Lear45 input

[THE Flying Ace]

Company I work for will be upgrading airplanes in the next couple years and I would like to get some feed back on options.

What are some numbers for the Lear 45? DOC's, runway req, speeds, etc.

How is the cabin? Can you fit skis in the baggage (six pairs) plus bags? How is the cockpit?

We are running a Citation II right now. Have typical loads of 5 sometimes 8 pax. Fly a lot from Minneapolis to Orlando.

Any input would be greatly apprieciated.

 

[Valkyrie]

LEAR 45:

D.O.C: 1030$/hr
Cabin volume: 390 cu ft
Range: 1950 NM
TAS: 450 KT
# built: 240
Price range: $6 to $8 million

 

[RedC5Guy]

The 45 is a pretty decent airplane overall. It will climb right to FL450 at MGTOW and still go pretty well once you get there. The only way to go to FL510 is to have about 1000# of fuel and the crew at ISA conditions. The closest I have gotten is just shy of FL500. The airplane is very sensitive to ISA+ temps. The cabin is comfortable but of course you can't stand up. The cockpit is okay but the crew seats suck! The autopilot has a tendency to wing rock which they say might be due to cable tensions out of spec. I don't buy that because I have spoken to ERJ145 guys that say they have to same problem. We average about 1600#.hour on fuel burn and MSP is about $250/hour. Reliability is a disappointment so thank God we're in warranty! We are looking to trade up to the Challenger 300 when our warranty is up.

Red

 

[FracCapt]

We average about 1600#.hour on fuel burn and MSP is about $250/hour.

1600lbs? That seems like quite a bit for a 20,000lb airplane(guessing here, let me know if I'm way off). How much thrust do the engines produce? We only average about 1700 in the Hawker, which weighs in at 27,400lbs. I plan for 2000 first hour(unless coming out of New York or South Florida, then 2400), 1600 for hours 2-4, and 1500 for anything over that. That's based on cruise altitudes of 350 to 370 anything under 3 hours, 390 to 410 for anything longer than 3.

 

[RedC5Guy]

Sorry-my bad! We average 1600# per hour for all ops. I guess I should have stated that our average leg time is about 1.3 or 1.4. We might do a 1800 mile leg one day and then two 50 mile legs the next day. Our mission is varied to say the least. I flight plan for 1800 the first hour and 1300 after that. Engines are 3500# of thrust and you get an extra 150# if you push all the way up to APR. We also have the gross weight increase so we can carry 8 in the back with full fuel.

Red

 

[Heavy Set]

Have you guys already ordered the Challenger 300? I hear the waiting list is quite long - it could take years and years to get a new one... Nice airplane though.

I have personally sat in the sharp end of a Lear 45 - nice EFIS but it was a bit tight (although I am HEAVY SET and most flight decks are tight for me) - can't be too comfortable after 2-3 hours...

 

[FraxJockey]

Lear #'s

From my limited expericence (1600+ hrs in type):

Fuel burn is 1700 1st hr...1300 2nd hr....1200 every additional hr. (rule of thumb is 3000 for 2 hours under any condition and with any type of delay)

Max cruise at MCR is .80 with temps up to ISA + (2-5)

Been to FL510 with about 2000 lbs of fuel and temps at ISA -5

Max Gross w/mod is 21500 lbs and you can climb straight to FL410 99% of the time

Longest set of ski's I've fit in the back is about 220's and fit about 5 fully loaded golf bags + a TON of stuff

Regularly fly into and out of 4000 ft. runways, no problem (add any kind of contamination and you're gonna have to take the afm out and crunch some #'s)

The DOC is similar if not identical to the Lear 31A

The Honeywell Primus 1000 is an overall good EFIS, not the best, but for the moey it gets the job done and is easy to use and very user friendly.

Reliability is pretty good. I would say about average, if not slightly above.

Longest flight I've had has been SLC to FLL (4+45) Did have favorable winds obviously, but temps varied from +5 to -5 ISA

Great brakes...ability to stop on a dime is scary...brakes won't give the TR's time to spool up... the first time you do a max effort stop you better have all the stuff in the cabin tied down

Speeds at MTGW at SL at ISA 118,118,129 (V1,R,2) for T/0
Speeds at MLDW at 19200 123,132 (VR,2)

 

[RedC5Guy]

FraxJockey,

Good, informative post. That leg of 4+45 is pretty impressive! My rear is killing me after 2 hours in the seat! The longest leg I have done so far is about 4+20. The brakes are amazing on this airplane! The buckets are almost of no consequence. We routinely operate to a 4000 foot runway with no problems unless there is contamination.

Red

 

[majortool]

My behind hurts after about 2 hours in the plane! That could be any plane though!