You could say the conditioning has worked.

I love when we agree. Which is like once every 5 years.

I believe requires 2 pilots....

You can get a single pilot type rating for the 350.

Went from a KA to a CJ. I do miss the KA cabin but the CJ is so much faster, I don't have to be in it as long. PC-12 cabin is much nicer than the KA so CJ is a giant step backwards, not just in comfort but quality too. As an example - CJ window shades suck. Had them all fixed when I bought the plane and three are broken already.

The thing I do love about the CJ2 is baggage. It is so big you could lie three people down in there and it is super easy to load (told my kids thats their spot if they spill anything in the cabin). Even more room in the nose baggage.

I have a other forum acquaintance who lives in the UK and is some sort of hedge fund guy. He has a CJ3 and often conducts business in North America. He crossed the Atlantic in that thing 18 times last year alone! Even did St.Johns to the UK direct once, he mentioned. That's pretty impressive.

Long range capability like that at that speed, makes me excited. Means that if the funds were ever there, I could eliminate not just domestic airline travel, but all international travel too. Not sure why that excites me so much, but it does.

That just might tear it right there.

I like the PC-12 Cabin better than a King Air 90 or 200, but I like the 350 cabin better than the PC-12, just hard to beat a double club!

Jason,

What’s your rush?

It sounds as though you have a great aircraft now that suits your needs well.

Be opportunistic. If a great deal comes along you can jump on it, otherwise wait and see how the Denali impacts the market. You may like it better, or Pilatus may respond with something you like even more. Or perhaps they’ll be equals but the competition will force both parties to sharpen their pencils and you may benefit from that.

As for the tax aspect it can’t hurt to keep your powder dry. We know that personal income taxes will increase unless the law is changed (the tax cuts had a sunset provision, if memory serves).

Depending upon how the next election goes taxes may increase significantly.

Some folks say now is a good time to do Roth conversions to take advantage of the lower rates.

Be opportunistic, because you can.

PS. True story....

Some years ago I was working for a gentleman who owned an Astra SP. Nice biz jet. Very capable.

Astra had come out with the SPX (newer mo’ betta’ version of the SP) and we had been looking at one, but it wasn’t cheap.

Then lo and behold a South American customer who had pre-ordered (and paid a hefty deposit on) an Astra SPX backed out of the deal due to financial issues just as the plane was ready for delivery. The Astra folks wanted it sold and reportedly the customer had forfeited a significant deposit so they had room to deal (or so they said). They flew it somewhere convenient so we could see it and, as the saying goes, the gentleman I worked for “even liked the colors” so a deal was struck.

Keep your eyes open. Sometimes opportunity meets desire in unexpected ways. I’ve seen that happen a lot in the real estate business too.

Happy hunting.

Jim

I say stick with the PC-12, it suits your needs and really has very few downsides... maybe only two, speed and altitude... but by your own admission you prefer low altitude VFR, you wouldn’t be doing that in a jet.

As far as King Air 350 Blackhawks or CJ3+ there are no deals to be had and it doesn’t look like that’s changing anytime soon.

JC - Sounds like you have an itch (jet) to scratch - all this doesn't have to make sense on paper - (none of it does actually).

Me - I think you would enjoy a jet - you will give up some things and gain others - if you had a Caravan 208B and moved to a PC 12 you would give up some things and of course gain others.

It's fun to get a new plane.

We had a Caravan 208B for 9 years - good friend had a PC 12. On 100 - 200 mile trips speed difference was insignificant. We could carry a lot more of anything including people than he could - no contest in carrying ability regardless of distance and do it cheaper.

Comparing Caravan to PC12 is a bit like comparing PC 12 to CJ3. The first in both cases is more of a tractor / station wagon compared to the 2nd. The second is able to go higher get above more weather and go faster.

The PC12 does have long legs, but the price (for me) sitting 5,6,7 hours isn't fun or healthy - I just won't do it, so that long leg factor is a non factor for me.

If I'm going to do 3 hour legs (about all I like) I will get further down the road in the one that goes faster.

Probably the smartest thing (especially if you're a bean counter by DNA) and don't mind sitting that long is keep what you have, but the itch will not get scratched.

If it were me it would be easy - jet (because I am not willing to sit for 6 hours - which is what it takes to outrun the 3.

Me - if I had a choice to fly a PC 12 or a Jet - I would take the jet anytime, to me it's more fun - I don't care if I have to land 10 times - I fly because I like it.

I'd almost rather get a root canal (almost) than be droning along @ any speed for 6 hours unless I can stand up - walk to a full size bathroom and had a 2nd pilot. That kind of plane is different mission and completely out of my price range (Latitude, Challenger 300, etc).

If I had a Mustang and a TBM sitting here - I would never take the TBM. I really don't like loading bags in a PC12, TBM or King Air and I've done a lot in all them.

I really enjoy the climb performance and really like not having to slog around in weather I can nearly always get over in the jet. FL 450 (CJ3) would even be better. I've spent a lot of time at lower altitudes and really like planes that go high.

My vote for a repaint would be this one:



It might need a few tweaks to avoid a nasty letter.

Nah. Swoopy stripes are two years away from becoming the “members only jacket” of airplane paint schemes.

What’s the future of airplane paint schemes?