Fast business jet, old

Aginor · December 22, 2020, 2:24pm

Hey y’all!

I am compiling my aircraft wish list once more, now that I am in the market for FS2020 addons that will surely come plentiful very soon.

And for that reason I have a special question to all of you who are experts on civilian planes since I am searching for something special.
I have come to like business jets, but I want another challenge: try one without a glass cockpit. One that doesn’t provide me with GPS so I can’t just shrug and go on when my VOR/NDB/VFR skills fail.

So I am searching for a:

business jet, maximum size would be comparable to a Citation Longitude or so. Ideally smaller but it should have a bit of range, 2500nm or so.
it should be fast, ideally more than 400 knots or so at cruising altitude
it should be “old”, no glass cockpit. So probably 1980s or earlier.

Any suggestions?

jenrick · December 22, 2020, 12:18am

Lockheed JetStar - Wikipedia

Oh and real world they had some neat liveries…

Bearhedge · December 22, 2020, 12:21am

All the engines! All of them! That flight deck looks busy but cool, hehe. I’m going to watch this thread - a steam gauge business jet for FS2020 sounds like a great way to explore the world!

BeachAV8R · December 22, 2020, 1:51am

An older analog gauge Falcon 50 would work…or a bit smaller…but a Lear 35 or something like that.

Navynuke99 · December 22, 2020, 3:56am

Ah yes, I remember that as my introduction to flying the jets (badly) in FS5.

How about an old Gulfstream II?

chipwich · December 22, 2020, 5:24am

If you are going to go fast, you might as well look the part and break a few windows while your at it.

Aginor · December 22, 2020, 9:09am

All good suggestions!

I like the unusual, quirky ones.

The JetStar looks great, but I am not sure I could handle its complexity.
But: people say it handled pretty well, even at slow speeds.

I really like the Learjet 35/36 especially because of the tip tanks which make it very sexy.
It is also fast and relatively nimble.

I think the Gulfstream II is a tad too big for me.
I guess I’ll rather aim at a 10 person airplane than on one that can carry 20 people.

The Falcon 50 is fast.
I admit I am not a fan of its looks though, especially how the top engine looks from the side.
But it would be an option.

Another plane I looked at is the North American Sabreliner. Sadly it falls short of my 2500nm range wish. But it looks like a fighter jet and reportedly also handles well.

Related question:
Is there any good source to get info about the systems/instruments of those planes?
Such as if I want to know whether a plane has a weather radar, ILS, de-icing equipment or thrust reversers?

Sure, right now this is only a wish list.
IF one of those planes becomes available for FS2020 one would have to check the usual sim stuff as well.

schurem · December 22, 2020, 2:53pm

If and you find a learjet, be sure to let us know. I love its looks.

chipwich · December 22, 2020, 6:57pm

I’m hoping that Xtreme Prototypes will create an MSFS version of their GLJ-25D. It puts the excitement back into civilian flight sims. Like, Is this thing going to kill me now? kind of excitement.

schurem · December 22, 2020, 7:32pm

Which is the best kind TBH. Almost as good as the “I better kill that fokker before he kills me” kind DCS and Il-2 give.

smokinhole · December 22, 2020, 7:37pm

How about an HS 125? I think at least later variants had the range.

BeachAV8R · December 22, 2020, 11:01pm

Yeah…great little rocket that one. It would be awesome in VR and MSFS…

smokinhole · December 23, 2020, 12:44am

If they get it right in VR, you’ll have to fly with your head tilted slightly right (or your seat way down low)

Aginor · December 23, 2020, 8:14am

Really? Why is that?

schurem · December 23, 2020, 9:07am

Because of the size of balls you need to fly it?

Aginor · December 23, 2020, 9:58am

I just realized it might just have to do with the shape of the cockpit.
But yeah, that’s also a possibility!

smokinhole · December 23, 2020, 11:32am

I only flew the 31 but I believe the cockpit is similar in size to the 24/35. At 6’5” its a tight fit. Worth it though. There isn’t a jet without an ejection system on this planet that is more fun to fly. The 31 was maybe a little less fun because all the bad habits were engineered away. The classic Lears were prone to Dutch-rolling, mach tucking and running out of gas before takeoff. In other words, they were perfect!