Anyone want to take a stab at influencing me towards or away from a Cirrus SR22 (likely turbo) vs. a G58 G1000Nxi (Cirrus would also be 1000Nxi).
Primary flying with wife from Tucson, AZ to/from California. Fully retired so interest in angel flights. Wife would love to volunteer animal rescue transports. All my experience has been Beechcraft aside from attaining my early ratings. 3,400 hr ATP with 2500 multi. Age / Insurance will become an issue over time as I’m 69 years old. My experience and comfort in the Beech twins is pulling me toward the Baron. The new technology and the Cirrus commitment to training and safety is pulling me toward the Cirrus. Obviously, apples and oranges but trying to “break a tie.”
Thanks,
Bill

If I were to buy again, it would be real hard for me not to go Cirrus. Their product is just better than everything right now.

The cirrus is a better product.
Nicer interior, parachute, better AC, half the fuel burn, similar speeds, lower insurance etc etc.

The Baron is cooler and more fun.

And the gear goes up and down

Loading animals in the SR22 can be interesting. If they and their additional items can fit through the baggage door it will be easier. The 1000 Nxi is the Cirrus Perspective + (G1000 is Perspective). That means G6 (which I believe is 2017 or newer). G5 is Perspective.

I’ve had a TN and NA. The TN was G3 the NA G5. The AC works much better in the G5. I don’t know if it’s due to the turbo or specific to G3 vs G5.

How much smaller is the SR on the inside? It seems hard to compare a 4 to a 6 seater.

And the gear goes up and down

For AZ to CA … two engines are nice, because there’s a bunch of nothing on that route. But on the other hand, if you were to have an engine failure and a CAPS deployment, you may be a long way from civilization (other than the highway) but there is pretty friendly terrain to land on.

For Angel Flight or animal transport, the double doors and club seating of the 58 are much better than the Cirrus configuration.

At 69 years old, with your hours, if you go with a well picked underwriter now, maybe you have 11 years before insurance becomes a major issue in the Baron, if you’re lucky.

I’d rather have the Baron for your described flights.

Good input. Thanks so far!
Regards,
Bill

At age 69 I would either

1) get the Cirrus
2) have a long talk with your insurance agent about strategies if you want to keep flying after 75

BLUF -
These are a few things that SWMBO and my family appreciated about the SR-22G3/G4 over the Baron -
1 - Air Conditioning
2 - The ability to easily step down into the back and seat her and our 2 younglings with me and the other pilot up front.
3 - If she is flying up front, release the stick and push the LVL button.
4 - CAPS* - Pull Early Pull Often - or knowing that the chute is there and how to use it.
5 - (Autoland wasn't in any of the Cirri that I flew, or took instruction in, but we knew the potential was there in the future.)
6 - It was cheaper than the AvantAir shared seats.
7 - It was faster door-to-door from than the airlines to ROA, HTS, OSU/CMH, RDU, SAV, ILM, MYR/CRE and if we needed to charter it was *only* $600/hr plus $100/hr for the pilot up to $800/day. (Irrelevant in your case)

From the TMI Department -

I love flying in Barons with friends and loved the TravelAir/Baron/F90 stability and dispatch rate of Beechcraft. I love the stability and power of the 182 and love the Cougar. Beech builds amazing aircraft. Beech made some mistakes along the years and got beat in the various training, piston charter, SETP, etc. markets. Resale *seems* better on Cirri than Barons and experts here will hopefully jump in. Insurance *seems* better on SE fixed gear aircraft for 70+-80+ but I am still 20 years off.

This is morbid and I wish you well into your 90s and century mark as well as wish all those little Angels or Paws well -
I don't plan to slump over controls but when I was sick right before cancer tried to kill me the first time, my choice was to self-ground so that I would not slump over dual yokes.

I would fly in the back of whatever (R-44/KingAir/Baron/Airlines) and would fly up front in a SR-20 or SR-22 any time offered. I have 4 more years of cancer free before I can even think of getting back up front and all I think about with the SR-22 is that if something happens to me - my family can program the autopilot to get close to an airport and/or pull. At $350-$600 (rental) for the SR-20/SR-22 and $300-$500 for the Baron it helps put things in perspective.

Most of the time the Paws wanted to be lap dogs in the FO's (usually me) lap. This seemed much more possible in the Cirrus *but* I have never flown a Paws mission in a Cirrus.

If MOSAIC and the FAA allow me to fly more than an LSA with 1 of the kids OR I can get a Special Issuance in 2029 - I will probably buy an SR-20 or partner in an SR-22 with a healthy charter/leaseback opportunity and tax deduction. If I have to get a Special Issuance and move to Basic Med, I will fly a 182 or Cougar or Cherokee Six for fun and SR-22 or SR-20 with the fam.

Note - I only fly with friends or a CFI currently, so me deflating like Otto wasn't a concern AND I am still surprised you can get Airplane! on DVD! Single Engine charter, at less than SETP prices, is also a game changer.

Which is a bad thing ultimately.
More expense and the older you get the more likely you are to forget you didn't put it down.

BLUF -

2 - The ability to easily step down into the back and seat her and our 2 younglings with me and the other pilot up front.
3 - If she is flying up front, release the stick and push the LVL button.

You're going to need the Baron or a G36 then. You won't be loading animals into the Cirrus unless they are very small.

If you are seriously considering a Cirrus you should join the Cirrus website. Last I checked it was $95 (I was a member). Like any website it has its own prejudices. My own impression was it was dominated by Cirrus Instructors (not a bad thing) and also had a tendency to answer every question with a Turbo, FIKI, EVS SR22 as a stepping stone to a Cirrus Jet (not unlike Beechtalk where a TN A36 is the answer to every question).

I’m half a decade away from the dreaded age inflicted insurance conundrum. I pay a little bit more (inconsequential in airplane terms) to insure with a company that provides coverage to existing pilots as they pass arbitrary age milestones.

I’ve flown a 182 (non-turbo) from San Diego (KRNM) to Tucson (Mariana) happily. Flying in the desert SW a turbo was something I specifically avoided (as well as FIKI and EVS). I believe (from what I read on the internet) I am in the minority.