Always love comments like these - Bill please tell us about all the jets you’ve personally owned...I’d imagine it’s a long list given your response.

Congrats James - Can’t wait to hear more.

Plenty funny Bill. I’ve had the slowest MU2 for over 3 years so having the slowest jet doesn’t bother me a bit. I mean it’s still a jet, right?

Congratulations James. Its a great old bird and after a year, I am thoroughly enjoying the ownership experience, despite of having spent 10s of AMUs on unscheduled MX .

I hear you Bill - after about a year of flying mine, I am ready for a real 450 kt jet . Its funny how perspectives change with just a bit of time on one. 350 kt seemed plenty fast and even a bit much on some SIDs/STARs in the beginning.

What you putting in Conrad? I thought you were going to the Bravo.

Was my first jet as a commercial pilot and always loved it, still remember the 8%N2 and lift the gate. Congrats!

Congrats James. The Citation is certainly quieter, more comfortable and presumably safer than an MU2. I almost bought one 2 weeks ago but I decided that the fuel burn compared to my MU2 could not be justified. That being said if my "want" takes over, I'll get one. Please let us know what your actual fuel burn is. 340kts on 115gph is a little optimistic or in a descent.

Sandy - 340@115gph@FL370 in level flight in ISA conditions is pretty normal for me in my airplane.

Congrats. Fun times ahead. Less stress too. Welcome to the Jet Elite Club. Mike C. see how easy it is?

Crazy that’s about a 10% speed increase for a 60% bigger fuel bill over an mu2. That said, if a 501 would do 1300nm I would suck it up and get one. Just big enough you can squeeze two families in, just small enough you don’t feel odd stepping out of it alone.

Even I had a big pile of cash and could afford a p300, it feels like a lot of plane to drag around if you do as I do and fly solo a lot.

This made me laugh Bill - All good!

Anthony,

I find your use of math, logic and numbers offensive. Anything that makes me question my sanity in this move, I vehemently reject.

See the graph

The Citation is safer than an MU2, no question.

The Citation won't make a dangerous pilot safe, however. For example, scud running at night in mountains:

https://aviation-safety.net/database/re ... 20180415-1

Mike C.

That's what keeps me out of the JT15 powered 501s. Not enough more performance to justify the move. That's is what happens when you compare one of the most efficient and fastest turboprops to one of the slowest jets.


A 501 with FJ44 probably can, both the "Stallion" (no extra fuel) and the "Eagle II" (730 lbs more fuel in wing humps).

Sierra claims Stallion does 402 KTAS max, 385 KTAS cruise, FL430 ceiling in 25 minutes, 1581 nm "VFR" range (whatever that means). I'd assume these are "salesman" numbers, and real world is something less, but it will be faster, higher, longer range than stock by quite a bit. This comes from a trifecta of gains: climbs faster to altitude, cruises higher (FL430, stock is FL410), and has more efficient engines.

The Eagle II is somewhat less beneficial as the fuel hump affects the wing drag at higher mach numbers. I was somewhat underwhelmed by the one Eagle II ride I had, seemed unable to go above mach 0.64. The extra fuel wasn't enough to comfortably make west coast for me, and the Stallion was plenty to do it with a fuel stop, so if I was going 501, I'd get a Stallion and do the fuel stop. But the Stallion is rare, the Eagle II is more common.

Still thinking about an SII with FJ44, though. Long range, faster, bigger, and almost identical fuel burn for any given mission as the 501 + FJ44. I'm tied up with other matters right now, so my jet acquisition is on hold for now.

Mike C.

Someone posted that the citation is better out of Aspen, for us bonanza drivers, why? An MU-2 can climb there I would assume SE?