N61FF

This airframe, registered as N61FF, is a Canadair-built Challenger 601-3R manufactured in 1994 by Canadair Ltd with serial number 5166. The airframe is recorded as owned by PAYNE AVIATION WESLACO LLC, an LLC based in Weslaco, TX, US, which serves as the aircraft’s operator and home base for corporate operations. The Challenger retains its original two-engine configuration and has been maintained to support executive transport missions consistent with its configuration and avionics fit. Registered in the US, this airframe’s public registry entries highlight its continuous corporate ownership rather than service with commercial airlines.

The cabin of N61FF is outfitted in an executive ten-passenger layout featuring a four-place club forward, a four-place berthable divan on the right side, and an opposite two-place club, providing flexible seating for both passenger socialization and rest. The interior includes forward and mid galleys plus forward and aft lavatories, supporting typical short- to medium-range corporate and business missions across the continental US and into adjacent international ranges. Avionics for this airframe include Honeywell SPZ-8000 IFCS / Pro Line II with dual Honeywell systems, TCAS II, Mark V EGPWS, Honeywell NZ-2000 INS, ADS‑B, SATCOM, and GoGo ATG-4000, enabling modern navigation, situational awareness and inflight connectivity. Maintenance considerations for this specific airframe follow Challenger 601-3R scheduled programs and the requirements of its corporate owner/operator.

The Canadair CL-600-2B16 Challenger 601-3R occupies a performance niche as a mid-size long-range corporate jet, offering transcontinental capability with a comfortable cabin for up to ten passengers and a maximum operating ceiling in the low 40,000-foot range. Competing models in its era included other mid-size business jets equipped with similar CF34-series engines and Pro Line avionics packages; demand typically comes from corporate flight departments and private owners seeking range paired with a roomy executive cabin. Resale and maintenance considerations for this model often focus on engine life, avionics modernization, and airframe inspection history, all of which are pertinent to assessing this 1994-built airframe’s market position.