Oh, Tom, but you are, you are......

The money quote. Yes, money is always a factor, at least for me.


I've never had a TN A 36...but I've flown them, and to me, they are near the perfect sweet spot in cost vs. capability. Every time I see one I'd like, though, they are *expensive*.


thanks to you, and all, for weighing in...

Everyone I’ve known who did what you’re describing — step down to a less expensive and less capable airplane directed at about the same mission — has done it because they needed to go to BasicMed.

You’d think retirement would cause things like MU-2 to Baron trades, but I haven’t seen it.

that's what I'm wondering...does anyone do that? I follow the MU-2 forum...and I almost never see one for sale there....unless a person quits flying altogether.

My CJ2 goes to prebuy on the 11th. I’m on my last trip right now. I’ve had it for three years and really enjoyed it! But it’s primary use was for my business and we haven’t had much need for sales meetings since COVID.

I’m going to get typed in the mustang and rent one from a buddy if I can stay current enough to make it worthwhile.

I still have about 12 years before I retire however like most airplane guys I give a lot of thought to my "retirement airplane" that I can afford to fly. the travelair is perfect for my family at the moment however once I retire it will be too expensive to keep for just buzzing around. i'm thinking RV-4, c-120, and recently a amphibious kitfox. I've still got time to decide however always fun thinking about the next airplane.

I believe that Dr. Apt had everyone beaten re: step-down rides.

What is it about this hotrod that keeps it from being exponentially more popular?

Pretty common. I’m in more than I “need” now because of some life changes, but I am not ready to “step back” (although it’s not stepping back at all). I don’t need all the capability of a P-twin, but then again I drooled when Tarver put his Mits up for sale or sometimes when I see a smaller CJ up for sale – there’s something about wanting to smell kerosene…. However when the biz / vacation travel slows down, I could (will) go from the 340 to a low and slow taildragger in a heartbeat.

Last year I was at BCT (Boca Raton) when a uniformed Challenger driver asked if I wanted to trade… I was ferrying a C-140. Perspective. "No way..." "Don't blame you"

Stan – I’m wondering if some of the progression is that Left Brain v Right Brain thing… To a point there is a “left-brain dominated” need for a certain class / type of aircraft. My entire day-job is left-brained analytical… so to offset that there has to be some “right-brained fun-factor” which is aviation (and motorcycles)… at least for me… I need the 340 like I need another ex-wife… BUT

I really only need a C210 or B55 for my mission …. BUT my “soul and sanity and inner-smiling self” really 'needs' a Mits… and that is where the recreation part comes in.

Highest. Fastest. Farthest. He always wins.

What is it about this hotrod that keeps it from being exponentially more popular?

Yes they are.

In late 2011 / early 2012 I was searching actively for either a TN A36 or a B36TC (even considered an A36TC) because I really wanted a turbo for all of our trips into the Sierras and Rockies (the extra cruise speed is nice too).

Eventually I concluded it was better to simply send my A36 to Ada and have Tornado Alley add the TN system to my bird.

We could have been into it for less money by going with a V35 or F33A (especially a 520 powered variant, which perform admirably with the TN system).

But we hoped grandchildren would be along one day and we figured the extra room would be really great to have. It turns out we were right on both counts. Now our granddaughter is a regular passenger and starts hollering “airplane” with joy as we drive to the airport.

We’re retired. We’ve had our A36 long enough that the A36 costs are figured into our retirement plans. I still lust for pressurization so find myself looking at Malibus and the occasional P-Baron at times. A Malibu won’t fit in my hangar and I worry that a P-Baron might be a budget buster. Perhaps a Malibu would be as well.

So here we are. Perhaps the answer is we get the most desirable one we can afford?

I went debonair, b55 to M20F. My AME has not pronounced me crazy either. When the first kid went to college the budget got closer look from management.

See you soon!

Yeah, there must be a finite limit to the length of a post... And you might put that in serious jeopardy!

I am in the process of selling my 340 now. It's hard to imagine not having that plane in the hangar, but its no longer feasible to keep around. I have a low and slow, big tired taildragger, and just bought an RV9, so its not like I am not going to be flying...
I will sure miss the mission capabilities that the pressurized twin provides.