Costco Wholesale's Gulfstream G280 lands in Peoria the day of a new store opening

Costco Wholesale's Gulfstream G280, tail number N84CW, was tracked flying a 19-minute hop from University of Illinois Willard Airport to General Wayne A. Downing Peoria International Airport on June 25, 2026. The aircraft reached a maximum altitude of 9,950 feet and a top ground speed of 326.6 knots on the brief trip.

If Costco Wholesale executives were aboard, the timing would place them in Peoria the same day the company opened its first warehouse in Pensacola, Florida, per a USA TODAY report. The new 172,580-square-foot store at 225 E. Nine Mile Road opened at 8 a.m. on June 25, part of a broader expansion push that includes 26 new warehouses planned for fiscal 2026.

The flight follows a pattern of recent movements by Costco Wholesale's fleet, which includes three Gulfstream G280s and a G650ER. Over the past week, the aircraft has visited hubs in Ohio, Illinois, and Washington state, consistent with the retailer's flat corporate culture and CEO Ron Vachris's hands-on approach to site visits and supplier meetings.