BeechTalk - BT

Username Protected · **Posted:** 27 Jan 2010, 10:01

Someone menetioned maintainence at Wiley Post. That is good because it is where I am based. Who were you referring to?

Eric

Username Protected · **Posted:** 28 Jan 2010, 18:40

Just a thought- the market to sell is dismal- everyone knows this. Do you have 4-5 friends that are good multi rated pilots? If so, maybe go in together and buy a sweet one and keep it dispatch ready. You could fly your baron for the 300 mile trips and take the aerostar for the cross countries. You could fly the rocket when you want and have a thicker wallet in the end. I know a group of guys that did this-they asked me but I declined because my everyday ride is a single. I'll have to buy my own Aerostar.

Good luck.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 30 Jan 2010, 00:27

I owned a 601 Aerostar for 9 years before selling her to purchase my MU2. The airplane is one of the best, most reliable twins there is IMO. I flew the airplane 700 hours and only had one mission scrub (bad P lead). The airplane is very well built with wing skins thicker than any other part 23 airplane. Maintenance averaged 5 grand a year for everything.

I typically flew 10,000 feet 220 knots around 27 GPH but occasionally took it to 17K where it trued at 235 knots and 33GPH.

I can't recommend the airplane highly enough. :thumbup:

Wish I wouldn't have sold mine.

Mark

Username Protected · **Posted:** 30 Jan 2010, 01:26

Eric,
I know the guys at Rocket aviation in Plainview, TX (formerly Miller's Flying service)
work on a lot of Aerostars. They were the bellanca viking experts when I had mine and they did a great job. fyi - Tim

Username Protected · **Posted:** 30 Jan 2010, 11:02

Username Protected wrote:

I owned a 601 Aerostar for 9 years before selling her to purchase my MU2. The airplane is one of the best, most reliable twins there is IMO. I flew the airplane 700 hours and only had one mission scrub (bad P lead). The airplane is very well built with wing skins thicker than any other part 23 airplane. Maintenance averaged 5 grand a year for everything.

I typically flew 10,000 feet 220 knots around 27 GPH but occasionally took it to 17K where it trued at 235 knots and 33GPH.

I can't recommend the airplane highly enough. :thumbup:

Wish I wouldn't have sold mine.

Mark

Mark, I thought long a hard about Aerostars a couple of years ago. Now you got me thinking again.

A company I worked for in the 80's has an Aerostar but the down time was terrible. I recall an instance where the plane landed ,pulled up the ramp where my wife and I were waiting to load and the pilot got out, threw up on the ramp, mutters thats its a little rough up there and to get on board.

The company bought a king air. There was a great article in AV Consumer regarding Aerostars a few years ago.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 31 Jan 2010, 22:10

Username Protected wrote:

I have flown some non-turbo -600s and I absolutely loved flying them... They fly like a jet, and I don't mean a Citation. They are a kick in the pants to fly.... With that said, they are not for a mediocre pilot. Flying it single pilot in the weather, especially if you fly in the NE or the SW corridors would not be for the faint of heart.

Our local FBO maintains a -700 and it is not a low maintance airplane compared to a Baron, but compared to any other Pressuized twin, I think it is reasonable.

One thing about an Aerostar is they are a little funky.... The door in front of the prop is funky, the fuel system is funky, the seating arrangement is funky, the nose wheel steering is funky, and the engine in the wing necessitating removing the engine to change the rear cylinders is funky. The Aerostar kinda like a homebuilt, a really nice, well built homebuilt, but some things are just a little different than a store bought airplane.

With all that said, the airplane was designed by Ted Smith. He designed the B-25 and the A-26 and several other really fantastic flying airplanes with exceptional performance. The Aerostar is no exception. The wings are very small, the airplane is very clean, and it requires a very current, compentent, pilot.

Before you buy one ask someone you trust, besides the guy you see in the mirror in the morning, if you are up to it....

I would love to trade my Colemill P-II for one, but I can't justify the Baron, much less a -700...

Username Protected · **Posted:** 31 Jan 2010, 22:31

I have a 601P Aerostar with the 680 mod and have been pretty happy with it so far. Not sure why it would be considered a homebuilt. The fuel system is dirt simple. Both fuel selectors stay in the "ON" position except to test or use the crossfeed. No need to switch tanks in flight at all. Having the wings midship does give great visibility for the folks in the front. The nosewheel steering does take some getting used to. But not all that difficult. You really only need the electrical control for taxi and the very initial groundroll for takeoff. As in all airplanes there is some compromise with the design. The rear cylinders do require the engine to be moved forward to remove and replace. Kind of a pain, but not impossible.

The FlightShop is one of the better Aerostar shops. My guess is they probably have everything up to snuff. There are some recurring ADs on the aircraft which can be terminated with some of the mods. Inconel exhausts are one of the mods. With the 7oo you will probably want the extended range fuselage tank. Other useful items would be engine analyzers, fuel totalizer. Someone mentioned they take a long runway and I do agree. Personally I think 4000' is a good length to operate from. Probably not much different than other pressurized twins. Yes, they land and TO in much less than that.

I have run mine (S1A5 also)LOP when on short local hops, for long trips I found the airspeed loss was more than I desired. Just have not tried it too many times yet. Unless the windshield was replaced recently, you have about 1000 hrs before that is due, about $12.5k.

Aerostar 700