[GovernmentShrinker]

4 tons in a gulfstream 75 ? Hmmmm I wonder why it crashed. /sarc

Given the specs Old Professer posted, I'm wondering how it got off the ground. Should we really believe there were 4 tons aboard? Assuming they had a reasonable amount of fuel along for the ride, looks like they would have been close to double the maximum payload. I don't know anything about aviation, but are planes really designed so they can lift off with nearly twice the load they can safely fly with?

[mnehring]

How much weight could they strip out of the plane, seats, nonessential plumbing and wiring, walls, carpet, etc?

[Smokin' Joe]

They would have had to short the fuel load in favor of the cargo. Which would work for a shorter hop, no need to haul the max fuel load.

The question is one of how much fuel they would need to get to Mena, AR?