Here are some more numbers...

..........................................Eclipse...............................SF50

Max ramp weight...................6034................................6060
Useful load..........................2400.................................2300
Fuel (gallons)........................250.................................288

The two airports near my house, PAO and SQL, are 2,400' and 2,600', which is why my friend with the Eclipse bases it across the bay at HWD. With a 200' shorter takeoff roll, the SF50 might be doable at SQL, although marginal.

Great to have real numbers Arlen. Remember when looking at fuel capacity, the Cirrus is only burning through one engine. Seems like 200 gallons in the Cirrus will send you 3 hours at 275Kts with a one hour ifr reserve which will leave you 1100lbs for peeps and bags (while you fly half way across the US of A).

Don't necessarily assume better NM/gal in the single engine.



Also note that projected or pre-certification numbers are rarely met by the certified version.

Glenn, using the performance charts and figures on the Cirrus webs site, cruise speed of 275 kts would require more like 220 gal for 3 hr flight and 1 hr IFR reserve. I'm extrapolating from the figure shown for 210 and 300 kts. Assuming Cirrus' figure of 6.8 lbs/gallon, that's about 1500 lbs of fuel, leaving about 800# for payload. By my calculations, avg speed would be closer to 220 kts assuming 1100 lb payload and 3+1 flight plan.

I think the main difference in say the Eclipse vs the Cirrus is support and current engineering. They are both personal short range transport type planes; 1-2 people.

Thanks Russell. That was a bad WAG on my part.

I was blown away with the ergonomics of the cabin. The outboard aft jump seats typify Cirrus' out of the box thinking. And as was previously stated, the baggage compartment is simply huge. Everyone has a comfortable seat, easy to get in and out of, and a great view too.

No worries Glenn, I've been running lots of numbers since leaving a gallon of drool on the Fort Worth Convention Center floor on Thursday.

Someone help me with the math here. I must be getting screwed up. With 200 gallons the remaining useful load is at least a 1000 lbs. right? How far can the Cirrus jet go at say 230-240 kts on 200 gallons (factoring in a good 45 minute reserve)? In my A36 a remaining useful load of 1000lbs = 4 peeps and bags.

Yes, 940 # payload with 200 gal.

At 230 kts, range would be ~4 hours at that speed, assuming 45' reserve.

Roughly 43 GPH.

+1!

I am going to fly a jet WOT if possible. Didn't buy it to go slow.

There is at least one Eclipse based at SQL. And the takeoff distances quoted are probably figured differently due to differences in single vs twin certification. I know the Eclipse takeoff/landing distances are distances to 50' AGL, I don't think they publish the ground roll. The Cirrus landing distance of 1245' is ground roll, they don't publish from 50' AGL distance. So... kind of comparing apples to oranges. Takeoff to 50' is 2128' in the Cirrus and 2433' in the Eclipse, but again, the Eclipse goes through the whole V1/Vr/V2 protocol on takeoff that simply doesn't apply to a single engine airplane, so... kind of hard to directly compare. They are both pretty decent.

With all these little jets, the short field issue tends to be landing distances because they are slippery (little drag, no props) and it's critical to have good speed control on final. With no reverse, they better have good brakes. We have had at least one Eclipse go into the overrun at SQL (300' of extra pavement), luckily none off the end yet that I know of.

Of course, Larry Eillison bases his CJ4 here, there's a CJ1+ (I think) here, and I have seen CJ2s and 3s in and out... You can get 'er done if you pay attention to weight control and good speed control on final.

That is impressive. I've seen a couple of Eclipses on the ground at PAO, so I know it's doable. There's a difference between doing it occasionally while lightly loaded, though, and making it your home base, where half your takeoffs and landings take place.