Originally Posted by
Saintly
I was referring to TAS, not IAS.
But yeah if only the F50 was more sleeker in terms of fuselage. With those powerful engines (PW125B) it could probably cruise at 300+ knots TAS.
I knew that, but without GPS or FMS we always just thought in IAS... No one would accuse the F50 of looking aerodynamic!! But I am not sure if the design would work at higher speeds, the F50 already flew nose down at it's low Vmo of around 225. Cruising at 250 IAS would require a change in angle of incidence. But maybe a sleeker design would have allowed to cruise at higher altitude getting that higher TAS. I think it got beat by the D8 and the ATR due to its higher empty weight though. 72 seat ATR weighs about the same as a F50, when both empty IIRC.