Welcome to Airline Pilot Forums - Connect and get the inside scoop on Airline Companies If this is your first visit. We are looking at the Piper Chieftain as a possible aircraft as well as the cessnas. Does anyone have any idea the hourly cost for the cheiftain or even the cessna. So far my research has put it just around $330 - $400/hr.
10-06-2009, 05:41 AM | #7 |
Flying Farmer Position: Turbo-props' and John Deere's | For the trips you are looking at, I would steer you away from a turbo-charged plane. Higher Mx costs, and they truly are going to benefit you on longer trips anyways, or mountainous terrain. I've got 2000hrs in C310's, and I can say the R-model is by far a great airplane. You can fit 6 total, but it will be a tight fit for the two in the very rear seats. If they are only going to be there for an hour, might be tolerable. It has plenty of baggage space too, and a 'full-deice' is very common, but a Known-Ice is harder to find, but they are out there.(difference is alki-windshield vs. Hot-plate). You can get one with the Colemill converision and now you take an already great plane and make it faster(IO-520's(285hp) to IO-550's(300hp)), climb better, etc... I've only ridden in one that was converted, but I was very impressed. I think the Baron would also be a good fit in this case. Little more roomy in the back than the C310, and has the 'Name' some folks care about, some don't. Will cost slightly more than C310. C340 is of course cabin-class, some people think that this is the only way to go. If your clients have this thought, then the C340 will give better DOC's than the 400 series. Not familiar with it's useful loads etc.. But I know you should be able to sacrifice a lot of fuel to compensate for loading the cabin easily. But as I mentioned before, I wouldn't be looking at TC'd aircraft for your mission type. I work for a piper dealer, and will confirm anything you want about those products. Seneca's are once again going to be cramped in the back. Some do have A/c systems though, but 4 in back will be interlocked knee-to-knee. Has some baggage in the nose, not as much as the C310. Cheyenne's. If you find one in your price range, it'd be safe to say it needs work, or will need work in the very near future with either timed out engines, paint, interior, etc.. Definately consult a Mx shop that knows Cheyennes well before buying. They are great planes, I've flown them, but there are some gotcha's. Meridian is a good single alternative. You can sacrifice fuel and go. You get turbine reliability, FIKI, and flexible altitudes as the cheyenne will get you, just not the total weight/range/baggage/2-engine combo that the cheyenne will get you. Still be hard to find one in your price range. C208 Caravan: Not a bad choice either for the fact you are doing short range missions, so the slower speed really isn't going to make a dramatic difference on travel times, has a bullet-proof engine, and carries a lot. I'm skeptical on the new TKS-FIKI equipped, I prefer boots myself, but these planes need respect(as any do) when left outside in conditions where ice can build. CHECK THE STINKING WING!!! I have no idea what these things run for. Navajo's: Once again, great airplane, predecessor to the Cheyenne. They have been used in short-range flying for Airnet, and some other freight guys, so they do the short hops, I'd once again sway against just because of TC'd engines, but it's not my decision. |
![Piper navajo forum Piper navajo forum](https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/3b/e0/96/3be096dcf7602ca5268d41a3256e75a9.jpg)