Since this was on an experimental AWC, perhaps they flew it at FL450?

Perhaps they underestimated the tailwind?

The block airspeed was 297 knots, 271 when you take out the supposed tailwind. They were clearly operating it WAY off typical norms, probably finding a new much slower LRC setting designed to stay in the tailwind as long as possible.

I suspect they cheated on the tailwind. Some soudings at FL410 on the night of June 4, 2013:

TFX: 310 at 63
BIS: 335 at 42
MPX: 290 at 29
DTX: 240 at 103
BUF: 240 at 87

Hard to see how that averages out to 26 knots, so either the wrong day or they cheated.

Give me date, time, altitude and I can compute the real tailwind they had. If it was more than the 26 knots, then they were operating at REALLY slow true airspeeds.

For reference, a 441, Commander, Merlin, in ZERO wind, would complete the trip in the same time. Who wants a jet to fly slower than a turboprop?

(Mine won't due to having less range.)

Mike C.

A more conservative 200nm of extra range may be something that could be expected using safer flight profiles. The question will be if a potential buyer is willing to pay 300K for this performance boost. It all depends and the optics will depend on how one flies and what the airplane is used for.

From my field I rarely get any type of climb restrictions - cleared straight to altitude almost always. If I lived in the northeast, there would rarely if ever be an opportunity to take advantage of this. But this is true of any jet.

OTOH - How many 1500 nm range small jets are out there? IF, these winglets enhance performance as advertised, it will make the performance numbers for the 525's (CJ through CJ3) potentially best in class.

Since this was on an experimental AWC, perhaps they flew it at FL450?

Perhaps they underestimated the tailwind?

The block airspeed was 297 knots, 271 when you take out the supposed tailwind. They were clearly operating it WAY off typical norms, probably finding a new much slower LRC setting designed to stay in the tailwind as long as possible.

I suspect they cheated on the tailwind. Some soudings at FL410 on the night of June 4, 2013:

TFX: 310 at 63
BIS: 335 at 42
MPX: 290 at 29
DTX: 240 at 103
BUF: 240 at 87

Hard to see how that averages out to 26 knots, so either the wrong day or they cheated.

Give me date, time, altitude and I can compute the real tailwind they had. If it was more than the 26 knots, then they were operating at REALLY slow true airspeeds.

For reference, a 441, Commander, Merlin, in ZERO wind, would complete the trip in the same time. Who wants a jet to fly slower than a turboprop?

(Mine won't due to having less range.)

Mike C.

Like I said in an earlier post, if you want 1500+nm range get a CJ2 or above. CJ2/CJ2+/CJ3/CJ4 can all do it with no gimicks and IFR reserves. Being able to fly at FL450 provides much more range.