Just got plane back from inspections.

Bulk of my Maint cost continues to be with pt6. Cracking around exhaust stacks resulted in some exchange parts and a vane in the hot section of one engine broke off and had to be extricated. These two doubled what would have been a reasonable 200 hr and 1 and 2 yr inspection tab.

Flight home was perfect. FL360 and I was doing 365kts in isa +15 temps and pleased my fuel burn is lower than a jet given recent price increases. I flew to Tulsa in an Embraer regional jet. Sitting over the wing was 81db. Piaggio cockpit on the way home was 72.3.

Gusty crosswinds at home drone also made me appreciate high wing loading and the ability to easily slow over the runway in a turboprop vs a jet. Flew the approach at 150 indicated crabbed into the wind. Short final pulled power to flight idle, kicked out of crab and touched down on centerline just past touchdown markers on speed.

Acquired some flight sim controls from a friend and have been training my SIC crew on the xplane Piaggio.

Three hours in Sim Monday am then two more hours Tuesday.
Followed by a phun flight home Tuesday evening.
Wife flew down with me and brought 3 friends. I was a bit concerned about giving them a bumpy rainy descent into Charlotte and said we could stay the night. The consensus was to go. Grinning anticipation mixed with a little angst in we climbed.



Major convection over Southern Ga but not much on my route.
Winds of light and variable reported at all area Charlotte airport with mod to heavy rain and visibility as low as 1 mile.

This plane handles bumps so well all said ride was acceptable.

Now on to the Sim training
Forking out the extra AMU's to basically go to Sim when I choose for the next two years is going to greatly increase my proficiency and comfort level in this very capable airplane.

After a few low approaches with/without engine and a couple steep turns IMC we did short field landing then engine failure take off short field.

Tuesday instructor showed me how to intentionally stay on runway after engine failure while tracking true down runway and gaining a bit more speed before rotating.

Now to test 1:
Depart DEN at full 12,100 gross and 28C.
Engine failure after V1 and just before rotating.
What do you call climbing at 200 FPM?.....CLIMBING

Test II:
Wife and I actually departed Telluride in June. I had full fuel so we could go non stop back to Charlotte. At the time I assumed I could handle an engine failure at that weight and temp.
11,500 lbs and 22C

Engine failure at 110. Kept plane on runway a bit watching airspeed which did NOT climb.
Tried to rotate pull pull pull...yoke all way back and not coming off runway SO....
Over the MESA we went

I pushed into the valley and immediately raised the gear.

Watched speed increase to 150 and after a bit I was grinning flying out the valley.
I should have climbed more once speed hit 140.

Ended training with me successfully landing duel engine failure back on runway....minus the gear
I mentally called the insurance agent, changed me shorts and went to the nearest bar.

Flight Safety has 4 dedicated instructors who only train for Avanti.
A higher time more proficient pilot may not need SIM as much as I do.

As to the mostly correct assumption these turbine engines do not quit:
I know of two engine failures in Avanti.

Both high time competent pilots so handled well.

I desire to be a mid time competent Avanti pilot if the test ever comes my way so at least twice a year in Sim for me.

Flight Safety is money well spent

Did I park next to any of y’all today at CXY? N677P?

Drew, that was me! Flew back to Denver from there this afternoon. Hot in flight levels. Have never seen isa +20 at FL380.

I have racked up some miles in last week. Lots of IFR and icing. Amazingly capable and so fast up and down through the clag.

Dang. Sorry I missed you, Anthony.

This threat has been incredibly helpful. Thank you everyone.

I am looking to pull the trigger on what is likely a Avanti I. Can you all recommend a top vendor for a prebuy on the Avanti?

Would be most apprecaited!

What are your thoughts on the integration of the g600 and 750 with the existing autopilot? I have heard "80%" integrated and that Garmin is supposed to announce full integration shortly.

Thoughts?

Intercontinental Jet Service Corp. at KTUL.

Intercontinental Jet Service Corp. at KTUL.

It’s the best I’ve ever flown with. I love it. However if you are used to a G1000 or GFC600 to a G600/GTN750 you probably won’t love it. Will provide guidance to VNAV but won’t fly it.

It’s the best I’ve ever flown with. I love it. However if you are used to a G1000 or GFC600 to a G600/GTN750 you probably won’t love it. Will provide guidance to VNAV but won’t fly it.

Last Saturday I was parked next to another P180 on the ramp at Kaiser Air in Santa Rosa. First time for that other than at the shop. Who'd I miss (my plane is in front)?

any news on if the Avanti will go back into production?

Although with low rate and long lead time, the factory never stopped the Avanti EVO production

As of today I’m the newest Avanti owner! 2003 Avanti I.

Working through some catch up maintenance for a few weeks probably. Better pics after that, it’s currently buried in the hangar.