He thinks a KA200 only goes 240 kts...hmmmm.

There has been a Penman sighting!

http://flycasey.com/beechcraft-king-air ... bishi-mu2/

Interesting (one individual's opinions) take on the King Air 200 vs. MU2.

I'm assuming he's talking about "stock" -42 200, not -52/-61 since he mentions "270 kt cruise".

F
Funny he mentions the HVAC not being great on the Mu2 but ours is the coldest air conditioning you will ever find in an airplane. It blows a metric ton of cold dry air even on the ground. I think the majority of people working on Air Cycle Machines have no idea how they work or how to dial them in.

It took me a few weeks several years ago to optimize the system back to factory specs (or better) and ever since it is just an ice-chest inside if you want it to be, even in summer.

Works good if it doesn't all leak out!

and yes I still have the "small" bleed orifice.

I'd say that's a pretty accurate comparison between the two types of aircraft. My plane seems to do fine at altitude (but it's lighter than a Marquise), and it almost never cruises below 300kts, occasionally nearing 320, but I'd agree that a King Air Freon system smokes an MU-2's air cycle machine when at low RPM on the ground. Their maintenance schedule just makes them too damn expensive to own privately (and yes, we have 4...and it hurts) but at least I have several partners to spread the cost, and we only pay for the time we fly (for which I generally pick the MU-2 since it has a MUCH cheaper hourly cost). But all in all, a well written, fair assessment of the aircraft types (based on my experience with the shorter C90A's and the shorter MU-2, not the 200KA and Marquise). Obviously I came away from my comparison study with more advantages in the MU-2 column, and that's what I bought for my personal aircraft rather than electing to use the company King Airs when I needed to travel personally and for business. Casey's description of how you "come to know" the flight characteristics over time is spot on.

Every person will have a different weight on what they value or not.

But much of what was written shows some lack of understanding of the MU2. For example, I've been in a King Air cockpit and my MU2 (obviously) and I find the MU2 more comfortable. I do have the extended seat tracks, but I am actually using the last factory notch position so they weren't technically required (they do help with having a passenger in the copilot's seat, though). I'm not small, 6'2" and I've meet an MU2 pilot who was 6'5".

Something is wrong if he has to wait until 10,000 ft to get decent cooling from the ACM. While you don't have freon air to cool on the ground (which is a nice feature), once you get to takeoff RPM prior to takeoff, the ACM is pumping out LOTS of cold air. It will freeze your socks off. There must have been something wrong with the MU2 he flew or the way it was used.

Sounds like he had weak engines, too, which affected his climb and cruise assessments.

I completely agree that lesser pilots should buy a King Air, or that finding contract pilots is easier for the King Air.

Mike C.

even lesser pilots should buy and fly a PC12

Especially lesser pilots that love going slow :-)

I'm Swiss...I can't fault the Pilatus. It's a fantastic design that makes it easy and safe to operate. If I didn't live in a place where the mountains were rugged, forced landings may not be survivable and airports weren't more than 100 miles apart, I'd love to fly one...but I can't afford it (can't afford a Gunboat either, but that's another story!...I do like my Hobie 16 though ) and in this region, I just think a twin makes more sense. Clearly, when it comes to market penetrance/popularity, it's hard to fault the King Air or the Pilatus...they make sense for a lot of businesses and do their job well.

PC12 is definitely a good design. I have no qualms taking it in the mountains. I can't afford a Gunboat either, I have an Atlantic 57, just as quick but easier to manage and maintain, and I need far fewer crew.

Is it true than you need a captains license for any boat over 50'?

Is it true than you need a captains license for any boat over 50'?

even lesser pilots should buy and fly a PC12

Begs the question, are two hulls safer than one....

Depends on the pilot and training