Steve Andrews
Filing Flight Plan
- Joined
- Jan 11, 2019
- Messages
- 12
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Display name:
Steve Andrews
I am looking for opinions on my next plane. Since many of you have flown a variety of planes, I value your opinion. I have read and read and read some more, so I will probably get a lot of what I already read, but I am posting this anyway.
I am 1 170 hour pilot with my IR, and I own and have flown all of my hours in my 77 Archer, N743DS. I am not in a hurry to get a plane. It is more important that I find the right plane for me and my family.
My family has basically outgrown the Archer. With full fuel and the 4 of us, I can get about 60lbs of bags. That makes for aN anemic climb rate.
Here is what I need and or want.
1. 500nm range with a 60-90 minute reserve.
2. Enough useful load to carry the fuel required for above, 4 adults and 200 lbs of luggage.
3. 6 seats so that the 4 are more comfortable, and so if we want to do a short sightseeing trip with 6 people. It wouldn't be 6 adults or have a lot of bags.
4. Substantially more speed than I have out of the Archer. When we flew back from Florida the Sunday after Thanksgiving, we were averaging 60-70 knots ground speed due to the winds.
5. I like flying glass and it is what I am used to so I would like to keep it that way.
6. Waas GPS
7. ADSB in and out.
8. Autopilot with altitude preselect, and preferably selectable climb and descent rate.
The plan is to get the plane through the business so we get the tax advantages. I will discuss those details with an aviation accountant to make it work.
The budget is up to $400,000, but lower is better. I am not afraid to pay for the right plane.
We considered a twin for the second engine safety, but it is hard to swallow double the fuel burn and double the engine maintenance for very little increase in speed. On the other hand, I do like flying at night, and flying to the keys was fun so we will probably do it again.
The planes that I have studied that seem to be a good fit are as follows.
Baron 55. The downsides are mentioned above. The upsides are we can get one well below budget with room for upgrades. The rear seats are tiny though.
Baron 58. Like the 55, but better rear seats.
Cessna 310. Good speed and fuel burn. Good interior room and UL. Potentially a maintenance nightmare though.
We considered other twins, but unless we step up to cabin class the useful load isn't good enough.
Bonanza A36. On the surface, this seems great. It has speed and fuel economy, but I think the useful load could get tough as the kids continue to grow.
Cessna T206H. Great useful load, but a little slower and not quite as good fuel economy. Fixed gear so a little less gear maintenance offset by more engine maintenance due to the turbo. Great airplane for flying somewhere to camp out though and we really want to do more of that as a family. I just feel like it's not much faster than my Archer.
Cessna 210 non-pressurized. It gives us the speed and fuel economy of the Bo and the UL of the 206. This would be a no-brainer were it not for the retractable gear problems. This honestly seems like the perfect plane on paper were it not for maintenance issues (or so I have heard.)
I also considered Saratoga or an older variant or even a Mirage, but we still run into UL issues.
I am leaning heavily toward the T206H because it seems to give us most of what we want in an airplane. Really the only issue is that I would like the extra 30-40 knots of the 210, but again, I have heard that gear issues can run the same cost as an engine overhaul.
Am I missing anything I should be considering?
What are your thoughts? Also, do you know anyone within a couple of hours (by air) from KFFC who might have one of these planes that might be willing to take my wife and me up for a flight? I am happy to pay for fuel of course.
Thanks in advance for your help!
I am 1 170 hour pilot with my IR, and I own and have flown all of my hours in my 77 Archer, N743DS. I am not in a hurry to get a plane. It is more important that I find the right plane for me and my family.
My family has basically outgrown the Archer. With full fuel and the 4 of us, I can get about 60lbs of bags. That makes for aN anemic climb rate.
Here is what I need and or want.
1. 500nm range with a 60-90 minute reserve.
2. Enough useful load to carry the fuel required for above, 4 adults and 200 lbs of luggage.
3. 6 seats so that the 4 are more comfortable, and so if we want to do a short sightseeing trip with 6 people. It wouldn't be 6 adults or have a lot of bags.
4. Substantially more speed than I have out of the Archer. When we flew back from Florida the Sunday after Thanksgiving, we were averaging 60-70 knots ground speed due to the winds.
5. I like flying glass and it is what I am used to so I would like to keep it that way.
6. Waas GPS
7. ADSB in and out.
8. Autopilot with altitude preselect, and preferably selectable climb and descent rate.
The plan is to get the plane through the business so we get the tax advantages. I will discuss those details with an aviation accountant to make it work.
The budget is up to $400,000, but lower is better. I am not afraid to pay for the right plane.
We considered a twin for the second engine safety, but it is hard to swallow double the fuel burn and double the engine maintenance for very little increase in speed. On the other hand, I do like flying at night, and flying to the keys was fun so we will probably do it again.
The planes that I have studied that seem to be a good fit are as follows.
Baron 55. The downsides are mentioned above. The upsides are we can get one well below budget with room for upgrades. The rear seats are tiny though.
Baron 58. Like the 55, but better rear seats.
Cessna 310. Good speed and fuel burn. Good interior room and UL. Potentially a maintenance nightmare though.
We considered other twins, but unless we step up to cabin class the useful load isn't good enough.
Bonanza A36. On the surface, this seems great. It has speed and fuel economy, but I think the useful load could get tough as the kids continue to grow.
Cessna T206H. Great useful load, but a little slower and not quite as good fuel economy. Fixed gear so a little less gear maintenance offset by more engine maintenance due to the turbo. Great airplane for flying somewhere to camp out though and we really want to do more of that as a family. I just feel like it's not much faster than my Archer.
Cessna 210 non-pressurized. It gives us the speed and fuel economy of the Bo and the UL of the 206. This would be a no-brainer were it not for the retractable gear problems. This honestly seems like the perfect plane on paper were it not for maintenance issues (or so I have heard.)
I also considered Saratoga or an older variant or even a Mirage, but we still run into UL issues.
I am leaning heavily toward the T206H because it seems to give us most of what we want in an airplane. Really the only issue is that I would like the extra 30-40 knots of the 210, but again, I have heard that gear issues can run the same cost as an engine overhaul.
Am I missing anything I should be considering?
What are your thoughts? Also, do you know anyone within a couple of hours (by air) from KFFC who might have one of these planes that might be willing to take my wife and me up for a flight? I am happy to pay for fuel of course.
Thanks in advance for your help!
