Re: Best climb
TurboS7 said:
Stripped cargoLR23 going out of YIP with 2500 lbs of fuel, cleared to climb to 390 going to MCI. Took-off to the Northeast and did a right turn to 260 degrees our asigned heading. When we got to the heading with a half standard rate turn we were level at 390. Almost an averge 7000fpm all the way up.
We fly Lear 23, 24, and 24D's. After flying 99% cargo for the past 12 months and 680 hours, I can safely bet that you landed with between 500-800 lbs. I don't know if you were the PIC, but if you were, you are a FO's nightmare. I had one Capt. who decided that we could go from FWA to DRT non-stop in a 24 with the trunk tank pump inop. I begged and pleaded, but we went anyway. About the time we past GKY he started to get nervous. I explained that if we couldn't do it, now was the time because there is basically nothing within 75 miles of DRT. He said, and I love this, "I think we can make it". We landed with 650 lbs. of fuel and 400 of that was unusable in the trunk. If you don't know, we burn 900 lbs an hour with both running at idle on the ground and approx. 4000 lbs./hr. at T/O power. I figure with 250 lbs. of usable we could have taxied for about 17 min. with both running (if the gauge was right in an airplane that was built in 1967 and still has original wiring).
Another fun story:
Imagine taking of from Mexico at night and your Capt. rolling the aircraft after a low transition T/O (stay low, suck the gear up) at night without telling you. Makes you want a new job real fast.
As far as flying the early 20 series (we actually have a 23 with serial number 34 built in 1965 and our newest is a 24D built in 1969) they are a kick in the pants. One of our stripped 24's has 5800 lbs of thrust and an empty weight of 7100 lbs. If you put on 2000 lbs. of fuel (enough for about 20 min. flight with the ability to go around once) it give a thrust to weight ratio of .64/1 and you will be able to climb at 10,000 ft/min. The controls are light and have good harmony (about like a Bonanza). The airplane has the power to do anything you want and can get to FL410 in 11 min. at gross and from FL 410 to 10,000 in about 3 min. The auto-pilot is the best boat anchor I have ever seen installed in an aircraft so hand flying is the norm. At FL 390 and above, if you think it, it happens (thumb and forefinger only on the controls).
When I was 12 yrs old I thought that cargo Lear pilots had the best job in the world, and I was right for about 6 months. After that everything becomes numbers and you wish you had a better quality of life, more pay, and newer equipment. This becomes painfully evident when the "hot freight" in back over-rides all reasoning in the front.
If you get to fly a Lear for fun there is no better light jet to be in. If you fly it for a job, I recommend the Citation with expensive people in the back who will pay you not to take chances instead of boxes that pay TO take chances.
