Jetstar II info requested

[capnflyright]

Thanks X man for your input. I totally agree on not getting the Jetstar II. The problem is the purchase price has him bedazzled. Our pilot/mechanic used to work on this specific jetstar for the past 13 years and he's able to get the plane for a great price. That being said and after working up a cost analysis between the 50, GIIB/III, Jetstar II, Sabre 65 and a GIV, he wants something he can just pay for and use the rest of his capital elsewhere. Hopefully he'll take some more time to think about all of this, but after making 3 stops tomorrow to get back to Dubai I think he'll be gung-ho to jump on the purchase. Thanks again for the insight everybody.

 

[capnflyright]

Does anyone have performance numbers for a Jetstar II on a 40-55C day? My guess is the numbers aren't available for a +40C day, but it would be nice to show the boss how limited we are in such conditions throughout the Middle East.

 

[bhazen]

I maintained 2 Jetstar II's for many years. It is a handfull to keep it running. Very antiquated electrical and avionics. Constant electrical problems from age related problems. Wires are showing abrasions and through and arc, popping breakers etc.. I would advise strongly to stay far away from a Jetstar. They were good in their day, but that is not the case now. They are good training aids for technical schools to work with. We called the jetstars " A thousand relays and selenoids flying in close formation" . HEADACHE!!!! The tank & plank inspection alone is a big deal and corrosion and cracks are not uncommon. Parts? Good luck finding quality, correctly overhauled or repaired parts. The deice boots need TLC to stop age cracks and cuts. Nose wheel steering corrosion is common. I could go on and on. There will be no resale value, just a tax deduction for donating the aircraft to some school or reef project. My 2 cents anyway. . .

 

[falconpilot]

I think the FAA is in the process with the manufacturer to form a mandatory AD that will require wing bolt mods and other parts that may be so restrictive that the fleet may be grounded. That needs to be your research focus ! I know the FAA usually doesn't work with a manufacturer on an AD, but you need to check out the parts availability of the AD requirements. They don't even have a kit made yet.

DITTO... Go for the Gulfstream. A late sn AC GIII would be a nice plane. Those engines don't care how hot it is outside.. One of them is just a few thrust lbs short of outpowering all 4 on the junkstar. I used to fly with a guy that would see one those people holding a sign up asking for money or food and he'd say... "Thats a retired Jetstar pilot." Hell, the fuel panel in the cockpit is enough to scare the hell out of you.

 

[CapnVegetto]

My old boss used to fly one, and he always spoke very highly of it. Great performance, amazing redundancy/safety factor, but operating costs through the ROOF.

 

[con-pilot]

I flew a 731 Jetstar years back and I have to admit it was one the, if not the best flying aircraft I have ever flown.

Now having said that, it was a maintenance nightmare. It had about a 20% mission completion record and this was 15 years ago with a full time maintenance crew. It loved runways, really, really long runways.

So rather than waste space here I'll just say that I agree with everybody else that posted on the problems of trying to operate a Jetstar II today.