Astra 1125SPX

Successful aircraft have one thing in common: evolution. In 1985, Israel Aircraft Industries introduced the midsize transcontinental Astra, a clean-sheet improvement over the Westwind. With a moderately swept low-wing design, the Astra was a faster model. Five years later, IAI announced the redesigned Astra SP. Its aerodynamic wing and new airframe design were credited with increasing the IFR range and allowing zero flap takeoffs. The redesigned once more Astra SPX was introduced in 1994 with new engines and winglets. Gulfstream eventually acquired the SPX and renamed it G100 in 2001. In regards to performance, the Astra SPX made leaps and bounds from its predecessor. Its engine and design modifications, namely the addition of winglets, aid in maintaining mach .82 at its maximum range of almost 3,000 nautical miles, a great feat. This is a substantial 245 nautical mile increase from the original Astra and 185 nm from the SP.