At first glance... the 30-series Lears seem to have mostly hour-driven and landing-driven inspections. 300 / 600 / 1200 /2400 hour inspections and 3000 and 6000 landing inspections. That would seem to favor low-utilization users. The "killer" item would appear to be the 12 calender year inspection... or hitting any gear time landing limits.

Richard Bacon has a low utilization maintenance program for the Lear 35. I haven't had to chance to find out what it stretches out.

Compared to most Citations, Lears with TFE-731's tend to be on Engine programs. That's good as (almost) nobody wants to pay the bill to re-engine an older Citation.

Ignoring the need for a co-pilot, what are you thoughts on Citation V/Ultra versus a Lear 35 or 31A/ER from complete ownership cost point of view (say over 6 years) for someone flying at most 100 hours a year ?

My gut tells me that a Citation V/Ultra on Bacon's low utilization program would be hard to beat cost-wise, but the Lears of course have lots more ramp appeal and yes they are faster and longer range/payload seems a given.

What would you buy with say a $1.5M acquisition budget ?

-Pascal

That's an easy question to answer.

Astra SPX

I just have to figure out how to deal with the copilot issue. I am starting to see that solution as well but it will take a bit of time to accept it.

For 1.5 you could probably get a Premiere 1A

100 hours a year and you're looking at planes that require a copilot? I "guess" I can see it both ways. If I flew 100 hours a year I'd forget how to fly.

However, buying a Lear 35 is super cheap. Hire a couple guys. I guess it's cheaper than NetJets. Is it cheaper than NetJets?

I didn't think an ultra required a copilot.

The co-pilot thing is a non-issue. Part 91 I believe the person in the right seat doesn't even need to be type rated???

It's a lot about range/speed, but mostly it's about reducing fixed costs as most jet maintenance programs assume 300 hours a year and it gets ridiculously expensive per hour at the sub-150 hour level per year.

Absolute minimum NBAA IFR range needs to be 1,400nm.


Keep hearing terrible things maintenance/dispatch reliability and support-wise regarding Westwinds.

-Pascal

Trust me, if you don’t already have Lear Jet history, you don’t want to go down that rabbit hole.

Your best bet is look at a Beech Premier or Cessna Citation for around 1.5M.

Premier 1A real word range seems way too short: 1,125nm?

Which Lear rabbit hole? Looking for arguments for/against Lear 31/35 compared to V/Ultra.

I really like the idea of a Dual G600/GTN Citation 560 (Jettech STC).

No room in small Lear panels to upgrade (no room in cockpit, period!).

-Pascal

I'll let you know. I have a late-serial number 35A under contract. I never thought I would own a two pilot airplane, but I never go anywhere without my bride and since she is a pilot I figure why not?

.80m cruise, 1800+ mile range, FL450, and since it's normally just the two of us, the dog, and a few bags, it should perform like a fighter!

I have a little time in the Astra. Nice, fast airplane with good range. They can have flap/slat rigging issues. Otherwise, high dispatch rate.

If you're looking at Lear 35's you would also want to consider the falcon 10.

Fun to think along these lines

True. No type rating required for copilot. Multi, instrument and a 61.56 (?) check, which can be signed off by the typed pilot. Commercial needed if they are paid.

True. No type rating required for copilot. Multi, instrument and a 61.56 (?) check, which can be signed off by the typed pilot. Commercial needed if they are paid.

If you are looking at the Jettech STC Garmin install for Citation 560s, I would verify that STC applies to an Ultra.
Robert

Lear 35, one of the best looking planes ever made and a great performer. My friend's just got out of the gear overhaul. Quoted $150k, came out at $275k. There were a couple extras in there, but as I heard the majority really was the gear. Hmmmm...