6'4" before gravity's inexorable toll. I've even got a custom re-welded seat, a chopped down low-rider, I bought off another star driver. Was banging my brains into the headliner in turbulence.

6'4" before gravity's inexorable toll. I've even got a custom re-welded seat, a chopped down low-rider, I bought off another star driver. Was banging my brains into the headliner in turbulence.

A well sorted CIV will fly the plan like it is on rails. Very stable and capable AP

I had Bob Weber get my Century IV working when he worked for a big avionics shop. I wasn't impressed with AC on another airplane and have heard other issues also. They did thousands of dollars of work overhauling components on a C-421C that I managed and Bob took one look at a video and said "That's a $35 switch causing the problem" and was right... I think he's a BT member also.

https://webairconsulting.com/

Is there a Part 142 training center with a worthwhile Aerostar refresher?

I realize nobody has an AEST sim but some emergencies I'd rather practice in a sim than my airplane.

Barring a 142 shop, who's your favorite refresher instructor?

Talked to SIMCOM at Oshkosh. They no longer offer AEST training. Baron, Cessna 300/400, and Navajo yes, Aerostar no.

I went to Orlando for C-441 recurrent about two years ago. I wasn't impressed. I learned as much about a King Air and a Cheyenne as I did the 441. The Sim constantly broke. When we sat down in the sim for the first time, the instructor had no plan as to what we were going to do.

I will say the manuals, QRH, etc. they provide are top notch but they all came from FSI when they bought the program and sim from them.

There is no way that I'd spend that amount of money to go to Simcom for a piston airplane unless I had money to burn.

I am not sure he is still doing it but Carter Wright of Go Airplane. However, the Go Airplane website, which I am not posting, appears to have been domain hijacked by a company in India and that link/redirect is unsafe. I did my Aerostar initial with him a few years back and really enjoyed it.

https://www.avweb.com/press-releases/go ... e-upgrade/
(Avweb removed the goairplane website link, fortunately)

Talked to SIMCOM at Oshkosh. They no longer offer AEST training. Baron, Cessna 300/400, and Navajo yes, Aerostar no.

My advice go find a good aerostar instructor, ( the Aerostar owners Association has a good list)

purchase a day of instruction in your own aircraft and you will be far ahead compared to using one of the services that does not have any simulator that is anything like the Aerostar

I certainly agree that for someone transitioning to the AEST, the more time spent in the actual aircraft, the better.

AOA still lists Lester Kyle and I know he retired years ago so I'm not impressed with their vetting process. That's why I was asking for current recommendations.

There's some emergency stuff I'd rather practice in a sim even if it doesn't fly like an AEST. And after all that time and money I'd like the ICC & BFR which is why the Part 142. There are plenty of competent sim instructors who aren't current in the AEST.

Is Ron Cox still around? I remember having lunch with him and Lester during my initial in Vero Beach. Ron wrote or updated the AOA Systems manual. I was happy with him for initial and several recurrent events.

Anyone know where I can download a reference copy of the flight manual for a 600? I'd like to read up on these and get a better idea of some of the numbers, procedures, and systems.

I know an instructor st SIMCOM Orlando, well, he used to be an instructor there, so about a year and a half ago I reached out to them, through him, to inquire about getting some Baron training in the sim and was told that I didn’t meet their minimum qualifications. I have owned probably six Barons over the years, both 55’s and 58’s, one 95-B55 right now and had watched one of the famous YouTubers at SIMCOM and thought it might be interesting, informative and fun to go there and fly the Baron simulator. I guess I need a YouTube channel (and an instrument rating) to qualify. I have been enjoying learning my Aerostar 601P with a couple of local instructor / friends. It is due out of annual by the weekend so hopefully I can pick up, where I left off, 5 weeks ago!

Frank