Citation Encore vs Ultra - Aircraft Differences Guide

[@fivestringslinger]

I won't dox you. But I recognized the ramp, buildings, vehicles and the aircraft immediately. I work in the maintenance shop so I've been elbows deep in every aircraft you've shown. Working on my commercial now and hoping to fly with you guys someday. Great video and very informative! I even learned a few things I didn't know!

[@citationpro]

Haha, thanks, I stay generally anonymous but I also know I'm not exactly protecting my identity with CIA-levels of secrecy. The company I work for knows I produce these videos and they're fine with it. Next time you see me in person, say hi and maybe we can team up on some cool videos showing the nuts and bolts of how some systems work or something!

[@fivestringslinger]

@citationpro Oh I figured that you wouldn't be making these if it would be an issue. Next time you're at home base and in hangar #1 or #2, look for the white toolbox with the San Jose Sharks sticker on it and leave a card or something.

[@Irafos1]

Thank you for the video. I have over 2,000 hours on a Bravo and Ultra. Never have flown an encore, but I have a contract trip coming up in one and this was supremely helpful.

[@citationpro]

I'm glad you liked it. Enjoy flying the Encore! It is a rocket compared to the rest of the 500 series Citations.

[@LMays-cu2hp]

Thank you for sharing your information about great looking aircraft.

[@citationpro]

Thanks for watching! I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[@LMays-cu2hp]

@@citationpro You are welcome.

[@LMays-cu2hp]

@@citationpro You are welcome.

[@Keyfloatz]

Thank you for the great informative video. As a strictly simulation pilot. These videos are pushing me to take aviation much more serious. It's just fun to geek out on these amazing features. It's like behind the scenes of making a movie. Thank you for taking time to explain these complex systems. I would love if you could do some videos related to the engines. Maybe during a hot inspection. Forgive me if that's not the correct name. Basically when the engine is opened up. The different systems attached. You explain complex things in a very understandable and engaging way. All the best and thanks again!

[@citationpro]

Thanks for watching! Flight sims are what got me started in aviation. That was back in the day of Microsoft Flight Simulator 5.1 though, so I feel old now! I have it on my to-do list to shoot some systems videos in the maintenance shop, but haven't found the time to put anything together yet. Thanks for the suggestion and I hope you enjoy the future content.

[@Keyfloatz]

@@citationpro Great to hear it's been on your radar. I know it takes time to make, edit, on top of everything else going on. Take care!

[@tomasjonusas7408]

Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge. Very good video.

[@citationpro]

Thanks for watching!

[@MilazzoTony]

Sounds like you like the ultra better?

[@citationpro]

Actually, I prefer the Encore in general. Mostly due to better climb performance and the hot wing during winter ops. I flew an Encore this morning and was climbing out of FL440, headed to FL450, still rocketing up at 1000 fpm rate of climb. The Encore is such a rocket compared to the Ultra. That said, the Ultra is still a great jet and I'll never complain about flying one.

[@MilazzoTony]

@@citationpro What kind of climb would you expect at that same 440 to 450 in the Ultra. I am transitioning from a Mustang to an Ultra. I looked at the Encore, but for the large price delta the improvements didn't seem great enough for the increased spend in my mind.

[@citationpro]

@@MilazzoTony, you're going to love the Ultra I think. I work on the training/checking side of the business rather than the accounting side, so I'm really not an expert on why the Encore is valued so much higher than the Ultra, but I suspect it has something to do with the Encore having a wider "operational envelope" that appeals to charter operators, coupled with the limited supply of airframes in existence (about 160 Encores versus about 600 Ultras I believe) therefore it becomes a supply vs demand problem. What I mean by operational envelope is the Encore really shines when you're looking at high/hot performance in places like Aspen or Eagle, as well as short (sub 5000 foot) contaminated runways. Having the extra power in the Encore makes a big difference in those two scenarios to the point that you might scrub a trip in the Ultra that you would be able to do in the Encore, or at least have to take off super light and add a fuel stop in an Ultra. But for more mundane flying, taking four or five pax on a two or three hour flight, operating on dry or 5000+ foot runways, you won't notice any difference between the Ultra vs Encore. Plus, you have to look at alternative airframes when valuing the Encore. To cover all the scenarios an Encore can cover, using a different airframe, you're going to be looking at something like a CJ3. Check out the prices on those and you'll probably think an Encore is a good deal! As for your specific question of climb performance between FL440 and FL450, the Ultra simply won't get there until late in a flight. If I take off with full fuel, close to MGTOW in an Ultra, I don't plan to be light enough to get to FL450 until burning down to 3500-4000 lbs of fuel. That basically means 1-1.5 hours after takeoff, with maybe two hours remaining until landing. It'll be a slow climb of a few hundred feet per minute, so you'd really only be there for an hour or two at most before ATC starts you back down for landing. Take a look at my "Citation Cockpit - Angle of Attack" video to see this in action. You can climb straight to FL410 every flight in an Ultra no matter what, but getting to FL430 or FL450 takes a little planning. In the Encore, even at MGTOW, you can climb straight to FL450. Yesterday I took off at about 15000 lbs, so about 1600 lbs under MGTOW which explains the 1000+ fpm climb even at the top. But it still could have done it heavier, just would have been more like 400-500 fpm at the top. Enjoy the Ultra, these are all amazing airplanes!

[@MilazzoTony]

Thanks so much for the detailed reply. Your videos were tremendously helpful in getting to know and see various things about the airplane. They are very well done. I hope you keep them coming!

[@citationpro]

Glad you like them, thanks for watching!

[@N_Wheeler]

15:11 CREW ONLY so the masks don't unnecessarily auto drop in the back?

[@citationpro]

It could be used for that, but in this case you're seeing it turned to "Crew Only" because this is a technique used when parking the plane overnight to minimize the possibility of oxygen leaks. Notice the crew masks are disconnected as well. I shot this video at the end of a day, after parking the plane and mostly securing it for the night.

[@N_Wheeler]

​@@citationproit does say OXYGEN CONTROL VALVE there, so does that mean it's like the 'cherry picker' for manual cabin pressure wherein there is an actual valve under the panel instead of just an electrical connection?

[@citationpro]

@@N_Wheeler , yes, that's exactly correct. It is a pneumatic valve that routes the flow of oxygen from the bottle.