Very awesome. Congrats to him. Proud papa I'm sure.

Mark, what a great opportunity - I think overall you're going to enjoy this.

Having retired from airline flying, I flew part-time for an outfit with four Lear 45's. They were fantastic people to work for, although (without wishing to rain on your parade) I had mixed feelings about the Lear.

The good parts:

The low-level performance is stunning. Climbing up above FL400 was quick and effortless (providing you weren't in cloud having to use the NAI). Here's an aircraft clearly designed to operate above FL400 - at (say) FL350 maintaining a .79 cruise needed the thrust levers in the MCT detent; yet go higher and the power (and fuel flows) came right back.

The cockpit was comfortable, quiet and had great visibility. Entry (and particularly) exit required some contortions though.

The no so good parts:

The handling is very heavy! Other than airline types, the only other jet I've flown is the Falcon 10 (very agile); I found the Lear disconcerting in this respect.

Flying at night - cockpit lacks decent lighting to read charts, plus there are annoying reflections of ground lighting from the windscreen - very noticeable when landing.

The Lear has an APU (great!) but it's noisy and is not available in flight (not exactly airliner type redundancy, is it?).

But it's like any other type - enjoy it for its good points!

The 36A I used to fly was terrific. Aux heat and A/C that were both available in flight. No APU but our airplane was very reliable so we didn't know any better. I don't remember ever having a glare issue but the cockpit lighting is pretty weak. The little map light on that flexi stalk is about it for night time reading.

Getting in and out of the cockpit takes some flexibility. Getting out I suggest you turn around and put both knees on the seat cushion and then climb out. Getting in, whoever is in first will have to lean waaaayyy off to the side to give you room for the climb in. I'm 6' 4" and people I work with now question how I was able to get in there. The ride was worth it, you'll make it happen. Performance wise we did everything at 2000 FPM and never had a weight or CG problem ever. Our longest flight was Philly to St. Thomas USVI but the 36 has the bigger fuselage tank.

Soak in the performance and don't dwell on the short comings. Once you put that thing at V2+10, you'll be hooked.....

What happened?

V2+10 is that your question?

Without flying it I'd guess it means you're on a high speed elevator, at least 4-6,000'/minute in the Lear vs 1.5-2,000' in TBM.

I just wondered if Mark had gone to school for the Lear and was flying one or not?

Climb is one thing. Emergency descents, which I was practicing yesterday, are another. Fun!

Flew the LR45 for 2 years.. Incredible plane - Like a rocket

I was surprised to read the previous post about the 45s handling.
The 31a is beautifully light and nimble.

(Although, after getting out of the Mu2 a container ship would feel sporty )

I just wondered if Mark had gone to school for the Lear and was flying one or not?

Climb is one thing. Emergency descents, which I was practicing yesterday, are another. Fun!

Welp....the latest is that the buyer is putting an Astra SP (G100) through a pre-buy. I guess I am going to Astra school if this deal goes through.

What does the BT brain trust know about the Astra -SP (1993)?

The SP is not a G100. The SPX is the same as a G100. Different engines. If I had a paved runway I'd have one by now, but it looks like I'll need to pave my own first. I'd take it over a lear any day because of the range and taller cabin. And it'll out run (smoke) everything in it's price range.

Great plane. If you want to do it in aircraft and save the three week school I can get you in touch with a guy who does in aircraft training.

I meant SPX. 2001

Thats the one you want. Fast. They have been losing value in the market about as fast as any jet ever has. But they are fast. Get ya to Hawaii as well.

Mark, it seems like you might be in for a world of fun!

Ha! I will believe it when I see it! That said, it is a nice aircraft. Hawaii huh? Hmmmm.