Challenger 601 Runway Perf
 

We are currently evaluating aircraft with the ability to taker fuel for multi-leg west coast trips. Mostly Las Vegas-Portland-Seattle-Los Angeles in various combinations with occasional Las Vegas-Honolulu and Las Vegas-Dallas trips. Trips would usually be flown with 4-5 Pax. Pegged on 3000nm aircraft so we can get fuel discounts at home base. Looking at Falcon 50, and Challenger 601 series (3A). Trying to keep this to 5MM and below with a little wiggle room there to buy the right tool for the job. Using a Westwind II now based in Washington, but moving HQ to Vegas.

Here's the trick: We want to base the aircraft at KHND (Henderson, NV), which is a 6,501 ft runway, 2,492ft field elev. Just cheaper over there than moving to McCarran. That would be where we are going out with heavy fuel loads. The other fields we are using frequently are KSMO, KVNY, KSBA, KRNT, KUAO. With the exception of Santa Barbara and Van Nuys, these are all mostly 5000 ft fields. We are leaning heavily toward the 601 for the cabin and op costs, but looking at numbers from Conklin, this thing seems like a runway pig, especially in the summer months in Las Vegas. All Part 91 ops.

Would like to hear some real world experience with the 601, climb segment, etc. and limiters on weight/distance in this type of situation. Much thanks!

Check your PM. Thanks!

Falcon, hands down! Not only does the 601 need a fair amount of real estate to get of the ground, it wants to slide any time the runway is wet/snow covered further more the solid LE just does not do well with any contamination, all in all its a bit of a dog compared with Gruman/Falcon/Astra, but pax like the head room, so they buy them!

601-3A does fine most days with 6000' of runway and full fuel but runs into limitations if wet and serious limitations if contaminated.

Also, there are days in winter when the -3A will have a wet footprint to Hawaii on aircraft without the saddle tanks. We would struggle with this once per year. The -3AER better for this.

Check you PM for more....