In the mid-1950s, Grumman Aerospace explored the development of a business turboprop. At that time, the company was manufacturing and selling propeller-driven aircraft for military use, as well as small amphibious planes that could take off from and land on water. Now, better known as business jet behemoth Gulfstream, the company, owned by General Dynamics, posts sales of close to $9 billion a year and delivers more than 100 aircraft.
Grumman initially considered modifying the TF-1 Trader but decided on a new design: the G-159 Gulfstream, with a low-wing and stand-up cabin. Finalized in June 1957, the first Gulfstream flew on 14 August 1958 and received FAA certification by 2 May 1959, beginning a story of success for the Grumman-founded company. The Grumman Aircraft Engineering Company was established on December 6, 1929, by Leroy Grumman, Edmund W.
Poor, William T. Schwendler, and Jake Swirbul. It grew to become a major American producer of military and civilian aircraft.
In 1994, Grumman merged with Northrop Corporation to become Northrop Grumman. Grumman had built airplanes for the private aviation market, a notable example being the iconic Grumman Widgeon twin-engine amphibian. However, the first Grumman land plane designed specifically for business travel was the venerable (G-I59), a large-cabin twin-turboprop business aircraft.
Powered by two 2,100 SHP Rolls-Royce Dart engines, the first G1 prototype test article rolled out of the Grumman factory on Long Island, NY, in.