TR is hot on a 31, got my gears turning to get me wife trained....

I'm guessing you guys aren't 4-6 flights a week? To have to manage some other guy and his hotels and cars and food and make small talk etc. would be a full time job for me.

That's exactly what I am doing! We are together all the time anyway. 350knots max TAS and 45 minutes to max cruise alt of FL410 in the Citation is just too low and slow. Lear 31 really sounds like it will fit the bill and they are getting cheap. She just needs to finish her IFR and then a quick multi ride!

In regards to the SJ30, I ran into one this past June at BFI. Owned by the owner of the Deja Vu strip club chain.

The two pax boarded along with their miniature dog, then the lady pilot boarded, shut the door and off they went. A lot of range, a lot of speed, but little cabin room (tradeoffs). Kool plane though.

Morgan Freeman flies around in his quite often.

There are few of them, but they aren't vaporware.

In regards to the link posted with the Lear 60 operating costs. Wow!
I knew that these bigger jets had some serious operating costs. These numbers are mind boggling to me. How much more would it cost to operate a Gulfstream? Just curious. I am not in definitely not in the market. The Mirage is looking better and better all of the time.

Jimmy Elza

The website doesn't say much. How much are they? How do you get one?

That poor plane had some bad luck. Ed Swearingen designed it and they certified it under his company, Sino Swearingen. Then they went bust. The new owners were Emivest from Dubai and they went bust, too. Now Syberjet bought everything without the debt, so hopefully they have a good chance. It's a bit like the story of the Eclipse, although the SJ30 was the first of the certified VLJ's.

They're saying the SJ30i will come in 2016 - it's got new avionics and a new interior. The SJ30x will come in 2017 and has more powerful engines. I think they'll be in the $7 mil range. I don't know if they still have any of the 'old' SJ30 for sale. I know I sound like a salesman for Syberjet, but I'm not, promise. I just always was fascinated with the pretty design Ed Swearingen gave it and it's great performance. I always had a soft spot for it.

Here's the latest on the SJ30 program from NBAA:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xd2Akb6pIJY

The problem this aircraft will have, is it's snug cabin. Speed and sea level cabin doesn't actually trump a roomy cabin in most buyers minds. Roomy, standup cabins is what the users want, not top speed. So they'll have to market it carefully, to owner operators and people who appreciate that. It won't stand a chance if it's marketed as a corporate aircraft alternative.

True. Pilatus and Tn Bonanza taught me that. I want range and room and a lav. "Speed" is subjective and many times in the hands of ATC.

SJ30 sounds cool. But what if it breaks? If I pulled that thing into the shop at Epps they'd probably look at me like I just stepped off a UFO. I hope they do well. It's definitntley what I've been looking for. But I also don't want problems hence why I wouldn't get a P180 either.

Jason, if you really want to take it to the next level get yourself a model -4 or EX Dassault Falcon 50 that has been updated with PL21.

It is the best bang for the buck in serious intercontinental aircraft right now and it will get in/out of more airfields than most others.

It requires two crew but you will get alot for it. You would do worldwide what you are now doing in the US.

Thanks but I can't do this. I'll tally up 6 flights this week. Some last minute. There's no way I can manage a SIC.

Thanks but I can't do this. I'll tally up 6 flights this week. Some last minute. There's no way I can manage a SIC.

Furthermore, if you hire the right guy, there's nothing to "manage."

No other employee in my life works that way. Why would an SIC?

London, Brussels, Maui...Big plane = small world

A little help up in the front could free you up during the cruise to check on the needs of your friends in the cabin....

Falcons are amazing jets. It seems crazy that you can buy a used Falcon 50 for the same or less money than a used Pilatus. Granted, I get the difference in operating costs, but still...