wrote in message ...

And it looks like the small jets are pushing the turbo props and
the twin piston engines. Is it a matter of time before it will
be cheaper to just buy a small jet?

I'm not holding my breath on that one.

Well, they may not compete with 30-year-old twin cessnas selling for
200k, but a new Baron goes for around 1.2 million, so the comparison
is more relevant than you might think.

What puzzles me is why there doesn't appear to be anyone working on
turbines in the range of 160 to 250 HP for aircraft.
...
Put a 180 HP turbine in a 172 and you would have a real 4 place A/C,
though one with a long, funny looking nose to make the W/B work out.

The flight profile of a 172- low altitude and low speed- are the
opposite of what a turbine likes to operate in. What you'd have is a
horrendous gas-guzzler, unless you feel like climbing up into the
flight levels.

-cwk.