The I is a dog, the II is a bit better, but the Encore will leave the CRJ/ERJ in the dust on takeoff performance. On a cruise climb at V/S locked on 1000fpm, .68-.70 is not uncommon. It's that damned straight wing that does us in on cruise... with that you're lucky to see 180KIAS (m.755) at FL450.

Hey, at least you guys can get to FL450. We have to wave bye-bye to you once we hit FL370, even though the XR especially could probably make it up near there lightly loaded. Damn pressure differential. :D

I fibbed just a little bit in my earlier post...on my first approach to mins I let George fly. I won't be responsible for a go-around when I screw something up. I will gladly give George the aircraft when safety of flight calls for it.

But to answer your question, no. I think it borders on irresponsible to use automation religiously. The two best Captains I've flown with flew raw-data almost exclusively. They were sharp as nails and I learned a ton on both trips. And let's be honest. I feel safer with my family on a ratty-old DC-9 or 727 with two crusty old guys who have never seen a FD or FMS...than one of our state-of-the-art RJ's. We Pilots today would NOT cut it 30 years ago...That's a sad fact!

I guess its a good thing its not still 30 years ago. I hate guys who think they have to hand fly everything just to prove how big their balls are. I usually handfly the departure up to 10 or so but for an approach I'll let Jorge drive until he gives me a reason not to. Gives me more time to think about the big picture and maintain SA rather than trying to do the simple, mundane things that the autopilot does very well (like hold that heading and altitude and speed on a gusty day down low going into EWR).

In the XR at 1000fpm the plane will overspeed until you hit the 30's. It'll easily climb in M.70 or better at the higher altitudes.

Same autopilot, the reason it doesn't pitch down as much is the 700/900 have more thrust, the large pitch adjustment isn't necessary...that was annoying in the 200. I liked that the ERJ had more visibility from the cockpit, but I felt it was kinda cramped otherwise (at least from the JS).

The problem in the ERJ is the weight and balance. A commuters worst nightmare.

Hand-flying with the FD, huh? That's worthless - you might as well be on A/P then. If you can't maintain SA while you're hand-flying, you probably should use the A/P then. Good call on that.

My apologies. Didn't mean to offend you Mr. Yeager. I hope my training wheels don't get in the way of what must truly be an impressive set of nuts.:rolleyes:

the only time i'm hand flying the approach is in visual conditions, after the gear & flaps are extended. i kick it off around 2000ft or so and hand-fly it the rest of the way (still lazy and let the autothrottles do their thing). when i do a full ILS (like into HPN last week) to mins, i sit there with my finger on the red button waiting for the runway lights or pavement to appear.

i hand fly to keep the feel of flying the thing, in case i need to. but i always let Jorge fly it when the soup is way down.