Summary Trump uses a small jet for his recent 2024 campaign events due to airport size constraints. The specific jet N550GP is a Gulfstream G550 with a controversial previous owner, now operated by real estate mogul James Previti. The G550 is a popular choice for wealthy individuals, politicians, and celebrities due to its performance features and luxurious cabin.
Donald Trump has recently been continuing his 2024 Presidential campaign across the United States. Recently, Trump has been operating a smaller private jet, a Gulfstream G550, to travel between each of his campaigning events. This aircraft, which is registered as N550GP, has aligned with each of his campaigning events.
For example, the aircraft flew from Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN) in Bozeman, Montana, to Jackson Hole Airport (JAC) in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, on August 9th following the conclusion of a fundraising event in Bozeman, Montana. The aircraft then flew from Jackson Hole Airport to Aspen Pitkin County Airport (ASE) in Aspen, Colorado, on August 10th ahead of his fundraising dinner in Aspen, Colorado, before continuing on to Denver International Airport (DEN) . Trump has been utilizing a Gulfstream G550 recently instead of his famous Trump Force One, a Boeing 757 business jet.
The reason for this is that airports in this region are much smaller, especially the Aspen Airport, and Trump Force One would have been unable to land on the short runway. To overcome this, Donald Trump has been utilizing the N550GP business jet. Let's take a closer look at this unique aircraft and some of the owners who have previously operated it.
About this specific Gulfstream G550 Trump's private aircraft is a custom Boeing 757 private jet. As previously mentioned, the N550GP-registered aircraft is a Gulfstream G550, which was first manufactured in 2007. This sets this specific aircraft with a serial number of 5173.
Originally, this aircraft was purchased and owned by the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Epstein infamously flew this Gulfstream G550, along with his other private jets, a Boeing 727 and a Gulfstream IV, to and from his private island, where he allegedly trafficked underage girls. However, the aircraft was put up for sale shortly after Epstein was arrested for the second time in 2019.
Per JetSpy , this aircraft has a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) owner registered as N550GP LLC. This G550 was purchased by N550GP LLC in July 2021, per FlightAware . However, the operator of this aircraft is currently James Previti, a real estate mogul, entrepreneur, and the President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Frontier Enterprises.
Previti is a longtime Republican donor. Per the Federal Election Committee (FEC) database , Previti donated $100,000 to the McCarthy Victory Fund last July, and his donations have totaled over $250,000 to Republican Political Action Committees (PAC). Additionally, the words "Trump 2024" have been added to the front of the aircraft, directly on the forward cabin.
However, Trump campaign officials have stated that the aircraft was leased through a charter company called Private Jet Services Group, per The Daily Beast . Campaign officials also stated that the company has been used several times by Trump in the past, typically leasing other aircraft. The officials also stated that the jet was only utilized after Trump Force One was briefly grounded, and it underwent necessary repairs in Bozeman, Montana .
Trump campaign officials also told The Daily Beast that they have advised Private Jet Services Group to no longer lease this specific aircraft when Trump flies. The history of the Gulfstream G550 The business jet was sold to a Dallas Real Estate developer. The Gulfstream G550 has become a popular choice for many wealthy individuals, politicians, and celebrities across the world.
Gulfstream first developed this aircraft as an upgraded variant of the Gulfstream V in the early 2000s. The first prototype G550 conducted its maiden flight in July 2002, and deliveries of the aircraft began in 2003. Over 600 total aircraft were produced during its manufacturing lifetime, which lasted until 2021.
The G550 was officially replaced by the Gulfstream G600 in October 2019. However, Gulfstream kept the G550 in limited production for several years after its initial production ceased for special missions and defense applications. The Gulfstream G550 saw instant success in the business jet industry.
The aircraft saw success not only with celebrities and wealthy business executives, but also with charter companies and numerous governments. Some of the militaries and governments that utilize a Gulfstream G550 include the Kingdom of Bahrain, the Israeli Air Force, the Italian Air Force, the Republic of Singapore Air Force, and the Turkish Armed Forces. Several G550s are used for early warning and surveillance aircraft, but the United States Air Force, the US Navy, and the US Army use the aircraft for VIP transport.
Other famous operators of the Gulfstream G550 include: Mark Cuban Elon Musk Rick Ross Oprah Winfrey Tiger Woods Performance features of the Gulfstream G550 The G550 is a direct upgrade from the Gulfstream V. Gulfstream added significant aerodynamic improvements to the wing and fuselage that helped the aircraft reach a further range and increase its fuel efficiency. The aircraft was powered by two Rolls-Royce BR710 turbofan engines, providing the aircraft with over 15,000 pounds of thrust.
This helped the aircraft reach the following performance specifications: Maximum capacity 19 passengers Length 95 feet five inches Height 25 feet ten inches Wingspan 93 feet six inches Maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) 91,000 pounds Maximum speed Mach 0.885 (656 miles per hour) Range 6,750 nautical miles (7,770 miles) Service ceiling 51,000 feet Gulfstream also added a seventh window on each side of the fuselage and moved the cabin door a bit forward. This helped extend the usable interior cabin and allowed the aircraft's interior to reach the following dimensions: Cabin height: six feet two inches Cabin width: seven feet four inches Cabin length: 43 feet eleven inches Inside the cockpit, the G550 is powered by the PlaneView flight deck.
This includes the Honeywell Primus Epic avionics suite, a heads-up guidance system (HUD) supplied by Rockwell Collins, and an enhanced vision system (EVS) provided by Elbit..
