Rykymus
Line Up and Wait
I am looking to upgrade in a few years and would like to start doing my research long ahead of time, so that I can make an informed, intelligent decision. (Unlike most of my decisions, which are usually rash, spur of the moment ones.)
I currently own a 98 Archer III. It's the plane I got my PPL, and recently my IR. I've got just under 500hrs PIC and about 120hrs XC. (Only 2.1hrs IMC, still fresh.) I bought it with about 1300 on its second engine. (About 5,000 TTAF. It was a trainer in a busy school for the first 5 years of its life.) The plan was (and still is) to use it for my PPL/IR, as well as for my nephew's PPL/IR. (He lives nearby, and wants to be a CFI and do ferry work, odd flying gigs, etc, no airlines.) I'm paying for his training in exchange for him being responsible for keeping the plane clean and ready to fly, and managing its maintenance. (Which I pay for, of course.) Also, he is my safety pilot for hood practice, and will be my BFR CFI. (I am a big believer in recurrent training/practice, etc.)
My plan is to run the engine out, sell the plane as a runout, and use the proceeds for a down on a larger, more capable plane. I enjoy my Archer, but I'm 6ft/260 (don't yell, I'm down from 300 and still losing). My wife is 5'6"/125, but still feels cramped and uneasy in the plane. (Probably because I take up so much room.) She is very sensitive to things like altitude, motion, etc, and I have yet to get her to fly more than 1.5 hrs without being physically and mentally wiped for at least 24hrs. 1 hour seems to be her comfortable max, at least in this plane. I know she enjoys flying, as she gets awfully excited at airports, and seeing things from above, and often suggests that we fly somewhere. (Sometimes even just a spin around town.) I think it is more of a mental thing than a physical one for her, but the mental aspect does effect her physically.
We both want to fly all over the country, (especially me) but I don't see it as possible in the Archer. After much discussion and speculation, I have determined that our next plane needs to be cabin class, preferably pressurized, and be a twin. (I'm not interested in the debate about twins, as I believe that planes are only as safe as the owner/pilot chooses to make them. I will be flying it regularly, and I will be doing quarterly review/practice flights to stay proficient.) Such a plane is likely to tick all the boxes necessary to make my wife feel "safe".
So, basically, she wants us to have our own private little airline.
Cost of acquisition, although a consideration, is not a completely limiting factor. Cost of operation is more of a concern. I'd prefer to keep the acquisition to about $500k. (But am willing to go higher for the right plane.) I'm not opposed to buying something that will need panel avionics upgrades and/or interior work in the near future, as long as it is a sound air frame with serviceable engines. (We both actually like the idea of being able to customize it to our needs/tastes, and I don't mind if it has to be in the shop for a few months immediately after purchase to get it ready for us.)
Missions would range from short hops around CA (we live in central CA) 50-300nm, trips up to OR/WA, and into Vegas. Also would likely do trips back east at least once per year. I can't really justify it as a business expense, as I'm a sci fi writer who works from home. Most trips would be just the two of us, while about 25% of the time we would have at least two others along. Rarely would we have more than 4 people aboard, including myself. So, 6 seats seems about right.
I have zero experience in twins at the moment, and I look to all of you for advice, as none of you are trying to sell me anything. Like I said, I have years to prepare. So far, I am attracted to Beech Dukes, Piper Mojaves, and for some reason, the Commander 500s. Might be willing to go turbine, but don't know anything about costs.
Please, ed-ju-mi-cate me!
I currently own a 98 Archer III. It's the plane I got my PPL, and recently my IR. I've got just under 500hrs PIC and about 120hrs XC. (Only 2.1hrs IMC, still fresh.) I bought it with about 1300 on its second engine. (About 5,000 TTAF. It was a trainer in a busy school for the first 5 years of its life.) The plan was (and still is) to use it for my PPL/IR, as well as for my nephew's PPL/IR. (He lives nearby, and wants to be a CFI and do ferry work, odd flying gigs, etc, no airlines.) I'm paying for his training in exchange for him being responsible for keeping the plane clean and ready to fly, and managing its maintenance. (Which I pay for, of course.) Also, he is my safety pilot for hood practice, and will be my BFR CFI. (I am a big believer in recurrent training/practice, etc.)
My plan is to run the engine out, sell the plane as a runout, and use the proceeds for a down on a larger, more capable plane. I enjoy my Archer, but I'm 6ft/260 (don't yell, I'm down from 300 and still losing). My wife is 5'6"/125, but still feels cramped and uneasy in the plane. (Probably because I take up so much room.) She is very sensitive to things like altitude, motion, etc, and I have yet to get her to fly more than 1.5 hrs without being physically and mentally wiped for at least 24hrs. 1 hour seems to be her comfortable max, at least in this plane. I know she enjoys flying, as she gets awfully excited at airports, and seeing things from above, and often suggests that we fly somewhere. (Sometimes even just a spin around town.) I think it is more of a mental thing than a physical one for her, but the mental aspect does effect her physically.
We both want to fly all over the country, (especially me) but I don't see it as possible in the Archer. After much discussion and speculation, I have determined that our next plane needs to be cabin class, preferably pressurized, and be a twin. (I'm not interested in the debate about twins, as I believe that planes are only as safe as the owner/pilot chooses to make them. I will be flying it regularly, and I will be doing quarterly review/practice flights to stay proficient.) Such a plane is likely to tick all the boxes necessary to make my wife feel "safe".
So, basically, she wants us to have our own private little airline.
Cost of acquisition, although a consideration, is not a completely limiting factor. Cost of operation is more of a concern. I'd prefer to keep the acquisition to about $500k. (But am willing to go higher for the right plane.) I'm not opposed to buying something that will need panel avionics upgrades and/or interior work in the near future, as long as it is a sound air frame with serviceable engines. (We both actually like the idea of being able to customize it to our needs/tastes, and I don't mind if it has to be in the shop for a few months immediately after purchase to get it ready for us.)
Missions would range from short hops around CA (we live in central CA) 50-300nm, trips up to OR/WA, and into Vegas. Also would likely do trips back east at least once per year. I can't really justify it as a business expense, as I'm a sci fi writer who works from home. Most trips would be just the two of us, while about 25% of the time we would have at least two others along. Rarely would we have more than 4 people aboard, including myself. So, 6 seats seems about right.
I have zero experience in twins at the moment, and I look to all of you for advice, as none of you are trying to sell me anything. Like I said, I have years to prepare. So far, I am attracted to Beech Dukes, Piper Mojaves, and for some reason, the Commander 500s. Might be willing to go turbine, but don't know anything about costs.
Please, ed-ju-mi-cate me!
