Genuine transatlantic range
3,650 nm allows nonstop New York to Geneva, redefining the standard for large business jets. It became the preferred aircraft of heads of state and Fortune 500 CEOs in the 1980s.
Gulfstream III
GLF3Large JetDiscontinued1979–1986
Range
4,250 NM · 7,871 km
MTOW
31,752 kg
Cruise
442 kt · 819 km/h
Mach 0.85 · MMO
Seats
19
up to 19 passengers
Used price
US$ 900,000
The Gulfstream III is a large jet produced between 1979 and 1986. Price: the Gulfstream III is out of production and, used, the market median is around US$ 900,000. Median from Jet Tracker's price research as of 06/2026. It has a range of 4250 nm, a cruise speed of 442 kt (819 km/h), Mach 0.85, up to 19 passengers. There are 5 aircraft from this family for sale today, across 5 listings on the portals Jet Tracker tracks (global market, not Brazil only).
Source: RAB-ANAC (data as of 11/10/2026) and Jet Tracker catalog (spec sheet reviewed on 10/12/2026).
Acquisition price · pre-owned market
limited data5 active listings (global)Jet Tracker curation · 7 sources · 6/4/2026
US$ 900.0KR$ 5.0M
market medianaging ≈ −10.1%/yr−92% vs Large median
Entry
US$ 800.0K
model year 1983
Best value
US$ 800.0K
model year 1983
Top of range
US$ 1.1M
model year 1986
Basis
Listings
real listings
Minimum
US$ 600.0K
R$ 3.3M
Median
US$ 900.0K
R$ 5.0M
Maximum
US$ 1.8M
R$ 10.0M
Depreciation curve by year of manufacture
CAGR +11.2%/yr·1983→1986
Market median by vintage (USD). Light-blue band = min/max range observed across real listings. Points without reliable public listings (n ≤ 1) use Bluebook/curve interpolation and are flagged as lower confidence.
1 of 2 points with reduced confidence (n ≤ 1 listing observed). The estimate for these years comes from Aircraft Bluebook / market-curve interpolation, not from direct listings.
Landed in Brazil
Index ≈ ×1.32 to ×1.60 on the aircraft value, already with ferry, ANAC nationalization, IPI and ICMS.
Through a qualified importer
US$ 794.4K – 2.5M
R$ 4.4M – 14.1M · Agreement 75/91 · IPI + ICMS ~7 to 12%
Direct import
US$ 897.0K – 2.9M
R$ 5.0M – 16.1M · IPI + full ICMS ~25 to 32%
Market estimate: value + ferry + ANAC nationalization + taxes, no legal review. II, PIS and COFINS are 0% for aircraft (NCM 88.02); IPI is 6.5% (3.25% for air taxi) until Dec 31, 2026; ~4% ICMS only through a qualified importer (Agreement 75/91).
Cost per flight hour
Operate · owned
US$ 6.5K/h
R$ 36.0K/h · Variable/h
- Fixed/yr
- US$ 579.5K
- Total/h @ 200 hrs/yr
- US$ 9.4K/h
Charter · 🌎 World
US$ 4.8K – 6.5K/h
R$ 26.8K – 36.2K/h
Operate = direct cost/hour (fuel + maintenance + engine); excludes fixed costs (hangar, crew, insurance). World: hourly rate published by charter operators.
How we read this price · 7 sources · researched 6/4/2026
Median and price range for pre-owned aircraft, compiled by Jet Tracker from asking prices in listings and the price guides in the sources below, checked on 6/4/2026. 1 of 2 model years has an observed listing. The rest are estimates from the market curve between model years and are flagged in the chart.
- PlanePHD - Gulfstream GIII valuation/specs
- AircraftExchange - 1983 Gulfstream G-III (OGARAJETS)
- AircraftExchange - 1986 Gulfstream G-III
- evoJets - Gulfstream G-III sales
- JetAdvisors / AirCharterAdvisors - Gulfstream III
- LibertyJet - Gulfstream III (G-1159A) operating costs
- AircraftCostCalculator - Gulfstream GIII
PTAX · R$ 5.5765 / US$ · 11/10/2026
Market estimates for guidance only, not a firm quote. Confirm the value with a broker/appraiser before any transaction.
Temporal identity
First flight
Dec 02, 1979
FAA cert.
Sep 22, 1980
ANAC cert.
—
Deliveries start
—
Units produced
202
Gulfstream III (ANAC: G1159A) is the iconic large jet of the 80s, predecessor to the GIV. Spey engines, range 4,300 nm, ~200 units produced.
Detailed specs
Performance
- Engines
- 2x Rolls-Royce Spey Mk 511-8 turbofan
- Maximum takeoff weight (MTOW)
- 70,000 lb
- Max Mach
- 0.85
- Ceiling
- 45,000 ft
- Landing distance
- 3,300 ft
- Takeoff distance
- 5,400 ft
- Max range
- 4,250 NM
- Max cruise speed
- 459 kt
- Fuel
- 4,217.5 gal
- Rate of climb
- 4,350 ft/min
- Max operating Mach
- 0.85
- Landing distance
- 2,600 ft
- Long-range cruise
- 442 kt
- Thrust per engine
- 11,400 lbf
Cabin and comfort
- Galley
- full
- Cabin width (alternate source)
- 2.13 m
- Cabin height (alternate source)
- 1.88 m
- Lavatory
- Yes
- Cabin length (alternate source)
- 12.3 m
- Cabin noise
- 58 dB
- Typical configuration
- Forward Club 4 + Mid Conference 4 + Aft Divan + Forward Galley
- Passengers (max)
- 19
- Stand-up cabin
- Yes
- Cabin volume
- 38.09 m³
- Passengers (typical)
- 12
- Differential pressurization
- 9.2 psi
- Baggage capacity
- 157 cu ft
Avionics and engines
- FMS
- Single Honeywell/Sperry FMS
- TCAS
- TCAS II (after retrofit)
- Avionics suite
- Sperry SPZ-8000 EFIS
- Displays
- Analog EFIS (4 CRTs)
- ADS-B Out
- No
- Autopilot
- Sperry SPZ-8000 dual-channel
- Weather radar
- Bendix RDR-4A
Operating costs
- Data source
- Liberty Jet, How much it costs to own and operate a Gulfstream III (jetType=G-1159A) · planePHD, Gulfstream GIII specifications, performance, operating cost (455 GPH, 2x Spey Mk 511-8, TBO 8,000 hr) · flycraft.com, Gulfstream GIII ownership & operating costs · Business Jet Traveler / AIN, Spey-powered Gulfstream maintenance cost articles
- List price (new)
- US$ 0
- Fuel burn
- 380 gal/h
- Last updated
- 2026
- Engine overhaul cost
- US$ 850,000
- Market price (low)
- US$ 800,000
- Engine overhaul interval
- 6,000 h
- Market price (high)
- US$ 2,000,000
External dimensions
- Overall length
- 25.32 m
- Wingspan
- 23.72 m
- Height
- 7.43 m
- Wing area
- 86.83 m²
Weights & fuel
- Operating empty weight (OEW)
- 17,237 kg
- Maximum takeoff weight (MTOW)
- 31,752 kg
- Fuel capacity
- 15,965 L
- Fuel capacity
- 28,577 lb
Minimum runway
RBAC 135.385 · landing within 60% of the runwaysea level / ISA referenceHow much runway the Gulfstream III needs to dispatch: the manual figure and what the charter (RBAC 135) rule requires.
Charter (RBAC 135), dry runway
1,554m
takeoff governs: longer than factored landing
Charter, wet runway
1,554m
× 1.15 · RBAC 135.385(d)
Takeoff or BFL, manual
1,554m
unfactored takeoff, manufacturer
Dispatches under charter rules at 148 of 465 Brazilian public runways when dry, and at 147 when wet.
Minimum runway
Where the Gulfstream III dispatches under charter rules
Verdict per regime (private, charter dry and wet) across 465 Brazilian public runways, with the margin in meters.
Starter feature. Available on your Jet Tracker account.
Manufacturer-published distances at sea level, ISA and reference weight. Not corrected for altitude, temperature, wind or runway condition, takeoff included. Uses the declared LDA as a proxy for effective runway length (RBAC 135.361) and the most favourable threshold in calm air (135.385(b)(1)): on the day, wind may force the shorter threshold. Destination only: does not assess the alternate aerodrome (135.387). Not a substitute for the AFM or the operator's performance analysis. Rule: RBAC 135.385 and 135.398; private flying (RBAC 91) is not factored. Runways: declared distance (LDA) from AISWEB/DECEA (2026-09-05), checkable on each aerodrome chart; where DECEA publishes no declared distance, physical length from OurAirports is used.
Cabin
Standard configuration
2–3 zones12 typical passengers · 19 maxForward Club 4Mid Conference 4Aft DivanForward galley
Typical factory configuration (curated data). The drawing below is schematic and at approximate scale; the actual layout varies by interior and year.
Cabin to scale: cross-section and profile
✓ stand-up heightfront cross-section · person = 1.75 m
Length
12.59 m
Width
2.22 m
Height
1.86 m
Volume
38.09 m³
Baggage
—
History
- 1979 - Launched in 1979, first production jet with winglets
Certified in September 1980, it was the first production business jet to use winglets designed by Whitcomb (NASA), reducing induced drag by ~5% and extending range by 200 nm over the GII.
- 1979First flight
- 1980FAA certification
- 1986 - Production ended in 1987, replaced by the GIV
202 units delivered between 1980 and 1987. Succeeded by the Gulfstream IV with Tay 611-8 engines (quieter and more economical) and a Honeywell SPZ-8400 cockpit with 6 CRTs.
- 1986End of production
Lineage
Model with no documented lineage in the manufacturer's line.
Curiosities and highlights
Benefits
Platform certified for scientific missions
The SRA-1 and GIII-SP variants serve as atmospheric research and ISR platforms; NASA operates units for remote sensing and the USAF/USN still keep GIIIs on ELINT/SIGINT today.
Limitations
Fuel-hungry Spey engines
The Rolls-Royce Spey Mk 511-8 engines burn ~380 gph in cruise, 40% more than modern turbofans such as the BR710 or Tay 611-8. Fuel cost makes the GIII expensive for private operation today.
Curiosities
C-20, the USAF/USN military variant
The Pentagon acquired 17 units as C-20A/B/C/D/E to transport generals and for SAM (Special Air Mission) flights. Some remain in Navy service in 2025 after more than 35 years.
1983
Gulfstream III for sale now
Listed aircraft with a page on Jet Tracker, from the lowest asking price up. Asking is not the closing price; portals and the reading date are on each page.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Gulfstream III cost?
The Gulfstream III is out of production, so there is no factory price. On the used market the median is around US$ 900,000, varying with year and flight hours; see real listings on this model's Market tab. Reference value as of 06/2026.
What is the range of the Gulfstream III?
The maximum range is 4250 nm (4,250 NM · 7,871 km).
How fast is the Gulfstream III?
Cruise speed is 442 kt, equivalent to 819 km/h, or Mach 0.85.
How many passengers does the Gulfstream III seat?
The Gulfstream III seats up to 19 passengers, crew not included.
How much does it cost to operate the Gulfstream III per hour?
Jet Tracker estimate: about US$ 9,354 per flight hour at 200 h/year, of which US$ 6,456 per hour is variable cost (fuel, engine program, maintenance reserves) plus US$ 579,550 per year of fixed cost (crew, hangar, insurance), under Jet Tracker's default assumptions (Southeast Brazil, in-house crew, 200 h/year). Run your own scenario on this model's Costs tab.