Mission 1: business travel for me, two other people, plus pilot. Trips will be there and backs in the 150-250nm range about two times a week. Once or twice a quarter we’ll do an overnight trip of 700nm.

Mission 2: Three couples goofing off. Long trip would be 700-1000nm probably 2-3 times a year. Could see 1-2 weekends a month of a 250nm or less trip. Need enough useful load to take some bags, but not expecting to haul the kitchen sink.

The quandary: this needs to be the same plane. I’d like it to be economical enough to use often for work in the short trips but have enough room to shoot down to the Bahamas or Nashville to goof off.

My buddy who’s going to own the plane with me will be able to fly mission 2. I’m still learning to fly so the business trips will be with a pro pilot when said buddy is not available. He is a commercial crop duster pilot and flys about every day. He is twin licensed, IFR, etc, etc. He owns several ag planes, but is looking to get in to a family plane. I’m mostly here to help pay for it and enjoy the benefits.

We are bouncing around all over the place:
Barron 58
Cessna 210
A36 Bonanza
Cessna 414

Looking to stay below $350k on acquisition cost but could spend up to $450k. Doesn’t need to have mahogany bookshelves but would be nice to have enough runway appeal to make the wives feel special.
OPEX needs to be low enough to remotely justify not driving the 3-4 hour business trips, hotel, etc. To get the time back would be worth a lot to me.

Thanks in advance for the insight on a topic that I’m sure has been discussed often.

6 people + bags + 1000 nm range is a serious airplane. Solve that mission the rest are easy.

The solution for me was an MU2. Doesn't feel like that's a good fit for your present state.

I'd probably lean A36 Bonanza, and expect a fuel stop on a 1000 nm trip. That's going to be 6 hours in the plane.

If you money/time equation changes, then consider cabin class airplanes like 414, or turboprop. For business, you need a reliable airplane, so a turboprop is probably a good fit assuming your business value is there.

Mike C.

How much do you think it cost you to do a 200nm trip on your MU2? Pilot not included. In my mind, that seems like a lot of plane for such a short trip but when you factor in the speed it might not cost as much as I think. The MU2 is a plane that the more I read about it the more I don’t understand why they aren’t more popular. Seems to be an amazing plane. Are there any places in the SE that work on them? I don’t know if I’ve ever laid eyes on one.

When you consider 6 hours in a plane, that makes Delta look pretty attractive for those 2-3 long trips a year and maybe match the plane to the weekend getaways. Or, get a MU2.

700-1000nm with 3 wives and bags is a tall order. A36 won’t do that in a way that will encourage the 3 wives to do it again. I’d say 58 minimum. That’s still 5 hours in a loud hot/cold cozy space. 414 they are likely to enjoy themselves. Maybe consider a navajo as well.

for your mission 2, is your partner/buddy part of the three couples, or is he person #7 for that flight? if it’s 7 plus bags, you’ve effectively ruled out the piston singles. even with 6, that’s a tough mission in a piston single.

You're partially defining your airplane on Mission 2, which is only 2-3 times a year. And Mission 2 is dramatically different than Mission 1

So for only 2-3 times a year needing Mission 2, I would fit the aircraft to Mission 1 and take the (air)Bus for Mission 2.

Mission 2 is a serious airplane... Charles said it - anything less than a 414 (or equivalent) and the wives will want the airlines next time.

Your pilot buddy... who flies every day... if he has loads of ASEL time but not loads of MEL time, then even the Mission 2 airplane might be a learning curve for him.

This screams PA46 to me but even so, three couples for a long trip is still a bit much. And that plane is likely at the top of your budget even finding one that needs some updates. Maybe a PA32 as well if you find one with decent useful load.

Figure $1500 round trip (~$750/hour, but it will be a bit less than an hour each way).


Bad reputation and unusual. In reality, it is a awesome business and family airplane. Turbine plus 300 knots changes your life in a way that no piston airplane ever can. The most important "speed" feature on the MU2 was that it wasn't broken when I needed it. For example, no "night before just in case my piston airplane breaks" flights any more because I could trust it would fly in the morning.


The SE USA is the best place to have an MU2, IMO.

My shop was in Dickson, TN (M02). Caroline Turbine Support is in Aiken, SC (KAIK). Lots of other folks who know MU2s around here.


Good ones are hard to find.

My doctor friend has an F model which you can get well under $350K when they come on the market. His profile is almost exactly yours. Flies a lot of business trips in the 200-350 nm range, and then about 4 or 5 big family trips in the 1000 nm range.

Figure $750/hour, 250 knot block speed, for 100-150 hours/year usage if you manage the plane properly.

I flew a lot of short trips and didn't worry about it. Now I fly a Citation V, and still have short trips to do, so it really depends on what your cost/benefit objectives are.

Mike C.

based on some of the king air insurance quotes I've seen in this market, I'd hate to see one for a MU2, then again, it's less hull usually, so that may be a factor to consider

For mission #2, it sounds like you need a cabin class plane. Maybe your passengers could be sold on a smaller cabin if the destinations are not served easily by airlines or really like the adventure of flying in your own GA plane vs. the tedium of the airlines.

Otherwise, in a Bonana/210/etc. I'd anticipate questions like "what do you mean I can only take 20 pounds with me?"

Also, without knowing more details it sounds like the FAA would consider mission #1 a 135 operation.

only 3 times a year? charter something bigger with a pilot

Figure 4 hours each way in a charter king air at $5000/leg. Might as well own a 414

And no, mission #1 is NOT 135. You own the plane and hire a pilot. Part 91 all the way

6 adults in a 36 or a 210 is short flight only IMHO, and that's if they are all GA enthusiastic.

I am going to have to go with the crowd and say scrap mission 2.

Mission one is short enough that I would worry less about speed and more about cabin width and leg room. I would suggest the PA32 or 32R series...Cherokee Six, Saratoga, or Lance. Big wide cabin with big doors. Might add a few minutes to the flight vs a 36 or 210, but will add a lot of comfort for not pilots.

He’s one of the six.

Only if the flying wasn't "incidental" to the business.

Otherwise, mission #1 is a very common part 91 operation, even if the pilot is hired.

Mike C.