Pressurized Piston Twins

[scottman0]

I agree with the current airlane market. The reality is that there are fewer people learning to fly today than 30 years ago. This is even with the population being double what it was then. Let's be honest, it is expensive to fly and compared to just a few years ago, learning to fly is expensive as well. This is why the plane market is going down. The older people who can fly are gradually dropping out and there isn't a large group of young pilots. Also, a lot of people who have some cash would rather just jet share than have to bother with owning a plane.

Case in point is when we sold our 340A. It was loaded with upper mid time motors. Couldn't sell it. Finally dropped the price to where I thought I was giving it away. Then I turned around and did the same for the aerostar we purchased. I essentially traded planes and got some money back. I don't see a cahnge in the market, especially for older twins and maybe for most older singles.

I am not sure if others agree with this but this is my observation.

[sternone]

Originally Posted by bwillmore

My last 600 hours were in an Aerostar 601P and it is a sweetheart of a plane to fly. Not difficult at all. I

If you got training on a SENECA V, are you expierenced enough to fly the aerostar ?? It's because my school is offering twin training in this machine and i would love to fly a aerostar later on...

[scottman0]

The big issue with changing from a seneca to an aerostar isn't that you probably can't fly the plane, it is that you have to make sure that you can get insurance. The aerostar isn't that hard to fly. It handles extremely well. It is fast and you need to keep up with it but changing from a 340 to the aerostar isn't dramatic and I think going from a smaller twin to an aerostar is very do-able. I will say I think the aerostar is the best piston twin (twin commander is the best turbine twin sorry MU-2 people). The aerostar is pretty fast at 240kt on 65% power (44 gph). Let's be honest, I like to know what the gph usage is for a plane especially when fuel is 5 bucks a gallon. Yes, there are roomier planes but for 3 hour trips or less the aerostar is fast and efffecient. The next move up would be a turbine plan e which of course is always nice.

[LifeisGood]

The 340A is a great airplane, 200kts, 36gph, pressurized, 5 seats (ok 6, but cramped), solid airframe, 800nm range, with the RamVI and VG’s it is very pilot friendly. The B58 is a superb design but has a claustrophobic interior; the Seneca is just too lightly built and underpowered for my taste; the 421 is trouble waiting to happen with those engines, a 421 pilot is “mucho hombre”; the 414 is very nice but short of legs with five SOB, slower but very comfortable; the 310 is a great choice if pressurization is not an issue. A word about pressurization and turbo-charging, they are wonderful; to be able fly above weather with no concern about masks or performance concerns is very cool. It’s a great feeling to be cruising at FL210 in the sunshine and seeing the cloud layer 5,000 feet below you. After all, why fly somewhere for business or pleasure and arrive feeling like a sardine sucking on a plastic tube. The Navajo is a reasonable alternative but slower, probably 185kts, non-pressurized but comfortable. The Aerostar is sleek, you also need to be fit and sleek to get into the damn thing, forget about taken you mama to Kansas to visit Aunt B, it ain’t gunna happen. Other than comfort issues and trying to sell them on the back end, theAerostar is truly a great plane. The Duke, it even looks cool just sitting there. “Hanger Queen” phraseology is used a lot in conversations regarding B60’s and selling them can be a challenge also. They like a long runway and are a little short of range to, but they look cool.

[LifeisGood]

I appreciated your comments on the Duke, it is a fine looking aircraft. I currently own and fly a Cessna 340A and am very happy with it. My cruise numbers are 200kts TAS at 36 GPH fuel flow at FL200. I set the engines at 2300 rpm, 38 inches MP and lean to 1525 EGT on my hottest cylinder ( I have Gami’s and a Gem 1200) I have a 1850 lb useful load and 183 gal fuel capacity, so I plan for 700 nm legs, no wind, by then I need to stretch a bit anyway.

So what are the numbers on a Duke?