The beach... I meant to say already on the beach!

Does anyone have a W&B to compare the PC12 and the 24?

note that we average about $3 to $3.50 a gallon for JetA. I'm lower, but I always stop at KACT on my cross country trips and they have damn cheap JetA..........CAA members get really good pricing.

You are a gracious man!!


I am doing my part. Like Chip referenced it’s not the additional hours that cost it’s the fixed cost.

The Commander is so cheap for me to fly I dont even consider the cost. If I bought a jet I might not fly as much, when it’s only me. Turning around in the Commander and it’s just me and my dog I am cool with that.

It might bother me in a more expensive to operate plane.

Jesse, funny but no, when the marginal cost of an hour of flying is $150-$200/hr....it makes economic sense for the PC12 to be the most flown aircraft in its class. Hence flightaware just is affirmation of basic economics.

And JC, you know jet drivers divert to Rifle not Denver so to be fair it is 'only' a 1.5hr drive each way while you are already on the slopes


Idle curiosity does the old turboprop/turbojet combo plane, the Hustler 400/500 from American Jet/Gulfstream, ever get discussed in PC12 circles?

For those that don't know, roughly 40yrs ago they built a prototype that looks like a small wing PC12, but had a jet in the tail, 350kts and great range. But seems to have died long ago and was never resurrected.

http://www.machdiamonds.com/hustlerbrochure.pdf

I used to have a Malibu. I flew it a lot. I now have the Mu2, I fly it the same hours per year (200) but I go a lot further doing it.

The MU2 is darn close to pc12 in fuel burn. In 400 hours of Malibu flying I spent about .42 per mile on fuel.

In 400 hours of MU2 flying I have spent .91 mile in fuel.

I fly longer than normal trips so I doubt one can do much better than these numbers.

The extra cost is worthwhile IMo. I am able to cover a lot more ground in the Mitts in a day. I fly it a lot more (mileage wise) as a result.

It was only a matter of time before we'd hear about the infallible MU-2

Jesse, funny but no, when the marginal cost of an hour of flying is $150-$200/hr....it makes economic sense for the PC12 to be the most flown aircraft in its class. Hence flightaware just is affirmation of basic economics.

And JC, you know jet drivers divert to Rifle not Denver so to be fair it is 'only' a 1.5hr drive each way while you are already on the slopes


Idle curiosity does the old turboprop/turbojet combo plane, the Hustler 400/500 from American Jet/Gulfstream, ever get discussed in PC12 circles?

For those that don't know, roughly 40yrs ago they built a prototype that looks like a small wing PC12, but had a jet in the tail, 350kts and great range. But seems to have died long ago and was never resurrected.

http://www.machdiamonds.com/hustlerbrochure.pdf

But then it becomes one of those dangerous twins.

This is fascinating.

Imagine a TP and a jet combo with the jet engine design optimized for high alt performance. Dual Fadecs optimize the run time of the jet. It comes on when one minute from takeoff, only runs to safe restart altitude when getting vectored down low, and relights when efficient and necessary up high. Maybe the TP feathers at some point if beneficial.

This could solve many of the problems wifh both types. Reduce opX, maintain reverse for short field/contaminated runway capability, maintain range, add power for HEAVY ops, twin backup for safety when at low altitude, faster and higher cruise, maintain TP efficiency for short legs.

I think FADEC makes this a real possibility constantly optimizing optional power.

Fascinating concept. Just imagine at FL200 the jet engine starting up to help complete the climb and then maximizing cruise speed on modest fuel flow.

I think a lot of us have been saying that, actually. For a low use operator (e.g. owner-operator), the fixed costs overwhelm the direct costs. My plane is decently efficient, fast enough, hauls enough, has enough range.... and costs a lot less in fixed costs. Every year. Enough to pay for my entire year's operating expense...

Steve, mate, that's a damn horse!!!!

I'm liking this concept, lets build it!

We can have Mike Ciholas design it.

We can get JC to market it.

Penman to sell it...

We can call it the BT-12

I'll know more here shortly.........I'm actually working the next few months