Did you sell your plane Jason?

Also, it’s gonna be a long cold winter around here without some Aerostar pics and bs’ing!

Did you sell your plane Jason?

Also, it’s gonna be a long cold winter around here without some Aerostar pics and bs’ing!

As you may know EPS, the diesel engine maker we hoped would make the Aerostar into a new aircraft, 25 knots faster, with twice the range, is in bankruptcy. the proposed sale is to a Chinese group which would not be good for the product IMHO

Latest on EPS bankruptcy

The current EPS situation is this. The sale was approved in early December pending a review by CIFIUS (reviews foreign investment in US companies). That review should be complete around January 19. If the sale is approved, then it is done and effective in 2020. If the sale is not approved, it appears that would force EPS into Chapter 7 bankruptcy instead of Chapter 11. In Chapter 7, the assets are sold piece meal.

perhaps then a purchaser can pick up the project free from encumberment of the existing contracts like the agreement to manufacture in China.

at this time, there is a major US engine manufacturer (non aircraft) interested in purchasing the assets without the encumbering manufacturing agreements.

in that case we may have an engine sometime for our aircraft.

FYI There is a post about this in Engine talk "EPS bankruptcy"

the book on all you wanted to know about Aerostars and the life of Ted Smith and his other aircraft is now available.

this is where to go and buy it. It is a great read, incredibly full of information, not only about Ted smith but the detailed design and development of the Aero commander, the Jet commander and the Aerostar.

very worth the price.

STARS and COMMANDERS, The Life and Vision of Ted Smith, may now be ordered on line at http://www.starsandcommanders.com

The book will not be available in bookstores or Amazon. This beautiful hardbound coffee table book, numbered and signed by the author, will be an excellent addition to the library of any Aerostar owner or pilot. Its 624 pages contain the story of Ted Smith written from his unpublished memoir, how his dream was born and, after a lifetime of wins and losses, elation and sorrow, eventually achieved. But the book is more than a biography. It also describes how each of his designs and their various models evolved, specifications for each model, and over 700 photos, many full page. There are also chapters devoted to telling the story of his many associates who helped design and build his planes, as well as stories and short bios of many of the fortunate owners who have the privilege to fly the best light twins ever designed.

I agree with Dave.. that book is an amazing piece of art. Well worth every penny if you are an Aerostar or Twin Commander enthusiast.

There is a small discount if you are an AOA member..

The book is incredible in every way imaginable. I can’t imagine the time and resources required to compile everything that is contained within this book. I’m reading it for a second time. There’s just to much information to digest the first time around.

The ingenuity, drive and imagination that not only drove Ted Smith, but, those who worked for him from his closest associate to the guy on the shop floor is astounding and refreshing. I don’t see these attributes in today’s world. People worked for him because they wanted to, not because they had to.

The beauty of the Aerostar is that it was built by people who had a passion for the airplane. Everyone knew how special it was and that was the driving force behind it’s development and build. Yes, the Aerostar is a very special airplane. Fly one once and it’s all over. Everything you look at thereafter will be measured against the Aerostar. Yes, it is that incredible of an airplane.

I purchased a copy after reading about it in this thread. Magnificent book - even for a Baron driver. Book stays at home -legacy Beechcraft sign goes in the hangar.

Just over five flight hours (headwind) yesterday delivering me prized Aerostar to new owner.

Bittersweet

New owner will treat her well and hopefully share a picture and a grin soon

Friday (1/15/21), flew home from Lajitas (T89).
One stop -Hattiesburg, MS

Nice tailwind both legs.

373 GS.....and you call that nice tailwind
145 knot push at FL230....you win

I stayed low going west yesterday and never saw 200 GS
Going up into higher headwind was out of the question.

I really REALLY wanted to fly Aerostar backwards Sunday and could have done it at FL220 or higher over Charlotte

Forrest! What was your power setting in that last flight you posted? 222 KTAS FL230....was that 26/2200/13gph/side/LOP/SEG! That last one is a colloquial expression for visible happiness and inner knowledge hahaha.

And I love how you have 154 KIAS selected on the Aspen airspeed tape. Vz mafia....

It’s the little things.


Normally I run as hard as I can LOP, limited by TIT.

My plugs (fine wire) are clean and my turbos are in good shape so I was running 29” (better bleed heat) x 2300 @ 14gph /side.

14 x 14.7 = 205.8 / 300 = 68.6%

The JPI said I was getting better than 12nm/gal so I was loving life.

66 article - Ted Smith HAS DONE IT AGAIN - Aero Resources Inc

https://aeroresourcesinc.com/uploads/19 ... %20320.pdf

14gph x 2 x 12mpg = 336 kts. That’s one smoking A*. Or if you are talking about only one engine that’s 168 kts... one really slow A*... something seems amiss here?

I typically see 7-8mpg with mine.