Everybody knows Citations are not fast! I was doing about 350 for the first half of the trip and then it started slowing down and ended up around 310. That’s the whole technique is to keep it on the angle of attack and slow down as it burns off fuel to maximize the range.

Max speed on a 550 is about 365 but you’re not doing this trip doing that.

But I am positive that it is faster going slower because you don’t have to stop for fuel!!

Even the idea of 5:45 in a Citation pilot seat makes me cringe. For whatever reason I have a hard time being comfortable for more than about 2.5 hours in a Citation cockpit. I've done 4 hour legs but was desperate to get out of the cockpit on those days.

But I can spend all day in a King Air cockpit...

Robert

I can understand that comment on the CJ line. I dont even come close to fitting in anything until its a CJ3 or 4. But the 501 for me was sweet. havent been in a 550 yet.

If you are single pilot and no pax, who is going to make the coffee in the espresso machine unless they are accessable from the left seat?

Roll it inverted and pick them off the canopy. [/quote]

that is typically how I retrieve my iphone. and at least once in a Hornet, my Sony handicam (that was embarrasing).

I think the Citation seats are very comfortable for normal sized pilots.

Can't underscore this enough. At least half the time I forget to turn on noise cancelling on my headset.

Different strokes I guess...I'm not even stiff after all day in the Citation. 6'2"

Took me a little fiddling, but with the height, rake, fore/aft and adjustable pedals I've found the right seating position for the long haul.

Awesome trip Mike.

Why the .35 and not the very specific Sierra instructions? Or do those only apply to the 501?

A Falcon 10 isn't all that comfortable either, but it doesn't matter because it runs like a lizard on a hardwood floor.

I haven't heard that term in a very long time! First time I heard it was from your former Aero Country neighbor Leon, describing S. Dawson's Shelby Cobra replica with the blower sticking out of the hood.

I only drove that Cobra one time. Crawling out of it in shorts my left leg got pressed against those big chrome side pipes. I’m still sporting that scar.

I’ve still got the 1969 Pontiac Bonneville station wagon that I bought from Leon.

With strong headwinds, that is what it will take.

Mike C.

With strong headwinds, that is what it will take.

Mike C.

The guys who have tip tanks say that, but I’ve never agreed with it.

Tip tanks only save flight time when your typical flight is more than the range of your aircraft (without tip tanks).

For us that happens maybe once per year (if that). During a couple of rare years it has happened twice.

Meanwhile an IO-550 and TAT TN system provide speed benefits on virtually every single flight. Faster rate of climb, significantly more speed at cruise, etc.

Most of my flights are in the 300 - 400 mile range. Far enough that one absolutely wants to fly (versus driving the car) but short enough that range is a non-issue.

My typical flight altitudes are 11,000 - 12,500’ MSL depending upon direction and VFR or IFR. At those altitudes I routinely see 190 knots true airspeed.

Pre-TAT TN and pre-550 I would routinely see 160 knots true at those altitudes.

Tip tanks wouldn’t save me any time at all. I can see how someone with a typical flight length of say 6 - 8 hours would benefit from tip tanks.

The $20K I saved by not getting tip tanks buys a lot of fuel. Actually the earnings on the $20k that can stay invested buys a lot of fuel.