That's a fair criticism. Most of them are 5.2psi. If you want the 6.7psi models you have to get the 900 and 1000 model which tend to be the most expensive ones. Hard to find below $900K.

Sorry for hogging thread already. Can't help myself when it comes to Commanders...

So why the hell did they stop making them, sounds like a great plane. makes a new c90x look pathetic.

Non jetprop commanders, eg 690s, by multiple accounts are not cheap to run. Gear and spar inspections drive up annual costs a good bit. A few 690 owners I spoke with have spent insane amounts on ADs over the years. Fuel burn is only part of the equation on tprops.

I am pretty sure the mitts is the cheapest t prop to run, followed by commander, then Merlin then c441.

C441 is the ultimate personal tprop but the Sid inspection and acquisition cost can be brutal. A similar 441 to my solitaire would have cost double. I can fly for a while to make that up!

For this particular mission and to meet your specs I would have to take the Commander.....the 900/1000 series are fantastic airplanes.........and great on one engine........

if you require an in production airplane, then you would need a 350 to get the speed/payload/range

if you want to do it economically but sacrifice on the speed then a PC12NG will do it

All of them great airplanes.............

To be fair, most of the 690 have had the spar modifications done and it has been many years ago that the AD requiring that inspection or mod came out.

My experience and research on Commanders has not been expensive by TP standards.

The MU-2 Solitaire has an expensive prop inspection, they all have something be it reoccurring or a one time cost.

I would agree on looking into the Garrett powered air planes.

Non jetprop commanders, eg 690s, by multiple accounts are not cheap to run. Gear and spar inspections drive up annual costs a good bit. A few 690 owners I spoke with have spent insane amounts on ADs over the years. Fuel burn is only part of the equation on tprops.

I am pretty sure the mitts is the cheapest t prop to run, followed by commander, then Merlin then c441.

C441 is the ultimate personal tprop but the Sid inspection and acquisition cost can be brutal. A similar 441 to my solitaire would have cost double. I can fly for a while to make that up!

Yes, this currently runs about $10K per prop every 7 years (assuming utilization less than 3500 hours in that time... :-). So.. on the order of $3K/year for prop reserve.

Not insane for this class of airplane. But also something of a nuisance.

Just a reminder to all the twin drivers, he asked about single engine turboprop. As others have pointed out there probably isn't one that fits his main criteria except under no wind conditions with bare minimum fuel reserves (TBM) or something a little slower but easily able to make the distance and load requirements (Pilatus).

He mentioned the SETP discussion, but I do not believe in his original post he said specifically SETP.......if so, PC12 is the only one that can do that with a bathroom

A TBM 850 will do 310 KTAS on 60 GPH for 1200 nm no wind and carry 850-900 ibs.

Citation V if you move into jets. The other planes from there that were upgrades and newer. That would be stretching it with the II, but the SII would work.
OP clarified in his third post that twins and light jets were options.

Just a little short on the scales, but that's still pretty impressive.

Yep and Marc is enjoying a new G1000 850 bird. Heck he must be posting from the sky somewhere. I'm sure he hasn't landed yet. Who would when they could be flying a new plane.


My experience is that a yearly average for my 850 in cruise is 302-304. Sometimes 310 plus sometimes ISA + 298ish.

Very nice! TAS or Block?

Chip-

so As far as SETP goes its the TBM and eather leave some weight behind or slow it down or the Pilatus and not have the option to go as fast.

All other options are to buy a 30+ year old twin or look at getting something with a type rating?

has there ever been a SETP with a garrett?