GRUMMAN G-1159 GULFSTREAM II

The success of the Grumman Gulfstream I led to the development of an improved jet powered version in may 1965. The G-II shares the forward fuselage with it's turboprop powered predecessor but differs with a swept wing and tail and two rear mounted jet engines. The G-II proved to be even more successful than the G-1 and over 250 were built. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration uses several G-II's for transport and experimental flights and two of them were converted to serve as pilot trainers for the Space Shuttle. In those aircraft half of the G-II cockpit is replaced with an exact replica of the Shuttle's cockpit and the aircraft is flown in such a way that it mimics the flight characteristics of the Shuttle.