G4G5:
Unlike some that have posted here I have been flying the 800XP for 6 years now going on 7. Yes, I do work for one of the condo jet companies, and we run them pretty hard.
Get the XP if you have a chance. The extra bump in the thrust from the -5BR's is 4,750# vs the 800's -5R's at 4,304# comes in handy on most days.
If you can find a decent one, BUY it. Consider looking at
www.Raytheonresale.com. They are the manufacturers, and they often have some good XP's for sale, asnd you can PM me to find out how to get a good deal.
As you may elicit from my statement, I take the "Hawkersaurus" EVERYWHERE, any time and any Clime. It dosen't matter (except maybe Telluride or Vail on a warm day) where you go from to. I have done VRB - SNA with 140 kts on the nose over PHX that dropped off to 60kts, and landed with 2000# fuel.
West to east no problem. I know of a coke botteling company that takes their XP from PHX to PHNL. We usually leave SFO-PHNL. There is, depending on the day, you have a wet foot print with the XP. Some days it's a couple minuets, some days????? Just ask for the winds and plug in the numbers.
The Hawker has an atrocious set of performance charts. The only ones worse are on a BeechJet or 400XP.
Yes, the XP holds 10,000# of fuel. I have done HOU to CYXD with full pax and baggs, and back on 1 tank each way landing with 2000#.
For the most part don't sweat the fuel, unless you left it on the ramp!
The Honeywell system is just fine, and transition to and from the XP should be no problem. I will admit that most of the Collins comments aparently come from those who have flown Collins before, and as you note they have a whole year or so flying the Collins in the XP. I've flown it. Collins has it's querks, and sometimes we sit there asking "what is it doing now?"
The Honeywell seams more intuitive, and anyone coming from and other Honeywell equipped a/c will find it very familure.
The XP s a very nice plane to fly, and to hand fly. We routinely go to FL410 in the XP with full gas and pax. The only step climb I have ever had was if ATC screwed us. Once you get used to the Ram's horn, you really don't want to fly anything else. Here's a HUGE hint, place your hand on the shoulder of the ram's horn, and you have the a/c under total control. The a/c is very manueverable, even dirty. I've done s turns to get slowed down, and dirtied up before the rwy more than once, and never felt the airplane did anything other than what I wanted it to do.
I've had 1 a/c with ap issues, and have had to hand fly it at FL410. It hand flies wonderfully. Once I reingaged the a/p it flew us on to our destination with no further problems.
The profile that allways works the best for us is: 210KTS below 10, then let it accelerate to .68 for climb, then we cruise at .70 - .78 depends on if we want to get home faster or not. DO NOT LET THE SPEED DROP BELOW .65 during cruise. If you do you are like a boat not on plane yet, and just mushing through the sky, which ruins your efficency. If you start to clown around below .65 at cruise just remember you heard it from me 1st, you are in the danger zone here, and it will do a HS stall on you. On the descent you can go to the barber pole, and the ride will be smooth, but steep. I've had ATC try to move me because of a faster climbing airplane, just increase power to climb, then pitch the nose up, you'll out climb most all airliners, I have. And then ATC says to you maintain your flight path, traffic is no longer a consideration. That is unless you get a SWA 737-7/800 climbing to FL410. You might not out climb them.
For a more comfortable deck angle you can set the FF to 1500# each on climb, and descent, and take the nice easy climb or descent. You can fly the Hawker at either Constant Mach or FF. I do Constant Mach. Set it and almost forget it. Yes, it goes faster when lighter, but it will also do .80 no problem and no quirks at this speed.
Lift Dmp is great. T/R's are even better. 2 things the Hawker can do real well is STOP, and slow down / come down. Like all arplanes it is anemic during climb in the summer, until reaching cooler temps / altitude.
The XP & 800's are built like tanks. I actually think that the Brits took a tank, put on winds, and jet engines and called it the HS125-1. But the airlane is VERY forgiving, even for newbes. It is comforthing to know that when few airplanes are getting in due to WX, you will always see a Hawker there. It is usually me or one of my buddies in a Hawker.
I have spent more money on TKS in the summer than in most winter seasons. Just part of the cost of ownership, like gas. Never leave the ground without full tank of TKS, it's all you have. Well you have heated winshields, but... The hawker will take a load of snow and ice and keep on flying. Just don't take-off that way! But don't worry about that stuff, worry more about Thunderstorms! Than again these are not a problem if you are a pilot and know how to fly.
Now to let you know about the seats. Best in the business as far as I'm concerned. They are infantly adjustable, which comes in handy as I am 6'4", and tip the scales at 250#. Yea I'm a big guy, but I fit the airplane well. It is easy to get out of either seat, and take a walk to the restroom.
The baggage area lacks some to be desired. I have packed that thing full of crap from LAX to TEB. I once took a group of people from Toranto to TEB, 9 pax, 2 pilots, pax luggage enough for 3 weeks, Minks for 6 of the pax an had no issues with the airplane. You do become an expert on loading luggage, and it dosen't take long. I've picked up guys from Huning and their rifles fit just fine, fishing rods and reels fit fine too. I've also done teh golfing trip to International Falls with 6 golf bags, and baggs.
The Hawker has a HUGE operating Envelope. It is hard to get the a/c out of balance, even with full fuel.
If it dosen't fit the luggage area, put it in the seat or send it FedEx or UPS..
The winglets look pretty but only add about 3% to your numbers. Frankly it's not worth the added cost, uless you need that extra performance.
5000' runway is all you need on the majority of days. Sometimes you may want to give yourself a little extra room, and scooting your seat back won't help.
PM me if you have any other questions.
(and not the first to suggest it on the first page of the thread!)
