Originally Posted by
BoilerUP
All right, let's have a debate!
I have over 1200 hours in CRJ-200s and can tell you from personal experience the -200 does
just fine in the mid-30s. Sure it gets its "climb restricted jet" moniker honestly, and you'll never get there at ISA+ shortly after a 53.0k takeoff weight full of pax/bags/gas...but if the aircraft weight is right, ISA temps are favorable, and there is some speed on the wing it'll do just fine.
You have a very valid point there. The -200, like any underwinged/underpowered CL600-series airplane, doesn't like to go high unless conditions are favorable. That said, if conditions *are* favorable (long leg, mid-weights, ISA temps, etc) there's no reason why the airplane cannot be safely operated at higher, more efficient altitudes.
That's the only point I'm trying to make - if a knowledgeable, well-trained flight crew is driving a -200 series stretch Challenger and understands the limitations of the airplanes and basic high-altitude aerodynamics then the airplane can get up there every day and twice on Sunday (although it will take all day Saturday to get there)
All very good points.
In 1998 or 1999, I don't remember exactly, I met Bob Hoover at Oskosh, WI. Really nice man. Very humble, very sociable. (Unlike another well know pilot whose name sounds like "Yuck Cheager")
At that time I met Mr. Hoover, I asked him if he had any advice for a private pilot (at the time) like myself. I will never forget his response, his Golden Rule of aviation if you will -
"Always keep a little extra in your back pocket, you never know when you might need it."
Sage advice for aviation, or anything else we do in life for that matter. I will always do my best to never let Mr. Hoover down.
For me now as a professional aviator, the CRJ200 at high flight levels under most wight and temperature conditions that we operate them for revenue, this aircraft violates this "Golden Rule".