Page 12 - Volume 15 Number 10

engine manufacturer to cruise in MAX CRZ, I have tried CON/CLB for a short period immediately after leveling off in cruise at FL450 and found that the airplane will accelerate to and exceed the Maximum Operating Mach Number (Mmo) of .78. In other words, you can cruise at Mach .78 all the way up to the service ceiling of 45,000 feet, even though the maximum book figure at that altitude is about 425 knots at mid-cruise weight.To achieve the maximum possible range, the flight must be made at FL450. At that altitude, at long-10 • TWIN & TURBINErange cruise speed, fuel burn is under 800 pounds per hour, or about 120 gallons per hour. Cruising around 400 knots true air speed, you’re getting about 3.3 nautical miles per gallon, which is very efficient for a nine-seat airplane.For short trips at lower altitude, fuel burn can be significantly higher. For a 250 nautical mile trip, for example, where you might cruise at max cruise speed at FL300, fuel burn is about 1,600 pounds per hour, or 240 gallons per hour. This kind of variance of fuel burn with altitude is typicalThe avionics is the Prodigy system, which is based on the Garmin G1000 platform. Designed with a “quiet and dark” cockpit concept, the system feaures three 12.4 inch displays that integrate all primary flight, navigation, communication, terrain, traffic, weather, engine instrumentation and crew-alerting system data.of jets in this category. The good news is that the airplane climbs so quickly that you rarely cruise at altitudes as low as FL300; you can shoot right through the 30s and be above FL410 and away from 95 percent of the other air traffic in no time.Optional EquipmentCustomers can choose from a long list of available options. Some of my favorite pilot goodies are the satellite phone, HF radio, synthetic vision, and TCAS II. The satellite phone system is integrated with the Prodigy 300 flight deck, a Garmin G1000 derivative. A page on the AUX chapter of the MFD is dedicated toOCTOBER 2011AirteamImages Photoralph Duenas Photo