Fred George

Chief Aircraft Evaluation Editor

Redmond, Oregon

Summary

Fred formerly served as senior editor and chief pilot with Business & Commercial Aviation and as Aviation Week & Space Technology's chief aircraft evaluation pilot. He has flown left seat in virtually every turbine-powered business jet produced in the past three decades. He now is managing member of Fred George Aero LLC of Redmond, Oregon.

He has flown more than 195 makes, models and variants, ranging from the Piper J-3 Cub through the latest Boeing and Airbus large twins, logging more than 7,000 hours of flight time. He has earned an Airline Transport Pilot certificate and six jet aircraft type ratings, and he remains an active pilot. Fred also specializes in avionics, aircraft systems and pilot technique reports.

Fred was the first aviation journalist to fly the Boeing 787, Airbus A350 and Gulfstream G650, among other new turbofan aircraft. He’s also flown the Airbus A400M, Howard 500, Airship 600, Dassault Rafale, Grumman HU-16 Albatross and Lockheed Constellation.

Prior to joining Aviation Week, he was an FAA designated pilot examiner [CE-500], instrument flight instructor and jet charter pilot and former U.S. Naval Aviator who made three cruises to the western Pacific while flying the McDonnell-Douglas F-4J Phantom II.

Fred has won numerous aviation journalism awards, including NBAA’s David W. Ewald Platinum Wing Lifetime Achievement Award.

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Articles

Fred George [email protected]
There are nearly 6,900 turbojet and turbofan business aircraft that are 30 or more years old — more than double the figure of just five years ago — and this number grows every year, according to JetNet LLC, an aviation market intelligence firm based in Utica, N.Y. And a sizable chunk of these geriatric jets, such as Cessna Citation 500s, Dassault Falcon 10/20 and Learjet 35/36 models, are pushing 40. At some point, old aircraft no longer will be viable.
Business Aviation

Fred George [email protected]
For less than $750,000, you can buy a Learjet 35 that can fly farther and faster than some of the latest $9 million to $10-million light jets. Introduced in mid-1974, the Model 35 can fly seven passengers 2,000 nm while cruising at 430 KTAS and land with NBAA IFR reserves. The Model 36, having 1,200 lb. more fuselage fuel, but three feet less of cabin length, can fly 2,450 nm.
Business Aviation

Fred George [email protected]
Honeywell's second-generation HTF7000 series engines are more powerful and fuel efficient than the original powerplant that entered service in 2003, plus they have lower emissions. Aboard the Gulfstream G280, they're rated at 7,624 lb. thrust for takeoff up to ISA+16.7C and they produce 7,240 lb. thrust at the max continuous rating.
Business Aviation