OK so I have been planning on moving up to a turboprop and I am going to go the Harpoon route instead of a certified plane. After looking at all the options this works best for me. I personally have no issues with experimental, I fly a Harmon Rocket already and I know Wendell the builder of the Harpoon's quite well. They have been flying for over ten years now with no problems or incidents. (Man time slips away.) Those that do have these jewels are very reluctant to get ride of them. The performance is extraordinary to say the least. For those of you not familiar they are converted Baron's that have a Walter 750 HP prop on the nose and delete the piston motors converting the space to wing. The wings are then clipped 3 feet each side to reduce induced drag and wing tip tanks are added. Trues out at 225 knt. Take off and landings are well under 1000 feet if required. Climb performance is an obscene 2500 or better as needed. All this fully loaded with six people and fuel. Oh and fuel burn on a trip tuns out to be the same or slightly less than what it takes to do it in a Baron because you get there in half the time. Plus jet-A is cheaper per gallon and available everywhere compared to avgas. I just do not see a down side for my particular application.

Wow ! I never heard of the Harpoon, but it sounds terrific, and since it is experimental, maybe you can install twin chutes where the piston motors used to be .... and then it would the safest thing in the air !

OK, I'm going to google it now ...

EDIT :

Sure 'nuff, google led me right back here to BT, with commentary and photos, even ...

Holy Smokes ! that's the coolest, sexiest airplane ever !

The downside?

You didn't upload pics, man!

Charles,

Check it out on here doing a search. There is a bunch on them.

Pics coming soon Chris. Standby.

Are they still doing the conversion or did you find one previously converted for sale?

Conversions are out if you want to go into the Homebuilt category. Exhibition is still allowed but you need to get prior approval to be certain. I bought one that was up for sale.

Aren't certified airplanes that have been converted to experimental subject to revision of their operating restrictions at the pleasure or whim of the FAA? You could suddenly end up with something that couldn't be used for general transportation.

Lets face it the FAA can do anything regarding planes. Anything.

Sure is one sluggish Baron you are comparing it to.

Found this old thread on the Harpoon:

http://beechtalk.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=44684

Eric, is yours a converted P or was it an NA? I talked to Wendell a few years ago after the FAA shut him down . Super nice guy, we chatted for quite a while. I would love to get my hands on a P-Harpoon, but I believe he only did a couple.

This is a good ABS article on one of those gorgeous birds!
http://www.bonanza.org/MagazinePDF/2005/11/112005.pdf

Just curious as if it really is "experimental" registry
how does it comply with the 51% rule?

It is my understanding that that was the basis that the FAA used to shut down Wendell Hall's operation. He had a mobile home set up for the owner to "assist" in the build. But the Feds said that wouldn't fly