Hamilton Jet
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Timbuktu
Posts: 962
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
aeroncaman: Those of us professionally involved with private jets can see that Hamilton may have got a sub-optimal deal from TAG...
But you're right; chaps like him are where the money comes from.
But you're right; chaps like him are where the money comes from.
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Where the Money Takes Me
Posts: 947
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If you know the results of his needs analysis then feel free to comment - unless of course you think you know, then by all means make complete arses of yourselves by explaining what an awful decision he's made.
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: I can see it from here.
Posts: 678
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
In the circles he moves in I would hazard a guess that he has a wealth (pardon the pun) of unbiased information at his fingertips, B.E. would be one of them.
I'll jump in and side with the ones that say that unless you know exactly what the deal is all about, you cannot comment on Hamilton and why he got a Challenger.
Do we even know what type of Challenger he got?
IMHO he didn't pay the 20M pounds advertized in the headlines (especially if it is a used Challenger), that is just for show and to make people talk which seems to have worked rather well, especially the jealous or envious people of this world.
Besides he is not the only F1 driver to have bought a jet aircraft and he won’t be the last either. I’m sure many people around him talked and suggested to him what aircraft could accomplish the various missions required by him.
Nothing wrong in a Challenger for his mission profiles. Yes there are other options and aircraft with better performance available to buy or lease but at a substantial increase in cost.
Do we even know what type of Challenger he got?
IMHO he didn't pay the 20M pounds advertized in the headlines (especially if it is a used Challenger), that is just for show and to make people talk which seems to have worked rather well, especially the jealous or envious people of this world.
Besides he is not the only F1 driver to have bought a jet aircraft and he won’t be the last either. I’m sure many people around him talked and suggested to him what aircraft could accomplish the various missions required by him.
Nothing wrong in a Challenger for his mission profiles. Yes there are other options and aircraft with better performance available to buy or lease but at a substantial increase in cost.
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Timbuktu
Posts: 962
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Jet Jockey A4: it's a rumour network. Commentary is everything. 
It's a 604, newish one, might be straight out of the factory.
It's by no means a terrible decision - it's a nice machine and he'll get good service from TAG. The thing is, rather, that he perhaps could have made a better investment; this interests those of us who are involved with private jets, who have been tightening our belts in these austere times.
Regarding the mission profile, the original article mentions frequent trips to LA... requiring a stop with a 604. Might be able to get away without one in, for example, a 7X - or he could have gone with something smaller & cheaper, and chartered heavy metal for hops across the pond.
It's a 604, newish one, might be straight out of the factory.
It's by no means a terrible decision - it's a nice machine and he'll get good service from TAG. The thing is, rather, that he perhaps could have made a better investment; this interests those of us who are involved with private jets, who have been tightening our belts in these austere times.
Regarding the mission profile, the original article mentions frequent trips to LA... requiring a stop with a 604. Might be able to get away without one in, for example, a 7X - or he could have gone with something smaller & cheaper, and chartered heavy metal for hops across the pond.
In reply to Booglebox...
Yes I understand this is a rumors forum but none the less let us take some BS out of it...
If it is a 604 it is definitely not new since it has been replaced by the 605 since January 2007 on the production line.
Like I said the quotes of 20M pounds or 23M Euros are highly exaggerated IMHO because a 604 depending on its built date, total hours and options is probably worth between $13 and $18M dollars.
Now you mention the 7X which is a relatively new aircraft costing close to $50M (new) which means it is most likely 3 times the price (if not more) than Hamilton paid for his Challenger… That buys a lot of gas!
On some of the city pairings that Hamilton will or might be doing even a GLEX or G550 would need to stop. So yes the slower and shorter distance flying 604 might not have the same performance level as the 3 other aircrafts but in the end its price point and its overall performance are a good value IMO.
Most people don’t qualify for a GLEX, 7X or G550. The manufacturers of those types of aircrafts look at corporations or people that are valued in the billions of dollars as serious contenders or buyers for those aircrafts.
If it is a 604 it is definitely not new since it has been replaced by the 605 since January 2007 on the production line.
Like I said the quotes of 20M pounds or 23M Euros are highly exaggerated IMHO because a 604 depending on its built date, total hours and options is probably worth between $13 and $18M dollars.
Now you mention the 7X which is a relatively new aircraft costing close to $50M (new) which means it is most likely 3 times the price (if not more) than Hamilton paid for his Challenger… That buys a lot of gas!
On some of the city pairings that Hamilton will or might be doing even a GLEX or G550 would need to stop. So yes the slower and shorter distance flying 604 might not have the same performance level as the 3 other aircrafts but in the end its price point and its overall performance are a good value IMO.
Most people don’t qualify for a GLEX, 7X or G550. The manufacturers of those types of aircrafts look at corporations or people that are valued in the billions of dollars as serious contenders or buyers for those aircrafts.
Last edited by Jet Jockey A4; 6th Feb 2013 at 11:55.
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Canada
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
G-LCDH is a brand new Challenger 605 (serial number 5904). Imported straight from Bombardier on December 18, 2012. List price for a 605 is about US$ 28,000,000 (GBP 18,000,000/EUR 20,700,000). Mr. Hamilton can jet off from London to visit Ms. Scherzinger in Hollywood in about 12 hours of flying time with a quick stop in lovely Iqaluit (Frobisher Bay, northern Canada) for fuel. By the way, an easy way to distinguish between a Challenger 605 and the earlier variants is the rounded tailcone versus the square style on the 604/601ER. Also, the cabin windows on the 605 are taller than the older versions.
In reply to Pratt X 3...
Thanks for confirming the model as a 605.
From the picture I saw of the aircraft it was hard to tell if it was a rounded tailcone or the older style square version.
Although new and retailing at $28M I doubt very much that was the "out the door" price Lewis paid for it.
Regardless of all previous comments, it is an excellent aircraft and it should fulfill Lewis' travel needs adequately.
From the picture I saw of the aircraft it was hard to tell if it was a rounded tailcone or the older style square version.
Although new and retailing at $28M I doubt very much that was the "out the door" price Lewis paid for it.
Regardless of all previous comments, it is an excellent aircraft and it should fulfill Lewis' travel needs adequately.
In reply to Kelly Hopper...
My original line said...
"On some of the city pairings that Hamilton will or might be doing even a GLEX or G550 would need to stop."
This was not meant to say that the GLEX or G550 could not do Europe - LA nonstop but rather on some other city pairings that he may encounter (India – LA or Mid East - LA) that these would be outside the GLEX and G550’s range.
So if the distance between two cities were say 6800 nm then the GLEX and G550 would have to stop as would the 605 of course. The only difference being that both the GLEX and G550 could do it at a much higher speed (less time) and in greater comfort due to their pressurization systems.
In the end buying a 7X, or GLEX or G550 would require spending at least twice the money over a brand new 605 and the operational cost would go up significantly too, something I suspect Mr. Hamilton was well aware of before his purchase.
Like I said before, $30M extra buys you a lot of fuel!
FYI… I fly both the Challenger and GLEX aircrafts.
"On some of the city pairings that Hamilton will or might be doing even a GLEX or G550 would need to stop."
This was not meant to say that the GLEX or G550 could not do Europe - LA nonstop but rather on some other city pairings that he may encounter (India – LA or Mid East - LA) that these would be outside the GLEX and G550’s range.
So if the distance between two cities were say 6800 nm then the GLEX and G550 would have to stop as would the 605 of course. The only difference being that both the GLEX and G550 could do it at a much higher speed (less time) and in greater comfort due to their pressurization systems.
In the end buying a 7X, or GLEX or G550 would require spending at least twice the money over a brand new 605 and the operational cost would go up significantly too, something I suspect Mr. Hamilton was well aware of before his purchase.
Like I said before, $30M extra buys you a lot of fuel!
FYI… I fly both the Challenger and GLEX aircrafts.
Last edited by Jet Jockey A4; 6th Feb 2013 at 12:40.
Yes I know where the "West Coast" is but you fell to understand that Mr. Hamilton will not only be leaving from Europe to get to this West Coast. He travels the world during his F1 season so he could be leaving from China, from India from the Mid East and so on.
And you totally miss the point of a business jet then...
- You leave from where you want when you want.
- You don't have to be annoyed with all the other things that come with
airline travel...
- Plus 2 to 3 hour check in on international flights...
- Total privacy and not stuck with 300 other passengers...
- Better in-flight service if he chooses that option.
- Better security.
And you totally miss the point of a business jet then...
- You leave from where you want when you want.
- You don't have to be annoyed with all the other things that come with
airline travel...
- Plus 2 to 3 hour check in on international flights...
- Total privacy and not stuck with 300 other passengers...
- Better in-flight service if he chooses that option.
- Better security.
Last edited by Jet Jockey A4; 6th Feb 2013 at 13:43.
