No long faces in those photos Brent! Looks like you picked the right plane for the mission.

This thread has caused me to think impure thoughts. Looking at an F-model. Couple of questions for the braintrust:

- Are there any recommendations for Aztec maintenance in the mid-Atlantic region? I'll be in northern Virginia. Easy to travel for annuals even if farther away.

- Is the third row seat still easily removable with the factory oxygen option? Not clear from the pictures I've seen whether the bottle interfaces with seat structure.

- Am I correct that TIT monitoring is not a thing on the turbo models? Don't see any TIT limits or gauges listed in the factory POH, or in some aftermarket engine monitors.

- Are there different factory nosecones for radar and non-radar models, or are they all "radomes?"

1. I don’t know anyone to recommend in your area but unlike an Aerostar or a Twin Cessna most any competent mechanic should be able to handle the maintenance

2. You can remove the third row seat without messing with the O2 bottle. It is tricky to twist out until you get the hang of it.

3. A typical GEM system will be adequate and much better than the single probe gauge they came with

4. Norton did make a radome that was a factory option on the F. They are rare. I just sold the second one I have ever had from parting out well over 100 Aztecs. Newer radars perform pretty well shooting through a standard non radome nose.

Thanks, Norman!

Just visited the plane I asked about - unfortunately, needed more catchup maintenance than I’m interested in tackling.

Loved the cabin / baggage space and ergonomics.

I’ve seen everything listed in the usual sources. If anyone has a line on a plane that meets the below, please put me in touch:

- Naturally aspirated
- Flying regularly / excellent maintenance
- Full de-ice (boots / props / windshield - don’t need FIKI)
- Working 2-axis autopilot
- Engine monitor

Hey Charlie,

The market is very tight right now for piston twins of all kinds that fit my highlight. They're either resto-modded to the n-th degree and are way out expensive, or are runouts that haven't been touched since 1990 LORAN was a thing.

The rest are onesies twosies, and they seem to get snapped up. I watched a Baron on TAP get sold in a day or two between posting and "under contract".

The estimate I got for "catchup" maintenance, nothing exotic, just put everything in order (hoses, cleanup, gear rig, rod ends, odds and ends, etc etc) by a good shop I trust that knows what they're doing, is about $40k for a piston twin. That's before touching anything else like interior or avionics.

The people who are flying their planes aren't selling them. There don't seem to be people selling their flying birds who are moving up.

Thanks, Rich. I agree - and that's the area I'm most willing to compromise. I'll add that by flying regularly I mean relative to the overwhelmingly neglected fleet. I don't expect 100 hrs/yr since new with no breaks (though that would be nice...).

I'm intimately familiar with the cost to bring these planes up to speed, and to maintain them once you get there. My treatise on the topic is here:
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=239702&start=60

The plane I checked out today didn't have digital logs, so I knew I was taking a flyer, but with 60 minutes of logbook review and walkaround I identified $30k+ of work that was needed. This is before the $20k+ I'd expect a competent mechanic to find on most legacy twins.

All this is a long way of saying... I want a plane that my dumb ass thinks is in good shape so I can just pay for the A&P's squawks, not both of our squawks.

That pretty much describes me to a “tee”.

There's a new category of twin engine owners who are selling good airplanes, those who can no longer get insurance due to nothing other than age.

There's no doubt I'll be in that boat one of these days.

There's a new category of twin engine owners who are selling good airplanes, those who can no longer get insurance due to nothing other than age.

There's no doubt I'll be in that boat one of these days.

I haven't seen that - we have a couple of those locally but they are just letting the planes sit in the hangars languishing. It's the usual story - the planes will become long-term-inactive that end up beyond economical repair, while occupying a hangar as other people who could be flying sit on the hangar wait list for years.

I haven't seen that - we have a couple of those locally but they are just letting the planes sit in the hangars languishing. It's the usual story - the planes will become long-term-inactive that end up beyond economical repair, while occupying a hangar as other people who could be flying sit on the hangar wait list for years.

I wish that was the case here

we have an older gentleman with the most beautiful twin comanche I've ever seen. He can't get insurance anymore but I'll bet he could get insured in my deb. I've offered to trade him plane plus cash or straight up buy it, but he says he is keeping it because maybe his grandaughter will want to fly it someday.

His granddaughter is ~12

I wish that was the case here

we have an older gentleman with the most beautiful twin comanche I've ever seen. He can't get insurance anymore but I'll bet he could get insured in my deb. I've offered to trade him plane plus cash or straight up buy it, but he says he is keeping it because maybe his grandaughter will want to fly it someday.

His granddaughter is ~12

It's an acquired taste, common to many Pipers.
I'm not too crazy about the hidden, hard to access trim wheel of the 33, 35, 36, 55, 58 family, so I guess we're even

George