If you're counting trucks it is, .92 Mach. However, if you're flying an ex-warbird, maybe not. The various Migs, etc. are quicker, just not legal to fly them that fast. there are even a few F5s around, and they're supersonic, a few T38s which are transonic. the new two place, F18 look a like, is rumored to be .94 mach for cruise, but it's not certified yet. Art
Citation X is still the king! Hey Artie how are you? I think the question was directed to private jets not military jets. Feel free to correct me if I am wrong.
Charles: Of course you're right, I was doing my usual: stirring things up. Life is good, Baron motors rebuilt, and I'm looking at turboing them, they claim 225 kts at 14k, which isn't too bad a number. More importantly, when I leave Tahoe, and there's a bit of weather, the climb rate will get me through the ice, without the angst that occurs now. They claim sea level power through 18k, which isn't bad. Hope things are well for you. Art
sounds like your going to have a fine airplane when your done. I agree the climb is the best part. It will make the airplane much more cost efficient in the long run. Things are well here too.
You could buy 15 Eclipse Jets for that price. The one I saw on the ramp at ABQ looked like it was about 15 times smaller than a citation as well!
The G550 normal cruise speed is Mach 0.85, high-speed is Mach 0.87. Maximum operating mach number is Mach 0.885 according to their site: http://www.gulfstream.com/g550/
I believe the G5 is a mach .82 airplane but it has much longer legs than the CX so it is better suited for international travel.
What was the jet that was supposed to be ultra cheap. Like 800K or something. Last time I heard they were fine-tuning small, light but powerfull engines?
Eclipse 500. Its going to cost 1 to 1.5 million. Eclipse Aviation is located right next to the general aviation ramp where i fly. I've taxied by them and they look very small, and ive heard they only seat 6. Theres no point in buying a jet for only 4 pax.
I meant theres no point for such a small jet for transportation. It really is TINY. If a business can afford an eclipse jet odds are it can afford a king air, or a bigger jet.
That would be nice to have as a private pilot. I would also bet you can fly it without a copilot unlike many of the bigger jets, making it a logical choice for private pilots with a mil and a half burning a hole in their pocket.
Great way to go if you don't want to do the flying. We have an Embraer Legacy fraction with Flight Options but keep the King Air for for shorter hauls and for us to fly. Of course the Legacy fraction also cost about as much as the King Air did!!!
It isn't the purchase price that'll get you, it's the cost to run it. Then you've got to get a letter of authorization to fly it, and after 9/11, there have been serious resrictions on flying them around. There are several in private hands in California, and their use has been severely restricted. Remember: they are faster than the F16 that they use to intercept a potential terrorist, and that makes for severe restrictions. Art
I flew a Falcon 10 in 1999 back when it was still the fastest coperate jet. It is still an incredible performer. It is probably the closest thing I will get to a fighter.
The Citation X was certaified in 1996 and has a cruise speed of 0.92M, making it the fastest civilian aircraft currently flying as well as the fatest corporate jet.
