Quote:
Welcome Larry!
Can you give us more details?
My initial mission: Carry, VFR (for now) with two hours fuel, in a light twin, 2-3 pax, average weight 210 lbs, no baggage, from 2000' msl to 12,000' within 75 nm. Remain there for 10 minutes then descend back to departure airport. This approximately 170 nm trip to be accomplished within one hour and ten minutes. I 'm sure that the Baron can do it; the TC Navajo I fly requires one hour. A TC'd Travelair should, I think, also do it.
Also assume, for now, an aircraft budget of $80,000. Circumstances may allow, within a year, a budget of $200,000 for the aircraft.
The perfect aircraft would allow or have:
- Reasonable access for these 2-3 pax (assume 70+ years old, one being overweight with a replaced knee, and the other one too frail to climb steps without assistance).
- A window size large enough to easily view the world outside.
- It should be capable of handling turbulence (ever present) well with a cruise climb rate of at least 500fpm up to 10,000 msl.
- Max fuel burn 25 gal, running at ROP.
- A quiet aircraft is a huge plus.
- Capable of seating 420 lbs in rear seats.
- Cargo-type doors for loading the old folks. (May be the deal-breaker, reference pax access to rear seats.)
- Reasonably economical - for an airplane - to operate.
- Avionics not important. Basic VFR package adequate and even preferred.
- Enjoyable to fly.
Additional considerations:
TC/TN is probably required for the TA. Proposing to install Rajay's. Not sure if needed for the Baron. The last non-turbo ac I've flown - 10 years ago - was a C207 with the 285 Continental. It did ok up to about 10,000.
Pressurization not at issue, now. Could be relevant later.
The aircraft must meet Part 135 criteria. The biggest factor would probably be having engines rebuilt within the last 10 years (12 years is generally the max for 135 ops, but propose to use it next summer, 2012) with at least 200 hours remaining before manufacturer's recommended tbo, which are: On the Travelair Lyc 0360s - 2000hr; generally 1600 on the Baron 520's; 1400 on the 0470's, I believe. I think the props are generally tbo'd at 6 yrs.
There will be additional requirements as I think of them, but these should do for now. I realize that there are conflicting criteria listed above, but this is the beast that requires taming. It may turn-out to be a No-Go.
I am partial to the Beech product line for many of these reasons listed within this forum. I obtained my twin rating in the TA many years ago, however, I havn't even sat in a TA or Baron in almost as many years. I have had a recent flite in a twin comanche; the ac is totally unsuitable: Amoung other things, too tiny/tight, too noisy, and too stiff in turbulence; Certainly no fun to fly! A pressurized Queen-Air (BE 88) type ac would be the perfect aircraft, but the 88 itself seems to have too many issues: Age, exotic engine, parts availabilty.
As a side note: This is a very dynamic forum; lots of knowledgable, intelligent, well-stated positions by practical, pragmatic and, apparently, successful individuals. I find it very informative and enlightening, and am somewhat awed by the "seeming" abandon with which big bucks are thrown at obtaining various go-fast flying machines
. But, I'll get over it.
larry
