No warbirds, to turbines or turboprops. TC is fine, but what's the fastest commercially available Piston powered GA plane? What's the cruise on it and fuel burn?
Former Mooney CEO Gretchen whoever eked out a knot and a half faster than the Columbia in an Acclaim ... aided by some teflon (I think) speed coating/wax stuff marketed by LoPresti. Before the coating, the Acclaim was 1 knot slower, afterward, 1.5 knots faster. Which means for all practical purposes they're the same speed.For certificated singles I believe it is a neck and neck race between Columbia and Mooney.
http://www.flycolumbia.com/
http://www.mooney.com/acclaim/overview.html
I thought the Aerostar was the fastest of them all?
Cheers,
-Andrew
Lanceair IVP is faster.
Lanceair IVP is faster.
Gretchen Jahn.Former Mooney CEO Gretchen whoever eked out a knot and a half faster than the Columbia in an Acclaim ... aided by some teflon (I think) speed coating/wax stuff marketed by LoPresti. Before the coating, the Acclaim was 1 knot slower, afterward, 1.5 knots faster. Which means for all practical purposes they're the same speed.
The DA-50 is pretty nice. I had a chance to crawl all over it at Premiere Aircraft in Fort Lauderdale. Although it's not pressurized, the airframe was designed from the beginning to be pressurization friendly. Also look for them to put a 350-hp diesel on its nose. There is a design flaw in the airplane, however. The breakers are on the ceiling between the doors. Those of us with bifocals have no chance to read the labels without doing some kind of Linda Blair action.Gretchen Jahn.
And how about the forthcoming DA-50? Not the fastest, but looks like it might be sweet!
I think I've heard about $600K as an estimate. Not an entry-level plane!The DA-50 is pretty nice. I had a chance to crawl all over it at Premiere Aircraft in Fort Lauderdale. Although it's not pressurized, the airframe was designed from the beginning to be pressurization friendly. Also look for them to put a 350-hp diesel on its nose. There is a design flaw in the airplane, however. The breakers are on the ceiling between the doors. Those of us with bifocals have no chance to read the labels without doing some kind of Linda Blair action.
This one's a wee bit faster. I remember tycoon James Garner stepping out of one of these in the 1960 film Cash McCall.
This one's a wee bit faster. I remember tycoon James Garner stepping out of one of these in the 1960 film Cash McCall.
We've gone far astray from the original question. Although it looks like the Aerostar is the leader in certificated, and Lancair IV-P is the tops in EXP. As much as I like the Howard and the Marksman, I don't think they are what I would call 'commercially available'. Haven't seen any on Controller anyway......