I received a call, text actually, from a client who surprised me by saying he was getting rid of his Pilatus PC-12 and wanted to replace it with a (fairly) small jet. It sounds like many (including me) tried to talk him out of it, but he was convinced and had some pretty good reasons.

Each situation is unique and missions (should) drive most of these decisions, but what I often find is that many folks buy an airplane based on what their friend, pilot, or ______ says they should buy and very often their actual mission was not the driving factor.

We have a client who hired us to buy a King Air 90 or a TBM who has now decided on a Mustang, he asked my opinion and I replied "if the Mustang will do your mission, you can't beat it"

We see a lot of "you should buy ______ because _________ and it does __________ !

AND that little jet doesn't do _______ !

The reality is that each one of these aircraft, including the Cirrus Jet and MU2, was designed by brilliant engineers and tens of millions of dollars were spent to build, certify, market and sell that model of aircraft. Not to mention that once they came to market, dozens, and often hundreds of multi-million dollar aircraft were sold. That means that each one of those purchases were made by a really smart guy (he had the money) and who in most cases did his research and bought an airplane that fit his needs.

So, why in the world did this guy sell his PC-12 and buy an _____? Because he's a smart guy, who did his research.

Your first paragraph says "he wants to".

Your last paragraph says "he did".

Did he yet?

Sounds like someone who doesn't need an aircraft broker telling him what to buy.

Mike C.

What were his reasons and what is he buying?

It’s easy to say to buy the aircraft that meets your mission but for most people, buying an aircraft (or a bigger, faster aircraft) changes what is possible and you don’t know the mission until you own the machine and say, “We could do ___.

In 1995 I bought my last airplane first. I was lucky.

I had no idea it would change my life. I did not know if my ski is would fit ( they do). I did not know about all the great destinations that are now so easy. I did not understand that Florida is 6 hours and a great destination for a long weekend. I did not understand all the great Canadian destinations only 2 hours away.

So when somebody wants to sell a PC12 to buy a jet, they are opening new doors in their life. New destinations.

this smart pilot replaced his pilatus using one weird old tip

call barron thomas to learn more today

Your first paragraph says "he wants to".

Your last paragraph says "he did".

Did he yet?

Sounds like someone who doesn't need an aircraft broker telling him what to buy.

Mike C.

The most obvious is that he wanted to go faster. His mission changed to include a longer trip, even though he will have to stop for fuel the trip will still be a lot faster in the jet, and the new trip is over water so two engines made sense as well.

The primary reason is that he will fly it himself, and this is the next logical move in his progression as a pilot.

He purchased a nice late-model Citation M2, though we came really close to buying a new one.

The M2 is a sweet ride, the G3000 is awesome, the only downside I see is that currently the only upgrade is a CJ3+ and our research seems to confirm this, every offmarket airplane we found was being replaced with a CJ3+!

He must not have needed the room of a PC12. The M2 is over 100 kts faster, so it’s easy to appreciate the difference. Twin engine jet at FL410 vs a SETP down below. Fast, quiet, no paddle beating the air. What’s not to like? Regardless, it always comes down to the mission requirements. If you satisfy those, you have a happy owner.

Chip, why do you see the next step being a CJ3+ as a downside? Seems like a nice step to me.

Just the price delta! Be nice to have a step between, a M3 (CJ2+ Aspen)

The price difference between a new M2 and a CJ3+ is significant to the average buyer, but not as much to those buying brand new jets. Once there are more in the secondary market, the price delta will be less.

The most obvious is that he wanted to go faster. His mission changed to include a longer trip, even though he will have to stop for fuel the trip will still be a lot faster in the jet, and the new trip is over water so two engines made sense as well.

The primary reason is that he will fly it himself, and this is the next logical move in his progression as a pilot.

He purchased a nice late-model Citation M2, though we came really close to buying a new one.

The M2 is a sweet ride, the G3000 is awesome, the only downside I see is that currently the only upgrade is a CJ3+ and our research seems to confirm this, every offmarket airplane we found was being replaced with a CJ3+!

Look at Jason Crandall saying nice things about a small jet! He actually moved from a /45 to the M2 so it was a pretty good jump from an acquisition standpoint. But, yes when you can buy a very nice, late model, low time jet with G3000 in it in the $3M’s it’s easy to see the value.

Like the Mustang, if the M2 (CJ1) does your mission they are almost impossible to beat.