Matt Thurber, editor-in-chief at AIN Media Group, has been flying since 1975 and writing about aviation since 1978 and now has the best job in the world, running editorial operations for Aviation International News, Business Jet Traveler, and FutureFlight.aero. In addition to working as an A&amp;P mechanic on everything from Piper Cubs to turboprops, Matt taught flying at his father’s flight school in Plymouth, Mass., in the early 1980s, flew for an aircraft owner/pilot, and for two summer seasons hunted swordfish near the George’s Banks off the East Coast from a Piper Super Cub. An ATP certificated fixed-wing pilot and CFII and commercial helicopter pilot, Matt is type-rated in the Citation 500 and Gulfstream V/550. Based in the Pacific Northwest, Matt and his team cover the entire aviation scene including business aircraft, helicopters, avionics, safety, manufacturing, charter, fractionals, technology, air transport, advanced air mobility, defense, and other subjects of interest to AIN, BJT, and FutureFlight readers.

Editor-in-Chief

Gulfstream designs, develops, manufactures, markets, and services business jet aircraft.

Gulfstream GIV, GIV-SP,G300, G350,  and G450

Matt Thurber

Aloft AeroArchitects, 101 Aviation, and True Blue Power are developing a supplemental type certificate (STC) to replace the original nicad or lead-acid main-ship batteries in the Gulfstream IV, IV-SP, IV-X, V, and V-SP with TB50 lithium-ion batteries. After that STC is issued around June or July, plans are to develop a similar STC for the G650.
The TB50 is FAA technical standard order (TSO) approved and weighs 44 pounds. With two main-ship batteries, the TB50 installation weighs up to 60% less than nicad or lead-acid batteries. For example, a typical Gulfstream lead-acid battery weighs 96 pounds, or 192 pounds for both.
While the FAA issued special conditions applicable to this STC, “We do not anticipate any challenges in meeting [them],” 101 Aviation president Mike McClain told AIN. True Blue Power lithium-ion batteries are installed in more than 20 aircraft models and 5,000 aircraft, he explained, “logging over 13 million safe flight hours with zero in-flight failures.
“The lithium found in everyday consumer devices like smartphones and laptops uses a lithium metal oxide chemistry that is prone to thermal runaway, oxygen release, and self-sustaining fires when damaged or stressed, whereas this battery uses lithium-iron phosphate (LiFePO4), a fundamentally different chemistry that remains stable under extreme conditions, releases no flames, and produces carbon dioxide rather than oxygen in the rare event of a thermal incident.”
Additionally, the TB50 is maintained on-condition, which eliminates capacity checks or, for nicads, deep cycling. 101 Aviation is providing a four-year warranty for the TB50 battery. With a battery management system that controls and monitors battery performance, the TB50 ensures “balanced charging and discharging across all internal cells, preventing imbalances that can reduce performance or lifespan,” McClain said. “This battery has been seen to last 20,000-plus cycles with an estimated lifespan of eight to 15 years.”
Price of the Gulfstream STC will be $79,500 for the batteries, kit, STC paperwork, and the four-year warranty.

News and issues about aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), covering all segments of the aviation industry; and modifications for aircraft and engines. Subjects include product support of aircraft, engines and avionics, MRO company mergers, acquisitions, announcements and personnel, Airworthiness Directives, Supplemental Type Certificate approvals and other topics.

Aloft and 101 Aviation Pursuing Li-ion Main-ship Battery STC for GIV, GV

True Blue Power batteries weigh up to 60% less than conventional units

With two main-ship batteries, the TB50 installation weighs up to 60% less than nicad or lead-acid batteries. 

Aloft, 101 Aviation STCing Lithium Battery for GIV, GV

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

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News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

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Essential news and analysis on the defense aerospace business. Your trusted source for new and ongoing programs and requirements in military aircraft (manned and unmanned), engines, avionics, weapons and associated systems, including ground-based air defense.

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News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

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Issues regarding financing of aircraft; aviation insurance; tax issues for aircraft operators; new companies and people in the aviation financing and insurance industries.

In this article

Gulfstream GIV/GIV-SP/G300/G350/G450

Gulfstream GV/G550

True Blue Power

Aloft AeroArchitects

Gulfstream

More In Maintenance and Modifications

Piaggio Knows It Needs to Up Its Product Support Game

Revamped Avanti NX pusherprop just one element of wider Baykar-backed revamp

SkyWay Adds CitationJet/CJ1/M2s to SkyFlush Upgrade

Eliminates need to carry waste tank through cabin for emptying

EFA Buys 90% Stake in MRO Provider Superior Air

Greece-based company will be able to expand into defense markets

Embraer Expands Canadian Authorized Service Network

Execaire Aviation will provide line maintenance in Toronto

Textron Aviation Plans European Parts Facility Expansion

Facility expansion adds 1,000 sq m this year

Hourly Mx Specialist Broadens Business Aviation Support

JSSI group now includes aviation finance, software and parts distribution

ExecuJet Malaysia Gets Vietnam G650ER MRO Approval

Approval covers airframe and Rolls-Royce BR725 engines

Bombardier, Vista Sign Smart Parts Services Agreement

Agreement valued at $300 million over the next five years

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