Comparing "active winglets" to a TAT upgrade? Wow, they must be really "active"

Alejandro,

You did the right thing. If someone in your situation asked me, I would have recommended one. Especially used, they are a great value. With your new digital autopilot, it is one big bang, with a lot of capability for the money.

Or....you could have just upped your rates enough and bought a Gulfstream?

Rick

Rick,
Dont go encouraging bad behavior.
I intend to give Ale an opportunity when my insurance comes up for renewal in the fall.

Cirrus bought by saving folks money strange as it sounds.

Congratulations Ale! I think a low approach is on order at CMA with the old speedster. A gentle reminder what he left behind.

Then of course, a delicious tri tip sandwich.

We're onto ya bud... you infiltrated and captured the Beech market by becoming "one of us", once you had that all wrapped up, you went after the old timer tail dragger crowd. Now you're after the trust fund kids and Hollywood plastic surgery set!

Hilarious Adam.

Nice avatar Eric!

I flew the Cirrus, Saratoga, and G36 prior to buying a G36. If I wanted only 4 seats, the Cirrus would have won out.

Does it come with 4 Nomex flight suits?

Good one Dan.

My next door hangar mates have had a '03 Cirrus for about 7 years now. I have flown left seat several times and right seat several more, as well as giving them both BFR's in the airplane. One of them is an instructor, and yesterday, we went up for a more or less "formal" instructional flight.

The airplane is a straight forward flying machine. As far as its control responses the only thing I can nit pick is what I see as being slightly too responsive in pitch as you accelerate from climb to cruise speeds. The 310 HP produces a good bit of torque and I immediately missed the rudder trim of the Bravo.

When we leveled off at about 3,000', we used the MFD to set up 60% LOP and were moving along at A36 max cruise speeds burning about 12.5 gph. It was bumpy and extended hand flying with the side yoke would get tiresome it seems.

Pattern flying was a piece of cake though the 119 knot 1/2 flap speed made me miss speed brakes and retractable gear. I only shot VFR approaches, but on final at 80 knots it was rock stable. Landing is nothing more than a slight nose high attitude with no float.

Compared to the Bravo, I can't call it a pilot's airplane, but it delivers an awful lot of straight forward "getting the job done", and the front seats are so roomy with so much shoulder room, that it shames a Bonanza or Bravo by comparison.

For flying at night, or IFR over low ceilings, the chute gives an option you just can't get other than in a twin. Flying with a non-pilot, like a wife or child, and considering the admittedly remote instance of pilot incapacitation, the chute is a comforting "last resort".

Considering that this is all available in an airplane like Ale's for less than 200k, hmmmm.

Jgreen

I agree. The fast pitch makes for fun VFR flight but I find it easier to trim a Columbia for hand flying in IMC. I wish I had a 172 style trim wheel. The Perspective models can be had with a yaw damper for the AP which makes AP climbs nicer. I also feel the spring trim system numbs the controls slightly making it harder to feel airspeed changes through the controls.

I took delivery today with mild and muted excitement...