BeechTalk - BT

Username Protected · **Posted:** 06 Apr 2013, 14:05

I was flipping through Flying magazine this morning and found myself staring at their ad for a while, especially admiring the performance numbers. If this airplane were a production airplane and not just available as a kit, do you think it would be a success (as much as any manufacturer selling airplanes these days can be "successful")? Would any of you buy one?

Username Protected · **Posted:** 06 Apr 2013, 14:34

Username Protected wrote:

I was flipping through Flying magazine this morning and found myself staring at their ad for a while, especially admiring the performance numbers. If this airplane were a production airplane and not just available as a kit, do you think it would be a success (as much as any manufacturer selling airplanes these days can be "successful")? Would any of you buy one?

If I could afford it, yes.

Tim

Username Protected · **Posted:** 06 Apr 2013, 14:36

Not for me, but some people are all about performance.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 06 Apr 2013, 14:45

Username Protected wrote:

Not for me, but some people are all about performance.

Is it because it's currently experimental? Price tag? (Over around $1.5M for new pro-built turbine model... one would think around $2M or ++ for the certified model) Or is something else lacking?

Username Protected · **Posted:** 06 Apr 2013, 16:13

Same here, try to resell it.
I have friends trying to resell homebuilt turbine seaplanes at $500k, its not selling as there is limited market for high price homebuilts.
Buy a used TBM for the same $$ and you will have resell value when you get tired of it.

Username Protected wrote:

Not for me, but some people are all about performance.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 06 Apr 2013, 16:26

Username Protected wrote:

Not for me, but some people are all about performance.

Is it because it's currently experimental? Price tag? (Over around $1.5M for new pro-built turbine model... one would think around $2M or ++ for the certified model) Or is something else lacking?

Username Protected · **Posted:** 06 Apr 2013, 20:12

Too much for an experimental.

If it were certified it'd be too much also.

Just no way to get around the cost of a PT6 I guess.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 06 Apr 2013, 20:20

I flew the factory demo for a Kitplanes article a few weeks ago.... here is a pic i posted in photos download/file.php?id=46984&mode=view

I agree that a used TBM is a better resale value, but my hangar neighbor has a TBM and the gear would not stay up.... He spent $35,000 rebuilding 3 hydraulic cylinders that might cost $350, or maybe even $3500 to fix on an Evolution....

There would be a huge difference in the operating cost between an Evolution and a TBM..

Username Protected · **Posted:** 06 Apr 2013, 20:24

Username Protected wrote:

There would be a huge difference in the operating cost between an Evolution and a TBM..

As there would any kit plane vs. certified....

If the Evolution were certified.....

Username Protected · **Posted:** 06 Apr 2013, 20:33

If you are buying or building one..... You don't care. You are after the end result. Resale vs what Doug just mention probably means it is still a more economical option.

But how would you know until you ve done it?

Username Protected · **Posted:** 06 Apr 2013, 20:53

My hangar neighbor loves his Evolution. He has put 100+ hrs on it already this year. It is a big step up from the turbine A36 he had. He doesn't think it cost anymore to operate then the turbine Bonanza.

The avionics shop I use also does turbine aircraft maintenance and engine overhaul. They love those turbines. It is not uncommon to see 6 figure annuals on those certified airplanes.

Lancair Evolution