BeechTalk - BT - Piper Meridian vs. Rocket Engineering Jetprop Conversion?

Username Protected · **Posted:** 01 Nov 2018, 04:11

Is the Evo IFR or even night VFR operational in Europe ???

Username Protected · **Posted:** 01 Nov 2018, 13:43

Username Protected wrote:

Alejandro, do you think a claim would be honored if an incident occurred on one of those flights and it was shown the plane was likely operated at say, 400 lbs over gross?

Potentially yes. It depends on a few factors:

- Is the proof solid?
- Did it cause the claim?
- Does the State where the loss took place require causal connection?

If you are carrying insurance that has the potential to not cover your operation what is the point of carrying insurance at all? You are certainly not eliminating the loss potential in its entirety.

AG

Username Protected · **Posted:** 01 Nov 2018, 13:52

Username Protected wrote:

Is the Evo IFR or even night VFR operational in Europe ???

Is any homebuilt? I would think the answer would be the same, I can't think of any reason an Evo would be more or less so than a similarly equipped RV, say.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 09 Nov 2018, 12:13

From my experience you might want to look at P210 Silver Eagles. I am biased since I had a P210 conversion done in 2007 and have been very happy with it for 11 years and 1,000+ hours now. I looked at used Meridians and TB conversions and went with the Silver Eagle because of the payload even though it is a little slower than some others. My Silver Eagle does 200-210 kts in the mid-teens using 27 gph of Jet A. I've got tip and belly tanks for a total of 147 gals usable. With full fuel I can carry about 900 lbs and fly 4.5 hours with an hour reserve. There are six seats and with empty belly tank (-26 gal) you can carry 6 170 lb people and fly 3.5 hours with an hour reserve.

The company that did the conversions, O&N Aircraft, folded when the owner died 2 years ago but the STC's and mechanics went to two shops in PA. The most active maintenance base is PropJet in Santa Rosa, CA and he sells used ones as well. There were more than 110 converted and usually 6 - 10 on the market. I've found lots of folks who can maintain the plane since it is straight Cessna and the engine is Rolls-Royce with 20,000 engines in the field, albeit in helicopters.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 13 Nov 2018, 18:56

Username Protected wrote:

How many Evo's have been built Dave? I seem to recall a rather poor safety record. How were guys getting into trouble on these birds?

In my mind, the Evo is another one of those great 'on paper' airplanes. The performance and fuel economy are extremely compelling. 300kts and 1,000 nm on less than 40gph is outstanding but how do you justify that type of $$ on a non-certified bird? Since it's not certified, it's not approved for known icing. How do you operate a long range, high altitude turboprop without encountering icing?

I have Goodrich leading edge boots in wings and horizontal stabilizer, windshield liquid deicer, prop heat, electrical heated cowling intake, particle separator. I have not cancelled a trip due to ice on my evo. The best is that the airplane is so slick when you encounter ice you have so much flexibility, climb, go down, go around or turn around.

evo 006

Username Protected · **Posted:** 14 Nov 2018, 09:22

evo 006[/quote]

Hi Andes,
I noticed your Evo is up for sale @ Barnstormers. Why are you selling?[/quote]

Soon to retire from work planning to spend time in Europe hungary
Exhausted all avenues to fly the evo there one flying under the radar in Bulgaria no way t get in the high altitudes anywhere there
My IVP is being re-engined and will do ok there if I decide to take it there
2 months ago my son got his tail dragger rating in this beautiful bolkow 207 which we flew from augsburg to budaors a grass field 15 minutes from budapest

Username Protected · **Posted:** 18 Nov 2018, 15:41

Username Protected wrote:

evo 006

Hi Andes,
I noticed your Evo is up for sale @ Barnstormers. Why are you selling?[/quote]

Soon to retire from work planning to spend time in Europe hungary
Exhausted all avenues to fly the evo there one flying under the radar in Bulgaria no way t get in the high altitudes anywhere there
My IVP is being re-engined and will do ok there if I decide to take it there
2 months ago my son got his tail dragger rating in this beautiful bolkow 207 which we flew from augsburg to budaors a grass field 15 minutes from budapest[/quote]

- That is one nice bolkow 207. I have also heard it is possible to operate an Experimental but you are treated like commercial aviation with lots of paperwork and BS. A friend of mine spends part of his retired life in France; sold his Mooney and is the happiest with a Citabria. Light aircraft have certain "freedom" benefits compared to heavier GA aircraft. * Brian Harris assisted the build of an Evo to one fine gentlemen in Latvia. You might want to talk to him if if there are ways around that. He is the owner of the new aircraft company Tarragon that fits the "light aircraft" category in Europe even though they are fast & retractable. Super well built and sleek design:
http://www.tarragonaircraft.com/en/overview/
Cheers & good luck with the sale.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 19 Nov 2018, 08:10

Quote:

A friend of mine spends part of his retired life in France; sold his Mooney and is the happiest with a Citabria.

Small world - I know Jaimé and I take care of his Citabria !

Username Protected · **Posted:** 19 Nov 2018, 19:08

Username Protected wrote:

There was a jetprop listed about a year ago that had a full fuel payload of -50 lbs. I met a jetprop guy in the pilots lounge one day and he told me everyone basically flies them way over gross, but they do just fine.

Until they don't--and his insurance company files a dec action to avoid indemnification.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 19 Nov 2018, 19:27

Username Protected wrote:

There was a jetprop listed about a year ago that had a full fuel payload of -50 lbs. I met a jetprop guy in the pilots lounge one day and he told me everyone basically flies them way over gross, but they do just fine.

Until they don't--and his insurance company files a dec action to avoid indemnification.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 19 Nov 2018, 22:21

I owned a JetProp -35 with G600 for 3 years then upgraded to something faster.
It flew great. Did everything they claimed. Was a true 262 knots at 280 32gph all day long. I owned a Cirrus Turbo before it and truth be told the JP was cheaper to own then the Cirrus (Cirrus had many maintenance bugaboos JP had none).
I probably should have kept it, but were pilots and we love to fly different airplanes!

I haven’t read all the threads but one thing that I loved about my JP is that when you landed at an FBO (especially big fbo’s like Signature) you were charged as a Malibu for overnights / ramp fee’s etc... Made a difference.

I can attest its not a TBM, but its far more economical to own and operate.

That was my experience owning one. Your mileage may vary.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 20 Nov 2018, 07:59

With over 317 jet props converted, that there is a testament to the product. You don't sell over 300 conversions because it doesn't work.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 20 Nov 2018, 09:48

Username Protected wrote:

I owned a JetProp -35 with G600 for 3 years then upgraded to something faster.
It flew great. Did everything they claimed. Was a true 262 knots at 280 32gph all day long. I owned a Cirrus Turbo before it and truth be told the JP was cheaper to own then the Cirrus (Cirrus had many maintenance bugaboos JP had none).
I probably should have kept it, but were pilots and we love to fly different airplanes!

I haven’t read all the threads but one thing that I loved about my JP is that when you landed at an FBO (especially big fbo’s like Signature) you were charged as a Malibu for overnights / ramp fee’s etc... Made a difference.

I can attest its not a TBM, but its far more economical to own and operate.

That was my experience owning one. Your mileage may vary.

I've heard these types of comments about JP's from others who have moved up the aviation ladder. One pilot I spoke to who had moved up to a Mustang said that the JP was the most cost-effective airplane he had ever owned. He liked the Jet but he missed the simplicity and cost-effectiveness of the JP.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 20 Nov 2018, 21:31

Don I would put myself in that camp.
Fly a jet now and love the speed and ability to fly over weather. The economics are very different.