BeechTalk - BT - anyone want to get an Eclipse 500 type rating with me?

Username Protected · **Posted:** 26 Nov 2012, 16:46

Username Protected wrote:

1120 nm in 4.3 non stop...Try that in your Fisher Price Jet !

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/CGEM ... /KORL/CYCC

Here you go. An Eclipse going 1277 nm in 3:21 November 18.

TBM's a nice plane; if my wife had gotten her way, we'd have bought one back in 1996. It's mission overlaps with the Eclipse, but there are some things each does better than the other.

Ken

Username Protected · **Posted:** 26 Nov 2012, 17:53

Username Protected wrote:

So even adjusting for the tailwind, that is great speed. What was the fuel burn?

Not my flight, but I calculate it to be just about 200 gallons for the altitude and flight time.

Business and Commercial Aviation publishes an annual Operations Planning Guide that gives collectivized, hopefully unbiased operating costs for various aircraft. The Beech piston products are not in it, but the TBM 700 and 850 are. The comparison between the TBM 700 and Eclipse is an interesting one:

Direct Costs (fuel plus maintenance and misc trip expenses)

TBM 700: $1.95/nm on a 600 nm trip; $1.88/nm on a 1000 nm trip
Eclipse: $1.96/nm on a 600 nm trip; $1.70/nm on a 1000 nm trip

Comparably priced aircraft will, of course, have comparable insurance costs and cost of capital. Where the TBM 700 saves money in the long haul is on HSI and overhaul since there's only one engine.

Ken

Username Protected · **Posted:** 26 Nov 2012, 18:22

Username Protected wrote:

I could use a Baron or Bonanza for my mission. I am choosing to fly a jet for a while. :thumbup:

Yep! When I bought the KA, I did it because I could and wanted to fly that bird. Best wishes with it.

Dave

Username Protected · **Posted:** 26 Nov 2012, 18:37

Jets go too fast and too high for me (But, I'd like to fly just one mission in one.

) The flying is over too soon at 350 knots, and the scenery is not good at all at 41k'. I'll just keep flying my slow Bonanza at 6~12k' enjoying the scenery as I fly along at 170 knots.

I don't understand a need/want to fly a few hundred miles while saving an hour, but spending an additional $1,000. Now, if one has money to burn it doesn't matter. :shrug:

Username Protected · **Posted:** 26 Nov 2012, 18:42

Username Protected wrote:

Jets go too fast and too high for me (But, I'd like to fly just one mission in one.

) The flying is over too soon at 350 knots, and the scenery is not good at all at 41k'. I'll just keep flying my slow Bonanza at 6~12k' enjoying the scenery as I fly along at 170 knots.

I don't understand a need/want to fly a few hundred miles while saving an hour, but spending an additional $1,000. Now, if one has money to burn it doesn't matter. :shrug:

You wouldn't be talking about the ol "Seven point seven six five one five one five one five Mile High" mission now would ya? :duck:

Username Protected · **Posted:** 26 Nov 2012, 19:07

Max, I hear you ..... but I have a Searey for going slow and screwing off!

Username Protected · **Posted:** 26 Nov 2012, 19:09

Username Protected wrote:

I think the Eclipse is going to work fine for me. I have a good opportunity worked out on one and I am going to take advantage of it. I could use a Baron or Bonanza for my mission. I am choosing to fly a jet for a while. :thumbup:

Congratulations that you are in a situation to make such a choice :thumbup:

.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 26 Nov 2012, 19:35

Username Protected wrote:

Don't leave BT: I'd like to see how this works out for you. (vicariously, can't begin to afford one.)

I am not going anywhere! I have made too many good friends through this site. Plus, I am going to end up with another Beech at some point. I thought I had a deal worked out on a TN Bonanza but it had some issues that ended up killing the deal ... :sad:

Username Protected · **Posted:** 26 Nov 2012, 21:07

Username Protected wrote:

I am not going anywhere! I have made too many good friends through this site. Plus, I am going to end up with another Beech at some point. I thought I had a deal worked out on a TN Bonanza but it had some issues that ended up killing the deal ... :sad:

Ted,

I never saw anything in your post about leaving BT and I agree it would be cool to get checked out in a jet. I hope my original " VFR only" remark was not taken offensively. I have 4 Eclipses taking a lot of room in our group hangar and have watched from the delivery of one of the last prior to the bankruptcy shutdown to the retro fitted newest versions. They serve a niche....just not mine beyond the dream of getting a jet checkout. We also have two TBMs in that hangar...one owned by Avidyne's top exec whom I still have yet to meet. I have been in the other TBM and would have one In aheartbeat if I could rationalize (afford) the cost. My Bonanza was left in Westwrn NY yesterday for want of de-ice....I live in a glass house! :cheers:

Username Protected · **Posted:** 26 Nov 2012, 21:35

Kevin- no worries mate. It would take a lot more than that to offend me! You can say the airplane is the biggest piece of %#$@ you have ever seen and that is fine with me. :rofl:

I just was trying to clear up some technical misconceptions that people have about this bird.

I will also be the first to admit, the company is terrible. The old one was managed by a nonsensical dreamer and the new one is managed by a devious tyrant ....

but like Dave says: fly one of these airplanes once and you will want to mortgage your house to buy one.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 27 Nov 2012, 00:19

Username Protected wrote:

Well if we are going to play that game, then I offer this,

KMCW-KEFD 943sm 3h33m 39 gallons

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/N84M ... /KMCW/KEFD

I want to be Doug when I grow up. Harmon Rocket and a Colemill Baron! Talk about the perfect pair. Oh and never mind he gets to fly a Mustang too!

Username Protected · **Posted:** 27 Nov 2012, 09:06

Username Protected wrote:

I want to be Doug when I grow up. Harmon Rocket and a Colemill Baron! Talk about the perfect pair. Oh and never mind he gets to fly a Mustang too!

The secret is, I never grew up.....

And I don't have any plans to anytime soon....

I must admit, I often wonder what my business would look like if I had focused the energy on it that I have on airplanes in the past 30 years... but it is not often, and if I had it to do over, to quote Jimmy Doolittle, "I could never be so lucky again."

Username Protected · **Posted:** 27 Nov 2012, 10:29

[quote="Theodore Wright"I just was trying to clear up some technical misconceptions that people have about this bird. [/quote]

I'm just happy we're trashing the Eclipse this week, not the Duke! :whistle: