Sabre 65

[Headwind]

We are or were about to upgrade to a Lear 31 and the boss wants to look at a Sabre 65 because of it's size and cost. The Sabre has an APU and is 9 years older. It's out of production. I know that I would prefer loading bags in the Sabre, but thats about all I know. Both aircraft are on MSP gold. We are a small Part 91 corporate operation with about 80% of our maintenance done in house.
Would like to hear from anyone who has operated the Sabre 65 and 30 series Lear.

Thanks,
Headwind

 

[Rick1128]

In the jet market it is difficult to beat the reliability of a Lear 20 or 30. That is one of the reasons you see so many charter operators use them. If it'll start, you're going. It goes back to the systems design. They are simple systems, which therefore tend to be reliable.

The Sabre was designed for the military. It too is reliable, but I have been told not to the degree the Lear is. And the parts are much more expensive.

One point to consider with the Sabre is the question of who you will be carrying. If you carry any women with any amount of clout, don't get the Sabre. Women HATE the step down into the cabin.

 

[SabreFlyR]

B]One point to consider with the Sabre is the question of who you will be carrying. If you carry any women with any amount of clout, don't get the Sabre. Women HATE the step down into the cabin[/B]


Tell them to use the potty seat in the Lear 31 and then the aft enclosed lav in tha Sabre 65 and see which one the women prefer.

Yes the door is a draw back, but it takes only a little getting used to.

I do mostly in house maintenance on our 40A and also used to do the same on two 80 models. They are easy to work on and parts can be $$, you just need to learn to shop around a bit. I understand the main tires only last 60 to 70 landings on the 65, mostly due to the operating weight of the plane. 65's after about serial #20 do not have the corrosion problems that the other models have.

Oh yea, the cockpit is much more comfortable and they are great flying airplanes with equally good range.

 

[Rick1128]

Sabre,

Several years ago, a corporate operator I was working for 'did' a demo flight in a Sabre. I had heard of women not liking the Sabre. Didn't think much of it. But the company's female president came on the flight. She walked up the airstair looked at the step down and promptly turned around and walked off the aircraft. And that was the end of the demo. And I have heard of several other departments say almost the same thing word for word.

What it comes down to, is what does the guy signing the checks want. He has the most clout.

 

[na265]

I don't have any lear time. We have a 65 Sabre. It will do 450kts, go to FL410 easy with a ceiling of FL450, and can fly for 5hrs at 410kts. The draw backs are a small cabin, wing overlays, and some part prices. You can get off a 5000' runway with 7 pax at 90F and 5200#'s of fuel (enough for 2.5 hrs with a 2000# reserve): you'll need flaps 20 and bleed air off. Another consideration is RVSM. AVMATS is quoting 139k for two new ADC's and all the paper work. Hope this helps.