VISUAL APPROACH IMAGES

N55RG Grumman Gulfstream II serial no 1 parked on the Signature FBO ramp at Chicago Palwaukee prior to its final flight to Charlotte NC

September 9th 2012

N55RG had been based at Chicago Palwaukee ever since it was bought by Mr Robert W Galvin in July 1970. It served him and his family, and the Motorola Corporation, for the the next 42 years until its retirement in 2012.

September 9th 2012

In nearly 40 years as an airplane enthusiast and photographer, this was undoubtedly the my finest moment - The experience and priviledge of being aboard the very first example of my favourite airplane, on its last ever flight. I will be forever indebted to my friend Joe Miller for his generosity in inviting me along for the ride.

September 9th 2012

From left to right - Co-pilot Joey Patarela, Signature FBO manager Al Palicki, Captain Joseph Miller. Signature staff presented the crew with some signed photographs to mark the end of the FBOs long association with the airplane and the Galvin family.

September 9th 2012

N55RG gets a salute from the Signature FBO staff as it leaves Palwaukee, its home for the last 42 years, for the final time.

With thanks to Signature PWK

September 9th 2012

Detail of the Aviation Partners winglet on the GII - making it an "SP" model. This was a combination of the added winglets, and the removal of various original aerodynamic features which were now superfluous, resulting in performance gains and a much cleaner look to the wing. One of many upgrades the GII underwent during Mr Galvins ownership of his beloved airplane.

September 9th 2012

Al Palicki helps marshal N55RG from the ramp as it taxis for departure from Palwaukees runway 34. As Joe would say, "time to wake up Wheeling". Even with the hush kits, the Rolls Royce Spey powered GII was easily the noisiest airplane operating from Palwaukee until the day of its last flight.

September 9th 2012

This photograph shows Palwaukee below, as we turn south after departure and climb back over head the airport. Just ahead of the wing leading edge at the very bottom of the window, you can see the grey-roofed hangar at the top of the ramp where the airplane had been hangared with the Motorola flight department for over 40 years.

September 9th 2012

Just a little further south of Palwaukee, we pass overhead Chicago O'Hare - unmistakable with its 7 runways and huge terminal complex.

September 9th 2012

Still climbing and heading south, we see downtown Chicago pass by on the left side, and beyond are the waters of Lake Michigan.

September 9th 2012

The view from the cabin looking aft at the right hand engine intake. The Rolls Royce Spey engines sound much quieter from the inside - as smooth as silk. The sky became an ever deeper blue as we continued to climb to our cruising altitude - flight level 410.

September 9th 2012

The original altimeter installed in the passenger cabin as we reach our cruising altitude of flight level 410.

September 9th 2012

The state of Kentucky from flight level 410, en-route to Charlotte NC. The weather was clear and sunny for the entire flight except a few clouds over Kentucky and Virginia.

September 9th 2012

Co-pilot Joey Patarela programmes the FMS ahead of our final descent into Charlotte NC. Joey moved onto the GII from Beechcraft King Airs, and the Galvin jet was a lot older than he was. However, the significance of the airplane wasn't lost on Joey and he was sad to see it being retired. His mentor for the last year, Joe Miller, also retired after the flight to Charlotte. It was bittersweet day for Joey, but things have moved on and having flown other corporate airplanes for several years, he is now with Delta Airlines on the Airbus A320 series.

September 9th 2012

This is my good friend and corporate aviation legend Captain Joseph Miller. I met Joe back in 2010 when I obtained permission from Mr Galvin himself to visit Chicago and photograph his airplane. Joe and I kept in touch and when the airplane was eventually retired he was kind enough to invite me along. I think he appreciated my passion and appreciation of the airplane, and had faith in me to record the days events in way that did both him and the airplane justice.

September 9th 2012

The finest view out of an airplane window I ever had.

September 9th 2102

Downwind for our final landing on runway 36R at Charlotte NC.

September 9th 2012

Joey Patarela with the airplane shortly after arrival at the museums ramp at Charlotte NC.

September 9th 2012

N55RG on the museum ramp at Charlotte shortly after our arrival.

September 9th 2012

Joey Patarela with his father Rick. Rick was a mechanic with US Airways at Chicago OHare and was invited along as a guest on N55RGs last flight to Charlotte.

September 9th 2012

Joey Patarela, me and Joe Miller pose for some publicity shots after our arrival at Charlotte NC. Thanks to Rick Patarela.

September 9th 2012

On board serial GII no 1 for its last ever flight - does it get any better ? Of course, I was sad that the airplane was never going to fly again - I'd much rather see it still in the air. But Robert Galvin passed away in 2011 and although N55RG continued to fly the Galvin family for another year, they didn't have the same affection for the airplane that Mr Galvin had. Noise regulations and operating costs were other factors that led to the airplane being retired and donated by Mr Galvins wife Mary to a museum for preservation and display.

September 9th 2012

N55RG being towed to a hangar for some post flight preparation, prior to going on display at the museum in Charlotte NC.

September 9th 2012

N55RG in the museum hangar for some post flight preparation, prior to going on display in Charlotte NC.

September 9th 2012

Detail of no 2 Rolls Royce Spey engine.

September 9th 2012

Original Grumman logo from 1966 still adorns the air stair.

September 9th 2012

N55RG original interior looking aft from the cabin entrance door.

September 9th 2012

N55RG interior looking forward towards the cockpit.

September 9th 2012

N55RG - The track and flight details of the airplanes last trip as it appeared on flight tracking website "flightaware"

September 9th 2012

Original flight plan for N55RGs last flight from Chicago Palwaukee to Charlotte NC

September 9th 2012

This is the article I was asked to write by Gulfstream, which featured in their in-house quarterly publication "Waypoint" in 2013.

This is the article I was asked to write by Gulfstream, which featured in their in-house quarterly publication "Waypoint" in 2013.

This is the article I wrote for Flight International magazine in October 2012. There were actually 256 GII’s produced, not 257.

The best seat in the house.

With eternal thanks to my friends Joe Miller and Joey Patarela, and the late Mr Robert Galvin.

September 9th 2012

The sun sets on a long and distinguished career.

September 9th 2012

GII serial number 1 when it was registered to Grumman Aerospace as N801GA. It has been refurbished with a new paint scheme following the flight test programme for use as a sales demonstration airplane. This is a kodachrome slide I found on ebay and the source, date and location of this picture is unknown. However, I estimate it to be late 1969 or early 1970, possibly at Phoenix, AZ. The plane was still in this paint scheme when sold to Mr Galvin in 1970 and re-registered as N55RG. The airplane was also still in this scheme when photographed at London Heathrow in June 1976.

Grumman Gulfstream II N801GA serial no 1, seen on a very early test flight on October 9th 1966 - Grumman Aerospace archives

N55RG departing RW 26 at London-Luton on its last ever visit to the UK.

November 14th 2006

N55RG departing RW 26 at London-Luton on its last ever visit to the UK.

November 14th 2006