Multiengine Rating

I am very partial to the BE-76 Duchess. It has a redundant
electrical system and very good handling. The Seminole uses
the wing from a Cherokee with a 50 gallon fuel tank in an
over-sized engine nacelle. The drag between the nacelle and
fuselage reduces performance.
The Beech has a big elevator and rudder, giving it better
control. Beech actually did a full spin test series in the
Duchess but decided for marketing reason, not to certify it
for intentional spinning. It will recover from a spin on
one engine, not many twins can say that.

Can't speak for the DA-42, it looks interesting.


--
James H. Macklin
ATP,CFI,A&P

wrote in message
oups.com...
| Hi,
|
| i'm interested in the multiengine rating (land),
VFR-add-on to my
| PP-ASEL.
| Any comments about the best training aircraft for these
purpose ?
| (PA34 Seneca, Beech Duchess, PA44 Seminole, Diamond DA42,
...)
|
| There are big differences concerning the rating
requirements.
| Some flight schools offer a multi training of 6 hours,
other 25 hours
| for the rating.
|
| Why it is so ?
|
| Mike
|

Jim Macklin wrote:
I am very partial to the BE-76 Duchess. It has a redundant
electrical system and very good handling. The Seminole uses
the wing from a Cherokee with a 50 gallon fuel tank in an
over-sized engine nacelle. The drag between the nacelle and
fuselage reduces performance.
The Beech has a big elevator and rudder, giving it better
control. Beech actually did a full spin test series in the
Duchess but decided for marketing reason, not to certify it
for intentional spinning. It will recover from a spin on
one engine, not many twins can say that.

I would concur, the Duchess is better than a Seminole. Actually,
it might even be better than a seneca (some models). But anyway,
You should probably have an instrument rating too before you
start thinking about a multi-engine rating.

"Jim Macklin" wrote in message ...
:I am very partial to the BE-76 Duchess. It has a redundant
: electrical system and very good handling. The Seminole uses
: the wing from a Cherokee with a 50 gallon fuel tank in an
: over-sized engine nacelle. The drag between the nacelle and
: fuselage reduces performance.
: The Beech has a big elevator and rudder, giving it better
: control. Beech actually did a full spin test series in the
: Duchess but decided for marketing reason, not to certify it
: for intentional spinning. It will recover from a spin on
: one engine, not many twins can say that.
:
: Can't speak for the DA-42, it looks interesting.
:
:
: --
: James H. Macklin
: ATP,CFI,A&P
:
:

Was talking to the folks at Diamond during OSH. They were held high during some IFR arrival while flying one of the
DA-42s. They just chopped power, dropped gear, and pushed the nose over to dump off the altitude. Apparently no issues
with shock cooling those diesels...