Welcome to 2008

TBM 900 vs. Pilatus.....

It's 2 different airplanes. Both very expensive.

I love the 330 knots of the TBM 900. But for the used Mustang Market at $1.5MM-$2MM the TBM 900 would dominate all. It's just hard for people to come to terms with spending $4MM on a TBM 900 when there are almost new Mustangs with a few hundred hours on the market for half price.

I think the next move for Pilatus is to clean up the airframe and get another 30 knots out of it. My sales guys say "no way" but it seems a logical step to me. There's a lot they could do to reduce drag.

Welcome to 2008

PC12NG was

Gents,

Did my last PC-12 flight on Nov 30, capped off 4years and 1300 hours on the PC-12/45. It performed well, 95% of my flying was overwater between the islands and the US.

I was never comfortable on those flights planned every departure with and engine failure and had 3 rafts, 4 epirbs, ditch vests and a sat phone. It performs can haul a load. The 45 as I have stated before is a 230- 245 kt all day airplane that flies best in the FL200 -FL230 for our conditions.

The opportunity arose, so switched flight departments now on Citation XLS+ course. The PC-12 is great all rounder but have had my fill of single engine over water corporate flying.

Regards,
Nigel

And yet Socata managed to sell out the entire TBM 900 production. Go figure. A lot of guys just don't want the Mustang, even at half price. I kind of like it. Chartered one out of Lincoln, NE a while ago. Fine little aircraft and the pisser comes really handy with little ones on board. That's always been my problem with the TBM, Meridians and all the rest of GA singles. No lav means whiny kids. And trying to get a 5 year old to aim into "the little john" bag is an excercise in futility.

I've seen a TBM with a potty seat, but you do lose a seat, not much privacy, for a family of with little ones, it might work. Not so with teenagers slamming their energy drinks.

It's crazy that a 2009 mustang is roughly the same price as a 2009 meridian. Why is that?

It's crazy that a 2009 mustang is roughly the same price as a 2009 meridian. Why is that?

I would bet DOC per NM is very similar...

Insurance and ratings maybe?

EDIT: $1090 for the Mustang / 340 Kts = 3.20 vs $643 for the Meridian / 260 Kts = 2.47

These are widely published max cruise speeds, the Meridian would be far more likely to obtain this speed in real life, so the real number is probably further in favor of the Piper. I retract my statement and concur, $/NM!

It's crazy that a 2009 mustang is roughly the same price as a 2009 meridian. Why is that?

2009 meridian asking prices are a joke. Want an ndh, 800tt 2008 for $850 I can get you one.

No doubt. I didn't mean to imply nobody wanted a TBM900. Just the opposite. I was just at NBAA and what I wrote earlier was kind the "blah, blah" going around the place. TBM900 is an expensive airplane. But you get speed and range in return. It's worth it if you ask me. Utility!!

Utility

Try the Quest Kodiak at $640 / 174 knts = 3.67
Pilatus 12/45 $950 / 235 = 4.04
Pilatus 12 NG $950/ 265 = 3.58

Do it with a full airplane and that per seat cost is just incredible.

You can get a 500 tt 2010 TBM 850 for around $2.5m. Thats a good value vs a new 900 at $3.7m.
Its all about cost and versatility, a TBM 900 is about the same speed as a Mustang but as more range, use less fuel and can land at more airports.