Hey gang,

Was spending a little time perusing the BT archives and was surprised that I didn't run across any discussions about buying and single pilot flying of the Cessna Citation I or 500, what ever it's called.

I've been intrigued by this concept for several years now and have wondered why there's not more discussion on buying one of these and updating the avionics vs the VLJ industry that hasn't quite gotten off the ground?

My thinking was that a person could buy an older 500 for less than $500K, upgrade the avionics for less than $100k and come in way under 1/2 of any of the VLJ's, Pilatus or TBM. Haven't spent as much time looking @ the real operating costs but don't recall anything about $80K brake jobs ever being mentioned in regards to the Citations.

So, there you have it. Let the discussion, criticism, utter dismay @ even thinking about anything but a Beech, mocking & ridicule begin....

Some VLJs have promised near jet speed for the same or less cost/mile as a light piston twin. I don't think the Slowtation could make that work.

My boat goes 1009' per gallon.....I'm used to it!

Some VLJs have promised near jet speed for the same or less cost/mile as a light piston twin. I don't think the Slowtation could make that work.

_________________
-lance B55


I realize that it wouldn't (theoretically) be as cheap to operate as the VLJ's or the Single Turbo Props. But with the acquisition cost being 1/2, 1/3, or even 1/10 of the the afore mentioned aircraft, that buys a lot of kerosene!?!?

Besides, don't they cruise around 350kts and have ranges somewhere around 1300 miles? Dunno?

I have a friend with a Citation and apparently I begged and slobbered enough that he let me fly it once. It was a short flight from Smyrna, TN to Oxford, OH. We filed for FL230 on the way up and FL280 coming back.

On the way back it was just the two of us with no bags and some undetermined fuel load. ATC kept us at 4,000 for a while coming out of Oxford, and I could just feel him oozing discontent at the fuel burn. Finally we were cleared up FL-Whatever and he says, "Go on, pull that thing back - let's get up there and save some fuel."

So pull I did and we climbed initially at 6,000 ( ) fpm, then later at 3-4000 closer to FL280. True airspeed was around 350 ktas. Maybe 360. Fuel burn was, if I read the collins correctly, about 540 pph each side. If I'm doing the math right, that's about $640/hr in fuel assuming Jet-A at $4/gallon.

I have on idea what the total operating costs are, but I'd feel confident guessing they're well north of $1k/hr. But man... what a ride!

Oh, and (for once) I greased the landing. I never want to land it again because I prefer him to think I'm actually a good pilot!

I see this argument a lot, hell, I use it on myself from time to time.

Who is paying cash for a jet outright? Not many people I hang out with.

If you have a stack of benjamins sufficient to buy a new Citation Mustang (wha, 2.8MM worth?), then yes, you might rationalize to, instead, buy an older Citation I (for wha, 500k?) and then enjoy 2.3MM in Jet fuel.

At 3 gallons per minute, or $15/mn, you will enjoy 2,500 hours in free gas with the differential. Not bad!

Of course, I wouldn't want to compute the maintenance cost of those 2,500 hours. I'll bet your real advantage is closer to 1,000 hours compared to a mustang.

And you get to fly a tired old plane, enjoy much more downtime for repairs and replacements, and you're flying a plane someone else smoked habanas in with his fly girls way before you got there. Like since 1974 or so.

http://www.controller.com/listings/airc ... 140475.htm

I see quite a few of the early Citations come into my field.

This one looks pretty clean and I've always thought it was smart to look at one before a VLJ. Most do have bunches of hours though. It's seems that many have accumulated 6,000-10,000 hrs over the past 30 yrs. I would think that 200 hrs/yr is going to run in the neighborhood of $250,000.00 operating costs besides acquisition.

Early Citations are low on thrust and effeciency. The Stallion upgrade (and avionics) would be really nice but that's adding more than another million.

I have been thinking about getting an older Citation also. The Mustang is nice but I need a few more seats. I am thinking of getting one from Sierra http://www.sijet.com . They have a catalog that really explains everything and the history of the jet.

Now i have to get a type rating to fly it. I've found a couple of places that where I can get the rating. They are more money to own but hey I only live once

David,

Looks like you've been hanging out here for quite some time... Good to finally hear from ya.

I have all sorts of clients flying all sorts of CJ's and 'stangs. Planes are very easy to fly and world class performers out of short strips.

Check out citationjetpilots.org - this is where the owner-pilots hang out.