Hello all,
I am currently flying a TN A36 but my eye has started to wander. I've been reading about the Aerostar but have never been in one. I'm 6'4" and was wondering how the pilot's seat and cabin compares to the bonanza. Could find the dimensions of seating area for the Aerostar but only the cabin dimensions for the A36. Thanks for the help.
Patrick

Patrick,

I do not know the dimensions, but will see if I can find them. Besides mine where I do not think you would fit (my seats are really thick) I have sat an Aerostar where I had trouble peaking over the dash (I am 5'10"), I was told the owner was over 6'6".

If you let me know your specific concerns I might be able to get you an answer.

Tim

Tim,
My head is just shy of hitting the roof of the A36. If the Aerostar has a lower clearance from the seat to the roof, I would probably not be comfortable. Also, if you don't mind me asking, how much is an average annual if you start with an Aerostar that has been well maintained?

[Link][/Link]
Go to the Aerostar Owners Association website. Select "Aerostars" from the navigation bar at the top of the page and then select "model comparison chart". All of the dimensions are there.

Actually, the aerostar is the only airplane that I can find the seating dimensions on. Its the Bonanza that I cannot find any info on. I was hoping that someone that had sat in both could let me know if they are about the same or one was bigger than the other. The seat to roof clearance in the aerostar is 35 inches.

Get the seat modified to fit.

Patrick,

In the Aerostar, you can have the seat lowered. Either making the cushions thinner or lowering the seat itself.
It is actually on my TODO list but not high enough to bother yet.

I do not have a number on typical annual since I bought a plane that had been sitting. The numbers reported in the AOA forums are all over the map with the majority between $5K and $10K including any repairs. Including prop/engine reserve most people seem to budget between $450-600 an hour over a multi year period.

Stan the EFI has had a few Aerostars over the years, he should be able to provide more details.

Tim

You know what is funny. I have only used the forums and never explored the rest of the AOA website.

Tim

Depending on seat cushion thickness (how the seats were built up), the Aerostars that I've been in *seem* to have a lot more head room than the A36s I've been in. (Now, having said that, if someone has actual measurements, I'll defer to those). When I sold my last Aerostar, the new owner was a very tall gent, and he shipped an articulating seat to me to have installed prior to picking up the plane.


I'm not sure that I can give you a good number on annuals....mine were from $3500 (when nothing was wrong) up to $10,000 or so, when I was doing some mods (GAMIs, air/oil separators, etc). My experience has been, just like any other turbo/pressurized twin (see the threads on 58Ps), if maintenance has been neglected, you will pay more the first few annuals.


I strongly recommend that if you are serious about an Aerostar, that you do the following....first, go ride in one. That will (in all seriousness) help you decide. I've taken a couple of pilots riding in mine that after the flight said the equivalent of "nice ride, don't want one". It moves fast, requires precision (Tim had a good post on it in another thread), flies much more like a turboprop than like a Baron, for example.

Second, join the Aerostar owner's Association. That does two things...it gives you full access to the AOA website (well worth the money, in my opinion), and it gives you access to the technical adviser. Ken really knows Aerostars. In my opinion, he makes about $0.57 per hour for his time with the AOA...


I really enjoyed my Aerostars. I think, realistically, that direct costs for 100 hours per year are going to run you about $35-40,000. I sold mine because I needed to lower my DOCs. I can pay my son's tuition in school for what the Aerostar was costing me to operate. I think that one of the risks of an Aerostar is that there are a fair number of people (Not the ones on BT), who have purchased an Aerostar thinking that the (relatively) cheap purchase price makes them affordable. They are going to cost more to own/operate than a 58 Baron.


But they are strong, well-built planes. If well maintained, they can be very reliable. I would strongly suggest that many of the ones for sale aren't as well maintained as the regular fliers are.


(Tim S. put me up to commenting, knowing I can't stop typing sometimes...)

Stan,

Since I have not had my Aerostar that long, I figured you could answer the money question better.
And yes, I knew you would go on and on...

Tim

Thanks for all the good info. I have joined the AOA website but am waiting for them to process my payment to give me access. Looking forward to accessing the knowledge there.

Hi Patrick,

I'm only 5'5" but sometimes my headset band touches the roof. My cushion is VERY thick. My buddy is 6'2" and he does not have a problems in the passenger seat. So I agree with the above posters, the Aerostar should be able to accommodate most anybody but you may have to adjust the cushions.

As for costs of operation...I have only had my Aerostar for a year and a bit and I dealt with a lot of deferred maintenance from the previous owner this past year. Yes I did a good pre-buy but sometimes things just happen. This year I changed/overhauled, 2 Alternators, 1 vacuum pump, 1 starter and 1 turbo . I don't want to scare you away so I won't answer your question now...ask me again next year

Good move on joining the AOA...Ken Bacon is a GREAT resource.

Glenn

I am about 6'2", my Aerostar does not have seats that are height adjustable. When I wear the Bose headset it will just barely touch the the pull over window blind on the overhead window. It is a little tight to get in but not a big deal. I think at 6'4" you would be ok.

I would say annuals would be similar to any pressurized piston twin. I did a lot of elective things with my airplane so it is difficult to say. It really depends on what you are buying and how it was maintained.

I recommend calling ken bacon for advice. There are some decent looking aerostars on the Aerostar-owners website.

There are actually a few nice ones which were just listed in the AOA marketplace.

Tim

Just for those curious, this part of the AOA forums should bew viewable by the public:
http://aerostar-owners.com/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=12

Tim