23 Dec 2025, 19:20 [ UTC - 5; DST ]
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Post subject: Re: Aerostars  Posted: Yesterday, 10:43 |
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Joined: 11/22/08
Posts: 3120
Post Likes: +1072
Company: USAF Propulsion Laboratory
Location: Dayton, OH
Aircraft: PA24, AEST 680, 421
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Username Protected wrote: When you actually speak to Superstar II owners, they love them and don't experience higher maintenance costs or higher failure rates. Yes, they have their known weak spots (cowl flap motors, changing oil filter and the stupid dual magneto), but with PE owning Hartzell/Knisley now, prices for the two turbo models have skyrocketed. Like 3-5x. I used toy be able to overhaul a turbo on my 601P for $1500-2000 when I owned mine, now I hear they're $5K a piece. And it has two. On the Superstar II, any Navajo salvage or repair shop can help you out. Last I looked turbochargers are closer to $10k each now.
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Post subject: Re: Aerostars Posted: Yesterday, 11:43 |
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Joined: 08/07/17
Posts: 645
Post Likes: +1233
Location: Houston, TX
Aircraft: 737,RV8,AEST,B25,C47
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Username Protected wrote: I have four Aerostars and a couple of Bonanzas so I fly which ever one is most mission specific to me. Aerostar hoarder!! Just kidding… glad to see you’re saving them!
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Post subject: Re: Aerostars Posted: Yesterday, 14:32 |
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Joined: 12/17/13
Posts: 6665
Post Likes: +5969
Location: Hollywood, Los Angeles, CA
Aircraft: Aerostar Superstar 2
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Username Protected wrote: Last I looked turbochargers are closer to $10k each now. Holy moly.  PE ruins everything, but it particularly ruins things in aviation where we can't exercise the free market by going somewhere else. That's why PE loves aviation. Or put it in PE speak, an "inelastic market". Same happened to Turbo Commanders. Windscreens used to be crazy already at $55K/side, PE buys the company and now it's well over $100K/side and rising I hear. Frank, thanks for your POV on the Superstar II.
_________________
"Either we heal now as a team, or we will die as individuals."
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Post subject: Re: Aerostars Posted: Yesterday, 17:00 |
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Joined: 01/08/17
Posts: 476
Post Likes: +326
Aircraft: Aerostars, Debonair
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Username Protected wrote: Yep, it does seem weird that there are so many Aerostar hangar queens… I’ve seen and heard of numerous ones around the country just rotting away. Just last week in Houston I “found” another 601P/700 that apparently hasn’t turned a wheel since 2008. It’s covered with a heavy layer of dust, but at least it has new props!
That Superstar II was owned by a guy that killed himself in an L-39 that he had just bought in 2007. I think it has just been sitting there since. The family might not even know they own it!
Last edited on 23 Dec 2025, 01:39, edited 1 time in total.
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Post subject: Re: Aerostars Posted: Yesterday, 17:33 |
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Joined: 06/18/15
Posts: 1259
Post Likes: +514
Location: Alaska/Idaho
Aircraft: Helio Courier, MU2
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Username Protected wrote: Last I looked turbochargers are closer to $10k each now. Holy moly. PE ruins everything, but it particularly ruins things in aviation where we can't exercise the free market by going somewhere else. That's why PE loves aviation. Or put it in PE speak, an "inelastic market". Same happened to Turbo Commanders. Windscreens used to be crazy already at $55K/side, PE buys the company and now it's well over $100K/side and rising I hear. Frank, thanks for your POV on the Superstar II.
Yes, the captive market (us pilots) have no alternative. The rollup of aviation suppliers is following a similar pattern to the pharmaceutical industry
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Post subject: Re: Aerostars Posted: Yesterday, 17:41 |
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Joined: 08/16/21
Posts: 5
Post Likes: +1
Aircraft: Aerostar 601P
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We do have alternatives. This is why I have been hyping owner produced parts as much as possible in the various forums, for example.
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Post subject: Re: Aerostars Posted: Yesterday, 17:44 |
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Joined: 06/18/15
Posts: 1259
Post Likes: +514
Location: Alaska/Idaho
Aircraft: Helio Courier, MU2
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Username Protected wrote: We do have alternatives. This is why I have been hyping owner produced parts as much as possible in the various forums, for example. For some things yes. For other parts it’s impractical.
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Post subject: Re: Aerostars Posted: Yesterday, 21:18 |
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Joined: 09/18/21
Posts: 542
Post Likes: +515
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Username Protected wrote: I have a verbal offer on my 600 and it is supposed to go under contract sometime between Christmas and New Years, but we all know how that can go.
I'm in the market for a 600 if your deal falls through.
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Post subject: Re: Aerostars Posted: Yesterday, 23:14 |
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Joined: 08/09/11
Posts: 2092
Post Likes: +2901
Company: Naples Jet Center
Location: KAPF KPIA
Aircraft: EMB500 AC95 AEST
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Username Protected wrote: Last I looked turbochargers are closer to $10k each now. Holy moly. PE ruins everything, but it particularly ruins things in aviation where we can't exercise the free market by going somewhere else. That's why PE loves aviation. Or put it in PE speak, an "inelastic market". Same happened to Turbo Commanders. Windscreens used to be crazy already at $55K/side, PE buys the company and now it's well over $100K/side and rising I hear. Frank, thanks for your POV on the Superstar II.
1) I don’t disagree on PE ruining things but unsure where you get your information as we have made progress in Commanderland. Service center lobbying (you know, the ones who charge too much) has successfully led to significant double digit price REDUCTIONS starting now on Commander parts. All owners benefit including the ones who don’t understand how type certificate support really works.
2) I have been reminded offline, and I will acknowledge forgetting, that one of my recognized Aerostar experts has had some legal trouble in a related business in the past.  Buyer beware. I had a good experience fwiw. So, I will default back to calling Jim Christy first and following what he says. On that note, if he were to say something like you really must do X to make a Superstar II (or whatever model) work right, I’d believe him vs someone who has 10 hours in type. Or even 5 years of experience. The guy has forgotten more about Aerostars than about every owner here put together knows. And ALL owners depend on him and should aggressively support him frankly imho.
3) I’m not sure what’s going on with the AOA. But anyone learning Aerostars needs to read all they offer and filter it out. Beyond Jim C, I’ve always been shot straight by Kent L too.
Good luck Aerostar enthusiasts. It’s a fun plane for sure. Invest in those who support it!
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Post subject: Re: Aerostars Posted: Yesterday, 23:15 |
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Joined: 08/09/11
Posts: 2092
Post Likes: +2901
Company: Naples Jet Center
Location: KAPF KPIA
Aircraft: EMB500 AC95 AEST
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Username Protected wrote: We do have alternatives. This is why I have been hyping owner produced parts as much as possible in the various forums, for example. Keep hyping that and kill the type certificate. Great plan!
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Post subject: Re: Aerostars Posted: Today, 04:28 |
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Joined: 01/05/11
Posts: 325
Post Likes: +239
Aircraft: 1978 Aerostar 700CR
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Username Protected wrote: We do have alternatives. This is why I have been hyping owner produced parts as much as possible in the various forums, for example. Keep hyping that and kill the type certificate. Great plan!
You’re not only going to kill the certificate, you’re going to kill yourself and other innocents in the process. The stupidity and arrogance is astounding, but, not surprising.
If you want cheap, go experimental. Please don’t screw up the Aerostar.
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