Bluehauler
No need thanks I already know.
I like your toy collection.
The Conquest is indeed legendary and yes have carried AKL on one occasion and another occasion when attempting to 'recover' someone from Minnie Creek ex Perth in the teeth of an oncoming Cyclone which had already crossed the coast North of Carnarvon needed to and could carry Alice out of Perth as the alternate for the return to Perth.
Needless to say we managed to 'get in' to Perth.
Just love having all that fuel.
They stopped the Conquest when they stopped piston production but mostly because it was too good and was bleeding the Citation sales. It had been intended for the private operator who wasn't up to the Citation and over 300- 400 miles it was neck and neck with the Conquest eating the Citation on fuel, it was also cutting across their FAR 25 philosophy for that form of transport.
It took us a long time to get the type accepted in Australia because the "experts" were applying B200 speeds and FF to the fuel capacity and deciding it wouldn't go anywhere with a load.
But we got there and in the west it was THE FIFO type and the WA RFDS were the first to break away and I think they wish they could buy some more new ones. There was a long queue overseas for theirs when they changed them out.
My only regret in life is that I couldn't save my pennies fast enough to buy one of them or can't save them fast enough to buy a really nice young un before it's too late and they all get too old and high time.
They are the perfect aircraft for a private operator who wants speed, range and economics. mrs gaunty and the kids non stop almost anywhere in Oz or tanker fuel to out of the way spots and quick enough to stop the "are we there yet" from the back.
I am sitting here looking at the HP turbine wheel from one of the engines I use as a paperweight and the red dust packed in it, with the blade tips eroded by the soot not the dust and think about all of the really great times we spent a metre or so from each other. Although I wasn't spinning at nearly 40,000 rpm, close to at times but not quite.
Ahhhhhhhhhhhh.
Now if I save really hard that Ultra is looking good but it is the Sovereign that has got me really turned on now.
Citation X cabin, straight wing, trailing link, M0.78, full seats 2300nm out of anywhere your B200 will go.
This is going to be the next "Conquest" and you should be campaigning for one in your toybox.