Citation III

[volunteer]

Citation III/Hawker 800A

Does anyone have thoughts on Citation III's good, bad, or ugly? I have heard that they are maintenance queens, but I also heard from one operator that they never have any problems.

Also looking for thoughts on the Hawker 800A's.

Thanks.

 

[falcon50sic]

I have some time in a III & VII. Be careful with old III's that haven't had any avionics upgrades. I'd look for one that has EFIS. Flew a III that had gyro's and had issues that came with just being old.

Fun airplane to fly once you get it off the ground. Has a little bit of a sweep on the wing that gives it a respectable cruise speed. It is a runway hog, especially hot and heavy. Never had any major issues with the airplane as far as being a maint. queen

If you're needing something for shortfield ops or out of Aspen heavy it will be tough. I'd definitely try to find a VI or VII if budget allows.

 

[starcheck208]

We have a higher number III and have not any major maint. items pop up. Just little things that you see from a 15 year old aircraft, nothing that has stop trips. It is a runway hog so in the summer you would be limited going off of smaller runways less than 6000 or so.

 

[moonlight]

I flew one out of LAS for a couple of years...runway lover for sure. Ours was a later serial number as well, and had the inflight APU, which I would consider to be an essential part of your search criteria. It also has a funky CG envelope, forget about going full fuel with meat in every seat. Range is *realistically* not more than 1500-1600NM on most days, depending on what the ATC gods decide to do with you, although we could get 1800NM out of it when all went as planned w/ no early descents. Passengers seemed to really like it.

 

[southernpilot]

When I got typed in the III, Flight Safety instructor said it was the fastest plane I would fly to a service center. He wasn't kidding! We operated two out of the Energy Capital of the U.S. with lots of problems. The doors in particular kept breaking and when those broke, end of trip; how do you like......for the next six to eight days? But they were cheap,UHM!

 

[volunteer]

When I got typed in the III, Flight Safety instructor said it was the fastest plane I would fly to a service center. He wasn't kidding! We operated two out of the Energy Capital of the U.S. with lots of problems. The doors in particular kept breaking and when those broke, end of trip; how do you like......for the next six to eight days? But they were cheap,UHM!

Was yours an older one or was it a newer serial number?

 

[southernpilot]

low thirties, real P.O.S.