Westwind

Arrive in style with your entourage:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_DC-3

Not pressurized but I think it will meet or exceed the other requirements.

Yes, 14 Citation II are advertised on controller.com for $600K or less.

They mostly don't seem like derelicts.

Example right at $600K:

https://www.controller.com/listings/air ... itation-ii

One engine 0 SMOH, other 0 HSI, on JSSI program. Seems configured for max passengers (9, two 4 club, one belted lav).

Mike C.

Yes, 14 Citation II are advertised on controller.com for $600K or less.

They mostly don't seem like derelicts.

Example right at $600K:

https://www.controller.com/listings/air ... itation-ii

One engine 0 SMOH, other 0 HSI, on JSSI program. Seems configured for max passengers (9, two 4 club, one belted lav).

Mike C.

Lear 31A, you can find older ones for like $650,000 on MSP gold with not that much hours on the airframe.

I took this as "he doesn't want a jet". Maybe I misunderstood...

An old citation is not a fancy jet. It's a safe and reliable business tool. Definitely should throw this into the mix.

The spec was 2500-3000 ft, preference, not a requirement.

Why? To reduce ground time driving by using smaller airports.

But the 501SP reduces air time, so makes up for that.

It also fits into pretty small airports. You can get it into 2000 ft, but not comfortably out with any load.

You aren't getting a Commander out of 2000 ft either, with runway to allow for an engine failure.

Mike C.

I took this as "he doesn't want a jet". Maybe I misunderstood...

Nobody gets an 8 pax twin out if you have to take that into account. An 840 has 1833ft takeoff to 50ft in altitude at MTOW.

My suggestion is an airplane that won't do any of the originally stated criteria, but makes sense, and allows him to move into an aircraft that will.

He should get a King Air C90, it's easy to find well qualified pilots, makes a lot of sense for a non-pilot owner and he can easily transition into a B200 or even a 300 in the future. King Airs dominate teh turboprop world in this price range because they are simple, straightforward and predictable.

You can poor boy a Citation II and make it make sense, but that is with someone who knows what they're doing staying on top of it. Otherwise he'll spend $150k plus at his next big inspection and be done with aviation.

Or a 58P and a planesense 1/16 pc12 share

Costs as much per mile as the 501SP.

Especially when you factor extra miles for headwinds and weather.


And because most use them on short flights where the speed limitations are not so exposed. The stated use case is a fairly large territory where there are some long legs. The Citation opens up perhaps more territory for business, too.


You can spend $150K on a King Air, too. The difference is that the jet is worth it.

If you consider safety at all, the King Air loses bad to the Citation.

Mike C.

When flying around 8 people, I'd take that into account.

Engine failure safety is baked into the jet numbers, not so generally with the turboprops.

If you knew an engine would fail on the next flight, would you take the turboprop or the jet?

That's no contest, the jet wins.

One would have to analyze the destinations to see how compelling the short runway capability is. My guess is that it isn't that compelling. For one thing, short airport are more likely not to have jet fuel, so the turboprop isn't going there anyway.

Mike C.

Message to the contractor:

1) I want you to build me an 8,000 sq ft house
2) Indoor pool and squash courts
3) 6 bedroom - each with an ensuite
4) Heated floors, heated driveway so no shovelling
5) 7 car garage, heated and AC
6) Built in AV, home theatre
7) Gourmet kitchen
8) Less than $300K on a lot of my choosing
9) Must be finished on time (3 months) without add-ons

Somebody needs to help him round out his expectations. Examples include "all weather" - and 2,500 ft. Is there likely to be an ILS / GPS / Lighting on that airport?

We all have dreams I guess. Turbo Commander looks like the closest

Bob