Gulfstream GIII Aircraft 1980s

1980s heavy jets include Gulfstream III/IV (early), Hawker 800 (early), Falcon 900 (early), Challenger 600/601. Rolls-Royce Tay, BR710 (predecessors) and TFE731 engines from this era are proven; airframes are heavily mandate-upgraded by now. Two-crew operations standard; recurrent training requirements unchanged from modern equivalents. Pre-buy must include thorough mandate- compliance audit and engine-program enrollment verification.

The Gulfstream GII (Gulfstream II, 1966-1979) and GIII (Gulfstream III, 1979-1986) are the classic Gulfstream business jets — large-cabin, swept-wing aircraft that launched the modern intercontinental private-jet segment. The GII (twin Rolls-Royce Spey engines, range ~3,400 nm) was Gulfstream's first purpose-built business jet; the GIII added Whitcomb winglets, longer fuselage and range (~3,800 nm). Production has long ended and these are now classic business jets — characterful, relatively affordable as a way into a large-cabin Gulfstream, but with significant age-related considerations.

Gulfstream GIII aircraft for sale

4 used Gulfstream GIII aircraft for sale 1980s · 14-seat · Reference price ~$1,600,000 ($900,000–$2,800,000) · updated 2 hours ago

Gulfstream GIII Specifications

Model spec

The Gulfstream GIII is a 14-seat large cabin jet with a cruise speed of 480 kt (889 km/h), a range of 3,600 nm (6,667 km), and a useful load of 13,000 lbs (5,897 kg).

Performance
Cruise480 kt (889 km/h)
Range3,600 nm (6,667 km)
Service Ceiling45,000 ft (13,716 m)
Engine & Fuel
Fuel Burn430.0 GPH (1,628 L/h)
Weights & Seats
Seats14
Useful Load13,000 lbs (5,897 kg)

Gulfstream GIII for Sale

Gulfstream GIII asking prices range from $175,000 to $1,100,000, with a median of $375,000 (market reference $1,600,000).

1980 Gulfstream GIII

1980 Gulfstream GIII for sale
$175,000
For Sale
Total Time 13,580
Reg# N234LR US
Location Stockton, CA
Via Wolfe Aviation

1986 Gulfstream GIII

1986 Gulfstream GIII for sale
$1,100,000
For Sale
Reg# N388MM US
Location Palm Beach, FL
Via Jan Mann

1982 Gulfstream GIII

1982 Gulfstream GIII for sale
Contact for Price
On Request
Total Time 11,299
Location GA
Via jetAVIVA

1981 Gulfstream GIII

1981 Gulfstream GIII for sale
$375,000
For Sale
Reg# N323G US
Location Port Orange, FL
Via Edd Conn Aircraft, LLC
Multiple sources

Compare Gulfstream GIII

See how the Gulfstream GIII stacks up against similar aircraft in specs, price, and operating costs.

Gulfstream GIII vs Bombardier Challenger 601 Gulfstream GIII vs Dassault Falcon 50 Gulfstream GIII vs Gulfstream GIV

Gulfstream GIII Price & Cost

How much does a Gulfstream GIII cost? Used GIII prices: $175K – $1.1M, average $550K (median $375K); market reference $1.6M, across 3 priced of 4 active listings.

Gulfstream GIII Price Guide

Key price factors: engine time to overhaul, year and airframe hours, avionics, damage history and logbook completeness — see the buying guide below for the full pre-purchase checklist.

Gulfstream GIII Cost of Ownership estimate
Fuel (430.0 GPH × $6.20, 100 hrs)$266,600/yr
Estimates at 100 flight hours/year. Actual costs vary by usage, location and insurance.
Buying guides: Buyer's Guide | Financing Guide | Pre-Buy Inspection

Buying a Used Gulfstream GIII

Buying a Gulfstream GIII comes down to a focused pre-purchase checklist — here is what matters most on this model:

What to check before buying

  • Spey engine condition — Rolls-Royce Spey engines are older-generation; engine maintenance program (where available), hot-section status and overhaul cost dominate.
  • Mandate upgrades — ADS-B Out, FANS, RVSM — these are major costs on a 35-45 year-old airframe. Aircraft already upgraded are worth materially more.
  • Stage 3/Stage 4 noise compliance — hush-kits or re-engine status; some aircraft cannot operate at certain airports due to noise rules.
  • Airframe age and cycles — careful inspection for corrosion and fatigue on aircraft this old.
  • Pre-buy — specialist large-classic-jet shop with Gulfstream and Spey experience. Which? A GIII (winglets, longer range, more modern) is the practical choice over a GII (older, more limited). Both are budget-class entries into large-cabin Gulfstream ownership but require realistic budgets for engine work and mandate upgrades.

Frequently Asked Questions — Gulfstream GIII

Cost?
$375,000 — wide range; many GII/GIII are project-class.
GII vs GIII?
GIII added Whitcomb winglets, stretched fuselage and ~400 nm more range; GII is the
Spey engines?
Older Rolls-Royce engines with limited modern program support; major maintenance liability.
Why still flown?
Ramp presence, cabin size at very low acquisition cost — but realistic operating-cost
Stage 3 noise?
Some GII/GIII have hush kits installed; otherwise noise restrictions apply at many airports.

Gulfstream GIII Inventory by Country

United States4

Gulfstream GIII Inventory by State

Florida2

Gulfstream GIII by Price

Under $200k1
Under $300k1
Under $500k2

Gulfstream GIII Safety Record

No NTSB events on record for the Gulfstream GIII. Individual aircraft safety records may be available on detail pages.

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

Disclaimer: All prices, cost estimates, and market values shown are based on asking prices from third-party sources and are provided for informational purposes only. AeroGurus is not an appraiser, broker, or financial advisor. Always obtain a professional appraisal and independent inspection before making a purchase decision.
Listings last refreshed 2 hours ago · Data: FAA Registry, NTSB · About our data