Gulfstream GIII vs Gulfstream GIV

The Gulfstream III and Gulfstream IV represent the moment when Gulfstream went from building very good aircraft to building the world's standard for business aviation. The GIII arrived in 1980 with Rolls-Royce Spey Mk 511-8 engines — a significant upgrade from the GII, with improved range (4,000 nm) and the distinctive supercritical wing that Gulfstream developed specifically for the III. The GIV followed in 1987 with Rolls-Royce Tay 611-8 engines: significantly better specific fuel consumption, improved range to 4,220 nm, quieter cabin, and the structural and avionics improvements of an additional seven years of Gulfstream engineering. Today both aircraft are vintage — but the GIV is vintage-useful, while the GIII is vintage-historic.

Live Market Snapshot

Current asking-price market, aggregated across multiple marketplaces · re-checked on a rolling daily cycle

Gulfstream GIII

For sale now: 4
Model years available: 1980–1986

Gulfstream GIV

For sale now: 63
Model years available: 1988–2005

Live data from AeroGurus, aggregated daily across the used-aircraft market. Figures are current asking prices, not appraisals — confirm with a pre-buy inspection.

Safety Record

Absolute counts scale with fleet size — the most-produced types log more events without being less safe. Compare the % fatal.

NTSB (1982–now)	Gulfstream GIII	Gulfstream GIV
All events	—	9
Serious	—	0
Fatal	—	2
Fatalities	—	12
% Fatal	—	22%

View full Gulfstream GIII NTSB record →View full Gulfstream GIV NTSB record →

Full Specs Comparison

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Spec / Model	Gulfstream GIII	Gulfstream GIV
	View 4 listings → Median $375,000	View 61 listings → Median $4,495,000
Price Range	$195,000 – $1,027,500	$1,534,250 – $5,424,250
Category	Large Cabin Jet	Large Cabin Jet
Model Specifications
Seats	14	14
Cruise Speed	480 kts (889 km/h)	488 kts (904 km/h)
Range	3,600 nm (6,667 km)	4,220 nm (7,815 km)
Service Ceiling	45,000 ft (13,716 m)	45,000 ft (13,716 m)
Max Gross Weight	—	73,200 lbs (33,204 kg)
Useful Load	13,000 lbs (5,897 kg)	14,000 lbs (6,350 kg)
Fuel Burn	430.0 GPH (1628 L/h)	400.0 GPH (1514 L/h)
Engines	2 x Turbofan	2 x Turbofan

Which Should You Buy: Gulfstream GIII or Gulfstream GIV?

Bottom line: Choose the GIV for any serious operation — meaningfully better engine economics, improved range, quieter cabin environment, and a larger active maintenance ecosystem. Well-maintained GIVs at market price offer large-cabin transatlantic capability with parts and service support that remains genuinely active through Gulfstream, Rolls-Royce, and the wide maintenance network. Approach the GIII carefully — the Spey engines have narrowing parts support, and the GIII's avionics are a generation behind even the GIV's already-vintage package. For a museum piece or a lightly-flown passion project with substantial maintenance investment, the GIII is historically significant; for active operations, the GIV is the rational choice. Safety axis: the GIV's Tay 611-8 has significantly better specific fuel consumption and reduced emissions compared to the Spey, and the GIV's decade-newer design incorporates better crew alerting systems and avionics integration. The GIII's Spey is a proven military-heritage engine, but its fuel consumption and parts availability status are legitimate operational considerations.

Pick the GIII if…

Budget matters — from $195,000 vs $1,534,250, you save ~$1,339,250.

Pick the GIV if…

Faster cruise — 488 kts vs 480 kts.
Longer range — 4220 nm vs 3600 nm.
More inventory — 61 listings vs 4.

Auto-generated from current market data and published specs. Confirm with a pre-buy inspection and professional appraisal.

Frequently Asked Questions

What made the Gulfstream III's wing significant?

Gulfstream's engineers developed a supercritical wing for the GIII that reduced aerodynamic drag at high subsonic speeds — allowing the aircraft to cruise faster and higher with the same engines compared to the GII's older wing profile. The technology borrowed from NASA research at the time and gave the GIII a distinctive wing shape with a slightly different planform than the GII. This wing design philosophy carried forward into later Gulfstream models.

What engines does the Gulfstream III use compared to the GIV?

The GIII uses Rolls-Royce Spey Mk 511-8 turbofan engines, rated at 11,400 lbf each — a military-heritage design dating from the 1960s that Rolls-Royce adapted for business aviation. The GIV uses Rolls-Royce Tay 611-8 turbofans at 13,850 lbf each — a new-generation design with significantly better fuel efficiency, lower noise, and improved cruise performance. The Tay family has broader modern support than the Spey.

Are Gulfstream III parts still available?

Parts support for the GIII is available but narrowing. Rolls-Royce supports the Spey through its legacy programs, but new-manufacture Spey parts are increasingly replaced by refurbished stock or aftermarket alternatives. Gulfstream supports the GIII airframe through its legacy programs, but the GIII's smaller active fleet compared to the GIV means the support ecosystem is less robust. A detailed parts-availability review is a pre-purchase essential for any GIII acquisition.

Which is better, Gulfstream GIII or Gulfstream GIV?

It depends on your mission and budget. The GIII cruises at 480 kts with 3,600 nm range. The GIV cruises at 488 kts with 4,220 nm range. Review the specs table above to find which fits your flying profile.

How do prices compare?

Gulfstream GIII: from $1,100,000. Prices vary by year, hours, avionics, and condition. Always get a pre-buy inspection.

What's the difference between Gulfstream GIII and Gulfstream GIV?

Cruise: 480 vs 488 kts. Range: 3600 vs 4220 nm.

Which is cheaper to operate per hour?

Variable cost includes fuel, reserves and overhaul accruals. Annual fixed costs (hangar, insurance, annual inspection) add to the total.

Which has more seats and useful load?

GIII: 14 seats / 13,000 lb useful load. GIV: 14 seats / 14,000 lb useful load. Useful load = max gross weight minus empty weight; it determines how much fuel plus payload you can carry.

How does maintenance compare — TBO and overhaul cost?

Reaching the time-between-overhaul (TBO) triggers a mandatory engine/airframe rebuild that affects resale value.

Disclaimer: All prices and cost estimates are from third-party sources for informational purposes only. Always obtain professional appraisal and inspection before purchase.

Prices re-checked on a rolling cycle — most within a few days · Data: FAA Registry, NTSB · About our data