, including metallic accents; LED lighting throughout the cabin with automatically activated lighting in useful places such as drawers, cabinets and closets; and high-tech-looking galleys with stainless steel-trimmed appliance stacks, simple touch controls, more work surface area and high-gloss paint.

The GCMS provides digital cabin control through on-board touchscreens, touch switches and passenger control units, or via the passenger’s own wireless device loaded with the GCMS app. It can control lighting, temperature, speakers, video, window shades, the CabinView passenger information system and attendant calls from anywhere aboard the aircraft.

The 27-inch-wide single executive club seats are new and feature telescoping headrests with flexible wings, one-touch full-flat berthing, continuous leg rest and electric lumbar controls with optional heat and massage. Full-powered seats are offered in the forward-facing “command” positions and include single-position memory preset and press and hold controls for full upright and full-flat recline positions. As in the G650, the divan has been reworked to provide a more comfortable backrest angle pitched at 104 degrees and the seat cushion is closer to the floor. It berths into a 78-inch by 39-inch sleeping area.

The sidewall tables and the cabin monuments also have the look and functionality of their counterparts aboard the G650. The electrically activated sidewall tables in the club seating grouping are larger and have a stiffer support structure. There are spaces on both sides of the  credenza opposite the conference group seating area, providing a more open and spacious look or, for passengers who choose, a handy place to stash a briefcase or a carry-on bag.
  
Initially, Elite interiors will be installed at Gulfstream in Savannah, but the company’s other large-cabin completion centers eventually could also share in the work. On the G450, the Elite package is base priced at $1.5 million. While the Elite is an interior “package,” a Gulfstream spokesman stressed that customers would still be able to choose from a very wide variety of textiles, leathers, and finishes to personalize the look of their airplanes.