Yeah, I don't undertand that one either. I've been bounced around in the back of a 747 like you wouldn't believe.

AFIK, stability in turbulence has more to do with wing loading - i.e. the higher is the wing load, the more stable the plane will be. I suspect that Eclipse is more heavily wing loaded than TBM.

Oh, and TBM is single engine. It's a consideration for a lot of people. Not to mention noise and vibration associated with the prop.

Chris, Yuri,

That was why I asked the question. I always thought stability in turbulance was primarly two factors. Wing loading and sheer mass; sail effect e.g. the surface area of the plane was a secondary factor. The larger the surface area larger amount of instability (usually this is offset by sheer mass). The more mass the more wind required also the higher the wing loading the stonger the wind must be locally to force the aircraft to move.



Tim

A nice new Eclipse owner out at West Houston airport gave me a tour of his airplane. His was updated with the mods to bring it up to date on the Eclipse program.

We didn't go flying so no experience there.

It certainly has a small ramp presence, seemed smaller than the duke it was next to in the hangar in overall airplane size and scope terms. This is by no means a bad thing necessarily. It does strike you though, just being as compact as it is (again, this is a plus in some ways).

crawling around inside was fun. again, compact. I think it's cool. I would love to own one. I don't know if it would be the right airplane for me if I were able to push that much money into something.

A true "personal jet" if there ever was one. The kind of thing you could zip around in alone or with one or two other people and not feel like a complete a-hole.

I've flow the Eclipse and looked into it quite extensively. Very happy Ted is enjoying it and I did have fun flying it.

When it came down to spending the kind of money a fully capable Eclipse would cost, I went to the KA. Several reasons as I've discussed. For the amount of money I could get a well equipped older KA for, I got an SUV with all weather capability which fit my requirements better. Last weekend I departed from the Denver area in a snow storm with reported icing in the climb. Same when I arrived in the Dallas area, no snow, but possible icing conditions in the descent down to an ILS approach. So, I want, need and use all weather capability. I want and need known ice (so a VFR Eclipse isn't in the cards for me). I need more room. The potty and other conveniences really can add to the comfort on a trip; especially, if one has little ones. KA is more stable.

I do agree, the Eclipse is very much like a baron with jet engines. Same general size exterior, one less seat, but no sizable nose compartment. There certainly is a place for it, and as y'all know, we each need at least three planes (g). For that 800 mile trip with a couple or two that isn't large and little baggage, it would fit and be fun.

I simply need more room and to be able to carry a larger load. I want all weather and use that. Always interesting to discuss. Eclipse is more like a jet sports car; I need an SUV.

I don't have any problem climbing to assigned altitude in Texas either and going direct. Sometimes Fort Worth approach steps me up or down a bit, but usually it's very good. In the NE and parts of the West Coast, it's very different.

I'm glad Ted's happy. Certainly is a place for that plane. Hope they can get everything straightened out. As with all planes, one has to adjust for their mission.

Best,

Dave

Same reason I have the 421, yet lust after a PC-12!

Robert

There is a massive difference in stability between my V-tail and my B36TC. The biggest difference is the sheer size advantage the B36 has. Are you saying that the only real advantage is more wing loading? I thought someone tried to say before that the 36 bonanzas and 35 bonanzas have the same wing loading because they use the same wing. Then why is my 36 so much more stable???? I flew them both today and it was very turbulent down low. I was getting slammed in my 35 but in my 36 it wasn't too bad.

There is a massive difference in stability between my V-tail and my B36TC. The biggest difference is the sheer size advantage the B36 has. Are you saying that the only real advantage is more wing loading? I thought someone tried to say before that the 36 bonanzas and 35 bonanzas have the same wing loading because they use the same wing. Then why is my 36 so much more stable???? I flew them both today and it was very turbulent down low. I was getting slammed in my 35 but in my 36 it wasn't too bad.

My C90A is surprisingly bumpy in turbulence. More so than the B58 ... Not sure why but I didn't expect it. When its bumpy, it's somewhat difficult to read!

Ted,

Great post... solid mythbusting.

shoe