Astra SPX/G100 - Impressions?

[Heavy Set]

I have a buddy who is looking into flying a G100. He has been approached by the owner and he is considering the job. I have taken a look at the G100 - looks like a great flight deck although the aircraft is quite narrow. So, some questions:

1. How do you like flying it?

2. How does it compare with other aircraft you have flown?

3. Is it uncomfortable after a few hours?

4. Is it a true intercontinental aircraft - have you flown it across the pond or to Hawaii? Does it perform well in hot-and-high conditions (i.e., Aspen in the summer)?


Looks like a nice ride.

 

[G100driver]

How do you like flying it?

It feels great on the roll (hydo assist) and terrible on the pitch. Very easy to contol in a X-Wind, just be smooth to keep the wings from rocking. I cannot say that I like the braking system. If you do not apply even brake pressure the airplane will "duck walk" down the runway. It will surpise you the 1st time, but you will get used to it and learn how to avoid it in the future. If you use max T/R you feel like the rudder is coming off the airplane

How does it compare with other aircraft you have flown?

I came from the Falcon 10 and the Westwind. So compared to the Falcon it was a pile of $h1t. Compared to the Westwind it was an 18 year olds wet dream! It is, however, a very simple airplane and is easy to manage.

Is it uncomfortable after a few hours?

What isn't? If you do not mind sqeezing past the boss to use the lav or stand up straight for 5.5 hours, it is a great airplane!

Is it a true intercontinental aircraft - have you flown it across the pond or to Hawaii? Does it perform well in hot-and-high conditions (i.e., Aspen in the summer)?

NO to all. The sales force will tell you otherwise, but they are full of it. You cannot go to HI with greater than a 60 knot headwind and not have a wet foot print. You see them in HI all the time, though. As we know, not everyone is terribly smart.

You could go to Europe but I would stay out of the tracks and fly the northern routes. As to high and hot, well if you wanted to leave out of Aspen in August I would plan early AM departure or refuel in Centennial.

I really do enjoy flying the airplane though. The avionics are modern and SPX has ample power to climb and give it range that the SP's or the "classics" do not have.

Good luck to your friend.

 

[Lead Sled]

Speaking from the point of view of over 3,200 hours on all three varients of the Astra "Classic" / Astra SP / SPX & G-100, (and over 2,000 hours in the SPX/G-100)all I can say is that it will probably give you the most bang for the buck of ANY of the midsize jets out there. I've made 18 oceanic crossings in them and I've never had any problems with Europe, but like G-100 said, I usually file northerly routes. Hawaii is doable, but you've got to watch the winds. The big gotchas are 02 - make sure you've got the long-range system installed or you'll be carrying some portable bottles in the cabin. The rafts and survival gear also go into the cabin so you're pretty much limited to 4 passenger seats. Finally, the extention tank takes up about 1/3 of the baggage compartment, but with some creative packing you can make it work out. All in all, the G-100 is a great compromise when it comes to real world flying. It's definately doesn't have the biggest cabin, but it's big enough most of the time. If you fly it by the book, it will make book figures day in and day out. You can plan on a normal cruise between 460 and 470 KTAS and direct climb to FL410 on all but the warmest days. I use M.76 for most of my long-range oceanic flying. Typical cruising altitudes are are between FL390 and FL430. FL450 is also a very usable altitude once you've burned off some fuel. You've got to watch the C.G. - they tend to go out the forward end of the envelope (even with the APU installed) when you top off the tanks and put more than 5 (sometimes 6) passengers in them.

As far as flying them is concerned, they've got straight forward systems - there aren't too many "gotchas". They're easy to get good landings with - if you watch your speed on final. They handle crosswinds well, but (for boosted ailerons) they're a bit heavy in roll and "typical jet" in pitch. If you're careful, you can operate them out of 4,000' runways, but don't plan on going very far. 5,000' is, of course, better and 6,000'+ runways won't offer you too many restrictions.

Lead Sled

 

[Kingairrick]

Anyone with a good comparison between an SP and a Hawker 800A?

I'm getting one or the other very soon.

 

[G100driver]

I were writing the check there would be no contest. Get the G100 it is faster and has a much lower DOC. If you can accept the fact that the flap/slat system is a complete disaster it is GREAT airplane dollar for dollar.

 

[Lead Sled]

If you can accept the fact that the flap/slat system is a complete disaster it is GREAT airplane dollar for dollar...

Granted, the flap/slat system is "over engineered", but with proper maintenance the the system is acceptably reliable - and besides, it's probably one the best wings ever hung on a bizjet.

Lead Sled

 

[corp_da20_guy]

Granted, the flap/slat system is "over engineered", but with proper maintenance the the system is acceptably reliable - and besides, it's probably one the best wings ever hung on a bizjet.

Yes it's one of the best wings...after the Falcon, Gulftream, and several others.

 

[Lead Sled]

Yes it's one of the best wings...after the Falcon, Gulftream, and several others.

Aw come on now...

Why do you think Gulfstream bought the airplane? A few years back Raytheon even tried to buy the rights to the wing.