Lear 45/Excel

[TRBojet]

This is follow up to a previous post about the comparison between the Lear 45 and the Citation Excel. We've shown the owners the Lear but they want to see some REAL WORLD operating costs for the airplane. If anyone has them, please share them with me (or PM me if you want.) I know what I can get from the internet or the manufacturer, but I'd like some actual numbers from operators. Also, if anyone has some numbers for the Excel, please let me know. I'm looking for costs per flight hour, maintenance costs, etc.

Thanks!

 

[SabreFlyR]

We too are in the process of compring these two aircraft and I would like to see the numbers also.

 

[On Your Six]

Are we talking about the traditional XL or the newer XLS?

 

[TRBojet]

We're looking at the traditional XL and it would probably be the 45XR or the straight 45 with the engine and weight mods.

Thanks.

 

[NGT]

Just a side note,

In the 45, a fleetwide downing of the APU from May to October for a leaky fuel valve and on two seperate occasions a flleetwide downing of the aircraft for pitchtrim actuators for 2 months. Right now there is a fleetwide tearing of the skin in front of the left nosegear door. On multiple occasions a fleetwide deactivation of the cockpit feet heat. The new BR engine switch problem causing Bleed OVHT warnings.

The list goes on and on and on and on. If I were to win the lottery, I wouldn't own one and I have been flying them for the past 4 years. I have never flown the XL but I sure would like to give it a try.

When everything works on the 45 it is a great aircraft for the missions it was built for and stops on a dime on short slick runways. but I am still waiting for the day that everything works.

 

[ksu_aviator]

Citation has a reputation for being durable (save the X). I would go for a Citation over a Lear any day.

I looked on www.aircraftcharterguide.com and pulled up what the charter companies charge for both aircraft. They are a virtual dead heat with the 45 averaging $50-100 cheaper per hour. Given the reliability of the Citation, the slightly higher operating cost is probably worth it.

 

[Ernest T. Bass]

If you would like some numbers, I'll be happy to get you all the numbers you want - both performance numbers and ops cost numbers. I can also tell you about how the airplanes have held up in the market over time; this is what rich guys are mostly interested in - exit strategy.

I can also put you in touch with operators of both aircraft. I have over 300 hours flying the Excel.

WARNING - I am a broker, so if I get you all this info and make you look good to your boss, I will expect that you return the favor by giving me a good shot at selling him an airplane.

PM me if interested.

 

[LJ45]

Just a side note,

In the 45, a fleetwide downing of the APU from May to October for a leaky fuel valve and on two seperate occasions a flleetwide downing of the aircraft for pitchtrim actuators for 2 months. Right now there is a fleetwide tearing of the skin in front of the left nosegear door. On multiple occasions a fleetwide deactivation of the cockpit feet heat. The new BR engine switch problem causing Bleed OVHT warnings.

The list goes on and on and on and on. If I were to win the lottery, I wouldn't own one and I have been flying them for the past 4 years. I have never flown the XL but I sure would like to give it a try.

When everything works on the 45 it is a great aircraft for the missions it was built for and stops on a dime on short slick runways. but I am still waiting for the day that everything works.

Ditto ^^^^^ BOMBardier !!!!

 

[TRBojet]

Thanks for all the info on the planes. The more I ask about the Lear, the more discouraged (or nervous) I am to recommend it to the owners. I used to fly a 20-year old 35 and I thought it was great for reliability - much better than our Beechjet! I guess the legacy Lears were better than the Bombardier-built Lears. I've never flown any Citations, but haven't heard any negative about product support from Cessna. That's probably the direction we're heading because I couldn't push for an airplane knowing ahead of time it could be a bigger maintenance disappointment than our Beechjet.

Thanks again.

 

[ualdriver]

Thanks for all the info on the planes. The more I ask about the Lear, the more discouraged (or nervous) I am to recommend it to the owners. I used to fly a 20-year old 35 and I thought it was great for reliability - much better than our Beechjet! I guess the legacy Lears were better than the Bombardier-built Lears. I've never flown any Citations, but haven't heard any negative about product support from Cessna. That's probably the direction we're heading because I couldn't push for an airplane knowing ahead of time it could be a bigger maintenance disappointment than our Beechjet.

Thanks again.

http://www.omnijet.com/database/

Have you seen this link? I don't know how accurate it is, but it appears to have all kinds of data for both of your requested aircraft, plus many more.