Opinions on fleet replacement strategies.

At 16:54 16 June 2006, Bruce Greef wrote:
Ray Lovinggood wrote:
Bruce,

Have you considered the side-by-side two seater 'Taurus'?

http://www.mcp.com.au/pipistrel-usa/models/taurus.html

Ray Lovinggood
Carrboro, North Carolina
Hi Ray

AS I said I have left many fine options out - and only
quoted the main threads
of the club discussions.

I think the Taurus is perfect, and have gone so far
as to investigate the cost
and waiting list for delivery as a personal toy. But
for a club plane the price
is a deterrent, at 91,000 Euros - versus the TST-14
at 54,000... (Personal
strategy for ownership of one includes winning the
lottery)

Also, for winch launching we would prefer minimum weight.
I don't know if these
are cleared for assisted launch with the engine running.
If this was possible
and safe it would make a difference in some areas.

Self launch might be marginal - both fields are around
5,000' MSL and grass not
tar surface. In both cases the options if the engine
quits on take off are less
than plentiful.


Bruce,

I didn't know the price of either the Taurus or the
TsT-14. Wow.

Please let us know what works out. Our club will someday
need to replace our only two-seater, the Blanik L-13.

We don't have the restrictions you have, but cost is
always a BIG issue. Since our field elevation is 200
feet above sea level and we have a 5,000' paved runway
for aerotowing with a 180 h.p. Cessna 172, aircraft
weight isn't quite a problem for us as it is with you.
Yea, we probably wouldn't want a really heavy ship,
but boy, wouldn't a Duo or a DG-1000 look nice for
us! (Our state just instituted a lottery and I think
our members had better start playing it.)

Ray