Carlos,
Have confirmed that Turks to Culebra is possible from a customs standpoint? Will Turks let you not go thru customs and just refuel? And if you go thru customs then you probably need to go thru Puerto Rico's US ports of entry before going to Culebra. (San Jose or Aguadilla).

I flew a similar route in December, FLL to Turks ended up being 4 hrs due headwinds and ground delays on both ends, then 3.5 hrs from Turks to st. Croix. All in my A36.

I would look for a plane that allowed nonstop travel from Florida to something US (Puerto Rico or whatever). In Turks I paid $830 for two nights and 50 gallons of avgas (I believe fuel was $6/gal and ramp fee was almost nothing, never had fuel be a minor part of a bill). The huge hit is government taxes and fees to land in Turks (just what it costs if you land on a Saturday). I can't imagine them not trying to make you pay them given what I paid.

Also have you flown into Culebra? It has a reputation as a challenging airport, and after 7 plus hours of flying might be a lot to put on yourself.

Doing the trip occasionally, a blast. Doing it every month I would look at tip tanks and something that avoids customs.

Why could you not keep a plane in Puerto Rico. You could easily find something for $25,000 that would work as an island hopper.

What is the distance of each leg ? Give me identifiers. These trips, flying yourself will be remembered (fondly) by you and your family forever. These guys saying they would do it on the airlines.....would do everything they could to NOT take the airlines. I would pay more, spend more time and stay off the airlines ! Unless I'm going one way, if I can't fly myself I will just stay home

TJCP is not listed as an airport of entry in the Jepp database. As Jepp is not always current in this regard there is an outside chance that it might be, but likely not.

Jim's 600 suggestion seems like a good one. International fuel stops get old, at least for me they do.

Also of note about TJCP - it is a 2600 foot strip with rising terrain at one end.

That's a lot to ask of a twin loaded near max at an airport with rising terrain on one end that is generally ISA +10.

Another issue is that Culebra is closed after sunset. That leaves a pretty narrow time window to

1) fly 1100nm
2) make two stops
3) clear customs twice
4) move one time zone ahead

Our Rayjay Travelair would make it nonstop from Miami to Culebra in 6 hrs with an hour reserve. 700 lb payload.
Runway lengths are no problem, twice as much as you need.

Mike,

Thank you for your offer. If its a Mooney, I will look you up.
Thanks again,
Carlos

Alex,

File eapis, list Turks, or somewhere in the Bahamas, for fuel stop and then do customs in PR. No problem.

Culebra is part of Puerto Rico. Additionally, we have customs on field, so a flight direct to Culebra is very doable, clearing customs in Culebra.

I have not found something that will make it non-stop that I can afford, or that Im all that interested in. There is Rocky's Rajay travelair and I looked at T-bones, but that is just not what I am interested in.

I'm from Culebra, living in Orlando now, that's why I want to make the trip. Intimately familiar with the airport. One of the factors in walking away from a Duke was landing in Culebra.

Thanks for your input.

Carlos

Charles,

Who knows? maybe that is what I will end up doing. But then I would have to have two airplanes, one for visiting clients here in Florida, and another to go from san Juan to Culebra. Plus airlines in between.

Thanks,

Carlos

Having two airplanes is not a big deal. Seriously. And I bet you could find a great partner in San Juan who would handle all the upkeep/hassle on the plane. A partner who only flies once/month is a great deal.

Airplanes are hugely mission specific. There's just nothing that is good for hopping around florida and also 1100nm overwater legs. For $75K you could have a very nice 4 seat V-tail and another $25K would get you a 172 or Cherokee for PR.

I'd be much more worried about takeoff than landing. You would be landing light and both landing and go-around performance would be excellent. Stay on speed and things are fine.

But ... if you lose an engine between about 60kts and gear retraction, life gets very interesting. Even in perfect conditions, many twins will not climb single engine at max gross and typical PR temperatures. That may be an acceptable risk to reduce your dry footprint, but it would still make a lot of pilots uncomfortable.

Have you looked at a Malibu or P210? There are accessory fuel options that might make the trip doable. (Malibu is fine on 2600')

Tony,

Apopka is where I would be leaving from: X04
Culebra is the destination: CPX
Providenciales is one possible stop: PLS

An alternate route is Apopka to Miami TMB, Miami to Puerto Plata POP, Puerto Plata to Culebra CPX.

I think easing into it may be the key. Maybe a few small trips to the Bahamas, Then all the way to Puerto Plata, and finally a few long trips to Culebra and we will see how it goes.

Thanks for your input.

Carlos

Erwin,

We have customs in Culebra, not an issue.

A twin is not in the cards right now.

Thanks,

Carlos

Charles,

Very familiar with the airport, I'm from Culebra.

Culebra is one time zone ahead half the year. Plus, if it just gets to late, we would stay in San Juan where I also have family.

I had not really thought of a partner in PR, but that may be worth looking into.

V-tail for Florida, a partner in PR and airline travel for in between? Maybe.

When the time comes for me to own a twin, not if, then takeoffs would be very light, and that is the only way I would do it with my family on board and coming out of Culebra. The performance of a twin if fundamentally different with quarter tanks than with full fuel. Plus, we don't have fuel in Culebra although we do havce customs...

Looked at Malibus, but you have a good sense of my budget, and there are none in that neighborhood...

Thanks again. I always value your input.

Carlos