On Sun, 02 Jan 2005 16:59:13 GMT, "Colin W Kingsbury"
wrote:


wrote in message
news:1104443885.3fb6f23b35455ac79c342aee9241e5cd@ teranews...


Since it makes sense to get your rating in a plane you own, and the
400-series Cessna are terrible for this type of work (hell on the engines)
I'd look to buy something to get the rating in and then build some time in
before stepping up. You may even find the step-up unnecessary as many people
overestimate what they really need. A light twin like a Seminole or Aztec
might be a good choice, since the smaller engines won't eat you alive on
costs and it's docile enough to be a good training platform, but you're
building multi time which will help you when time comes to insure something
bigger. I just don't see making the step-up from a low-time 182 pilot to a
400 series right away.

If he wants to do the slow transition route of being able to get his
twin rating and still carry passengers and luggage around, I would go
for the Seneca II T. I fly both the Seneca II T and a 421C quiet
often (at least once a week each) and I can tell you that I can out
climb the 421 in the Seneca II any day. The Seminole is for training
only IMHO. The engines are just to small for any use full load, but
the Seneca II will carry 4 passengers with their luggage and full fuel
just fine.

The 421C is very nice but with the fuel that it uses, around 44GPH
compared to the Seneca's 22GPH, the speed difference that you get
between the two is not worth the fuel. Yes the 421 has a higher
service ceiling, but if he is going to train in the 421, he is going
to be real hard on those geared engines, which are not cheap. I cant
say much about the B model as I only have one flight in it but it was
a dog and I really hated being in it.

Scott D.


Scott D

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