Same for MU-2's. It's exactly what's happened to the rest of markets - real estate here in LA has gone up about 100% in the last 3 years. I was actually surprised how low airplane prices stayed during the recovery and upturn - seems like it's just the last year things have started to move up again. My Aerostar would have been a $250K+ plane if this was 2006, instead I had to give it away at $125K with new engines. The again, I wouldn't have gotten the new plane for pennies on the dollar either.

yep, I noticed the tick up on the MU2's as well. What's interesting about the MU2's is just how few of them are on the market. I think that a lot of owners realize what they have and unless financially they just cant afford them anymore, they simply wont sell them. Where do you go from a -10 MU2 unless money isn't really a factor....

Interestingly it looks as thought C441 prices have come down over the last couple of years. Merlin prices are about steady from when I was shopping. Jets I am looking at have been dropping in price over the last while.

Market is very dry. Good airplanes trade hands without ever hitting brokers or web sites. The bad ones sit forever.

I have a list of "if you ever want to sell, call me first" contacts. My plane will probably not be advertised when I sell it next year.


Pretty hard to find a good step up that is more performance. Pretty hard to find a good step down that is meaningfully less cost.

Mike C.

The step up is jet. The step down probably a Cub. But the allure of jets is strong amongst owner/operators. Seems like most end up there. I don't think there's a lot of sideways movement where people move from a MU-2 to a Commander etc. Maybe some, but not much.

Fuel is cheap which draws attention to jets. Once fuel is back around double what it is now the jet fever will subside for many a owner/operator. One of the reasons these older Garrett turboprops hold a steady value.

I think 441 prices have fallen because of these two factors:

Cheap fuel has people stepping up into Citations.

SIDs are now starting to recur on calendar intervals, which burdens owners again with that, so some owners are moving down.

Mike C.

Very good point. Agreed.

Mike -

I've been following the MU-2 threads for awhile and always appreciate the great first hand experience you share. I met with Pat Cannon a few months ago to see and sit in an MU-2.

Just curious, you are looking to sell yours next year? Upgrading?

Yes, I desire non stop capability to the west coast, 1650+ nm from KEVV. Realistically, that means 2000 nm range airplanes.

Planes that can do it are:

441
Later Commanders
Merlin

Citation SII with Williams

Current leading choices are Citation SII with Williams or 441 with -10 (as most are). Commanders are not a good fit (literally). Merlins are just too bulky and slow. Other choices not listed are too expensive or have other disqualifying faults.

Forced to decide today, I would do the 441 which makes the most sense economically. The flight times to the west coast are about 1 to 1.5 hours longer than the Citation, sometimes worse in bad headwinds, but overall, the 441 is a better fit for my mission mix. But it ain't a jet. Jets come with their own problems, though.

I am looking to buy early 2017 since I will be out of the country for 4 months at end of 2016. An ideal situation would be if I could sell my MU2 in the next two months, then go abroad, then come back and find a good airplane quickly when I arrive. I'm wise enough to know that things will not work out that well, and the thought of being without any airplane when I get back is down right scary, so I expect to keep the MU2 into 2017, use it generally and to hunt the next plane, then sell it.

Mike C.

Mike - I look forward to the tagline at bottom of your posts saying "Slumming it in the jet world - so you don't have to". And to 18 months in the shop…

That is the crux of it! I have jet fever pretty bad, but the MU2 is so financially predictable and it just doesn't break.

I would most likely move to a Beechjet. I am already typed. I live in the Beechjet capitol of the world. I can throw a rock in any direction and hit a Beechjet pilot. Hourly inspection program. No airframe life limit. Many upgrades are available with many more in R&D. Built like a tank.

It is a difficult illness to fight!

That is the crux of it! I have jet fever pretty bad, but the MU2 is so financially predictable and it just doesn't break.

I would most likely move to a Beechjet. I am already typed. I live in the Beechjet capitol of the world. I can throw a rock in any direction and hit a Beechjet pilot. Hourly inspection program. No airframe life limit. Many upgrades are available with many more in R&D. Built like a tank.

It is a difficult illness to fight!

265knots on 400 pph fuel or less.. Can't be beat .. A pilot's airplane! Get proper training and you will find that is one remarkable airplane and offers the best safety margin in class..we flew them 100 hrs. Per month in corporate environment for years with very few issues! The -10 engine is an improvement, but the pressurization of the 690 doesn't really allow for the higher altitude capability of the -10... All turbines are expensive, but a good 690 is hard to beat...good luck!

441 with RVSM and -10 engines.

Supplement says FL350, ISA, midweight, 306 KTAS at 372 pph. So 41 knots faster, 28 pph less.

Slow down to maximum range, 259 KTAS at 310 pph.

Mike C.