12 Feb 2026, 15:10 [ UTC - 5; DST ]
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Post subject: Re: Aerostars  Posted: 22 Dec 2025, 10:43 |
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Joined: 11/22/08
Posts: 3144
Post Likes: +1086
Company: USAF Propulsion Laboratory
Location: Dayton, OH
Aircraft: PA24, AEST 680, 421
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Username Protected wrote: When you actually speak to Superstar II owners, they love them and don't experience higher maintenance costs or higher failure rates. Yes, they have their known weak spots (cowl flap motors, changing oil filter and the stupid dual magneto), but with PE owning Hartzell/Knisley now, prices for the two turbo models have skyrocketed. Like 3-5x. I used toy be able to overhaul a turbo on my 601P for $1500-2000 when I owned mine, now I hear they're $5K a piece. And it has two. On the Superstar II, any Navajo salvage or repair shop can help you out. Last I looked turbochargers are closer to $10k each now.
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Post subject: Re: Aerostars Posted: 22 Dec 2025, 11:43 |
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Joined: 08/07/17
Posts: 678
Post Likes: +1322
Location: Houston, TX
Aircraft: 737,RV8,AEST,B25,C47
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Username Protected wrote: I have four Aerostars and a couple of Bonanzas so I fly which ever one is most mission specific to me. Aerostar hoarder!! Just kidding… glad to see you’re saving them!
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Post subject: Re: Aerostars Posted: 22 Dec 2025, 14:32 |
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Joined: 12/17/13
Posts: 6694
Post Likes: +6011
Location: Hollywood, Los Angeles, CA
Aircraft: Aerostar Superstar 2
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Username Protected wrote: Last I looked turbochargers are closer to $10k each now. Holy moly.  PE ruins everything, but it particularly ruins things in aviation where we can't exercise the free market by going somewhere else. That's why PE loves aviation. Or put it in PE speak, an "inelastic market". Same happened to Turbo Commanders. Windscreens used to be crazy already at $55K/side, PE buys the company and now it's well over $100K/side and rising I hear. Frank, thanks for your POV on the Superstar II.
_________________
"Either we heal now as a team, or we will die as individuals."
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Post subject: Re: Aerostars Posted: 22 Dec 2025, 17:00 |
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Joined: 01/08/17
Posts: 503
Post Likes: +369
Aircraft: Aerostars, Debonair
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Username Protected wrote: Yep, it does seem weird that there are so many Aerostar hangar queens… I’ve seen and heard of numerous ones around the country just rotting away. Just last week in Houston I “found” another 601P/700 that apparently hasn’t turned a wheel since 2008. It’s covered with a heavy layer of dust, but at least it has new props!
That Superstar II was owned by a guy that killed himself in an L-39 that he had just bought in 2007. I think it has just been sitting there since. The family might not even know they own it!
Last edited on 23 Dec 2025, 01:39, edited 1 time in total.
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Post subject: Re: Aerostars Posted: 22 Dec 2025, 17:33 |
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Joined: 06/18/15
Posts: 1345
Post Likes: +567
Location: Alaska/Idaho
Aircraft: Helio Courier, MU2
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Username Protected wrote: Last I looked turbochargers are closer to $10k each now. Holy moly. PE ruins everything, but it particularly ruins things in aviation where we can't exercise the free market by going somewhere else. That's why PE loves aviation. Or put it in PE speak, an "inelastic market". Same happened to Turbo Commanders. Windscreens used to be crazy already at $55K/side, PE buys the company and now it's well over $100K/side and rising I hear. Frank, thanks for your POV on the Superstar II.
Yes, the captive market (us pilots) have no alternative. The rollup of aviation suppliers is following a similar pattern to the pharmaceutical industry
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Post subject: Re: Aerostars Posted: 22 Dec 2025, 17:41 |
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Joined: 08/16/21
Posts: 5
Post Likes: +1
Aircraft: Aerostar 601P
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We do have alternatives. This is why I have been hyping owner produced parts as much as possible in the various forums, for example.
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Post subject: Re: Aerostars Posted: 22 Dec 2025, 17:44 |
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Joined: 06/18/15
Posts: 1345
Post Likes: +567
Location: Alaska/Idaho
Aircraft: Helio Courier, MU2
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Username Protected wrote: We do have alternatives. This is why I have been hyping owner produced parts as much as possible in the various forums, for example. For some things yes. For other parts it’s impractical.
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Post subject: Re: Aerostars Posted: 22 Dec 2025, 21:18 |
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Joined: 09/18/21
Posts: 581
Post Likes: +563
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Username Protected wrote: I have a verbal offer on my 600 and it is supposed to go under contract sometime between Christmas and New Years, but we all know how that can go.
I'm in the market for a 600 if your deal falls through.
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Post subject: Re: Aerostars Posted: 22 Dec 2025, 23:14 |
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Joined: 08/09/11
Posts: 2130
Post Likes: +2970
Company: Naples Jet Center
Location: KAPF KPIA
Aircraft: EMB500 AC95 AEST
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Username Protected wrote: Last I looked turbochargers are closer to $10k each now. Holy moly. PE ruins everything, but it particularly ruins things in aviation where we can't exercise the free market by going somewhere else. That's why PE loves aviation. Or put it in PE speak, an "inelastic market". Same happened to Turbo Commanders. Windscreens used to be crazy already at $55K/side, PE buys the company and now it's well over $100K/side and rising I hear. Frank, thanks for your POV on the Superstar II.
1) I don’t disagree on PE ruining things but unsure where you get your information as we have made progress in Commanderland. Service center lobbying (you know, the ones who charge too much) has successfully led to significant double digit price REDUCTIONS starting now on Commander parts. All owners benefit including the ones who don’t understand how type certificate support really works.
2) I have been reminded offline, and I will acknowledge forgetting, that one of my recognized Aerostar experts has had some legal trouble in a related business in the past.  Buyer beware. I had a good experience fwiw. So, I will default back to calling Jim Christy first and following what he says. On that note, if he were to say something like you really must do X to make a Superstar II (or whatever model) work right, I’d believe him vs someone who has 10 hours in type. Or even 5 years of experience. The guy has forgotten more about Aerostars than about every owner here put together knows. And ALL owners depend on him and should aggressively support him frankly imho.
3) I’m not sure what’s going on with the AOA. But anyone learning Aerostars needs to read all they offer and filter it out. Beyond Jim C, I’ve always been shot straight by Kent L too.
Good luck Aerostar enthusiasts. It’s a fun plane for sure. Invest in those who support it!
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Post subject: Re: Aerostars Posted: 22 Dec 2025, 23:15 |
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Joined: 08/09/11
Posts: 2130
Post Likes: +2970
Company: Naples Jet Center
Location: KAPF KPIA
Aircraft: EMB500 AC95 AEST
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Username Protected wrote: We do have alternatives. This is why I have been hyping owner produced parts as much as possible in the various forums, for example. Keep hyping that and kill the type certificate. Great plan!
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Post subject: Re: Aerostars Posted: 23 Dec 2025, 04:28 |
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Joined: 01/05/11
Posts: 329
Post Likes: +252
Aircraft: 1978 Aerostar 700CR
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Username Protected wrote: We do have alternatives. This is why I have been hyping owner produced parts as much as possible in the various forums, for example. Keep hyping that and kill the type certificate. Great plan!
You’re not only going to kill the certificate, you’re going to kill yourself and other innocents in the process. The stupidity and arrogance is astounding, but, not surprising.
If you want cheap, go experimental. Please don’t screw up the Aerostar.
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Post subject: Re: Aerostars Posted: 24 Dec 2025, 13:50 |
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Joined: 12/17/13
Posts: 6694
Post Likes: +6011
Location: Hollywood, Los Angeles, CA
Aircraft: Aerostar Superstar 2
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Username Protected wrote:
1) I don’t disagree on PE ruining things but unsure where you get your information as we have made progress in Commanderland. Service center lobbying (you know, the ones who charge too much) has successfully led to significant double digit price REDUCTIONS starting now on Commander parts. All owners benefit including the ones who don’t understand how type certificate support really works.
That is good news. Aerostars in all forms are special. And although I only owned really one (the SSII doesn't really count), I never felt they were any worse on maintenance than other aircraft over the 300hrs I flew it.
_________________
"Either we heal now as a team, or we will die as individuals."
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Post subject: Re: Aerostars Posted: 26 Dec 2025, 12:46 |
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Joined: 04/19/19
Posts: 896
Post Likes: +273
Location: Benton AR KSUZ
Aircraft: Baron B55 Pll
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Hope everyone had a good Christmas. Looking for some good pictures of a superstar II engine compartment with cowling off. I talked to Electroair about installing a unit to remove the single drive magneto and trying to see what room there is to work with.
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Post subject: Re: Aerostars Posted: 26 Dec 2025, 14:23 |
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Joined: 11/25/16
Posts: 2002
Post Likes: +1600
Location: KSBD
Aircraft: C501
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Username Protected wrote: 2) I have been reminded offline, and I will acknowledge forgetting, that one of my recognized Aerostar experts has had some legal trouble in a related business in the past. Buyer beware. I had a good experience fwiw. He was the fall guy and didn't even know until it was far too late. All around good guy and I would trust him with anything.
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Post subject: Re: Aerostars Posted: 15 Jan 2026, 18:34 |
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Joined: 01/08/17
Posts: 503
Post Likes: +369
Aircraft: Aerostars, Debonair
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Username Protected wrote: I am not sure how many aircraft were actually ever converted to SS II’s by Machen, as Machen never officially released those exact figures, some say only 30 aircraft were converted and others say as many as 40. Someone that I know, who should be in the know, says that there were 42 converted. There were at least 26 converted that I have in my database. 42 sounds high to me. Low to mid 30's would be my bet. Looks like 11 of them have been flown at least once in the last year from what I can tell. Only a few of them are flying anywhere near regularly.
For any other Aerostar nerds out there - I just found a count on Superstar II's converted that shows a grand total of 33 conversions. This is from David Duntz' book on Ted Smith. I would guess this figure came from the folks at Aerostar Aircraft.
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