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#11
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"Kyle Boatright" wrote in message ... "John Doe" wrote in message nk.net... Ok, First time plane buyer, I've been looking for some time now. I've narrowed it down to a few, looking for some big picture comments pro/con on these: Commanche 250 or 260 Commander 114 Mooney M20J Socata TB20 Trinidad Dont' care about purchase price right now, avionics, etc. Looking for performance/maintenance/operating costs/issues people know of. We will normally be loaded with myself, wife and son (400lbs) Plus weekend bags (100lbs max). My wife wants speed, speed, speed. I'm not as concerned about speed as I am performance. I need short field performace as one of our primary fields is a 2500' grass strip at 2000' DA. I'd also like to climb up into the teens if needed to get over minor w/x. Any advice would be appreciated. tks. How good are the approaches into the grass field? Unless they are pretty good, it won't be comfortable going into or out of that field in the Commanche, Commander, or Mooney unless you're fairly light. Even then, you'll need to be on your game, particularly on landing. I don't know about the Trinidad. If I was looking at your mission, I'd be thinking C-182, C-182 RG, or C-206, if only for the short field performance with a decent load... KB KB, Very good points. I've flown into the field several times and am comfortable landing. Takeoff, I just need to get off the ground without too excessive of a ground roll in the summertime. Would like to carry enough fuel to make a 350nm trip with standard reserves. |
#12
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"John Doe" wrote in message nk.net... Ok, First time plane buyer, I've been looking for some time now. I've narrowed it down to a few, looking for some big picture comments pro/con on these: Commanche 250 or 260 Commander 114 Mooney M20J Socata TB20 Trinidad Dont' care about purchase price right now, avionics, etc. Looking for performance/maintenance/operating costs/issues people know of. We will normally be loaded with myself, wife and son (400lbs) Plus weekend bags (100lbs max). My wife wants speed, speed, speed. I'm not as concerned about speed as I am performance. I need short field performace as one of our primary fields is a 2500' grass strip at 2000' DA. I'd also like to climb up into the teens if needed to get over minor w/x. One addition: Short field Take off performance desired is to load the plane with the family (as above) and carry enough fuel for a 350nm trip plus standard reserves. tks |
#13
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"Bob Noel" wrote in message ... In article et, "John Doe" wrote: Ok, First time plane buyer, I've been looking for some time now. I've narrowed it down to a few, looking for some big picture comments pro/con on these: Commanche 250 or 260 A couple of things to consider wrt the Commanche 1) Will you be comfortable with (iirc) one fuel gauge that you need to switch to each of the four tanks to read? 2) Not a lot of room behind the instrument panel for avionics (at least that's what my avionics shop told me a number of years ago) 1) Unless they're known for uncommanded fuel venting or leaks, I don't have a problem with that. I've done it before in other aircraft. 2) The one I'm looking at is allready completely loaded IFR/GPS/AP. Not much more I think I could add to it, but it will be something I look at before I buy. Thanks. |
#14
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"Thomas Borchert" wrote in message ... John, Dont' care about purchase price right now, avionics, etc. Well, in that case: Cirrus? Lancair? I've looked at both of those and a Columbia 400 is at the top of my list, trust me. Just can't afford the sticker price. I just didn't want folks to start writing about market prices of used airplanes on this thread. I was flying XC on Wed and I heard a Lancair on the radio and I had to wipe the drool off my mouth. |
#15
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"Dave Butler" x@yy wrote in message ... John Doe wrote: My wife wants speed, speed, speed. I'm not as concerned about speed as I am performance. I need short field performace as one of our primary fields is a 2500' grass strip at 2000' DA. I'd also like to climb up into the teens if needed to get over minor w/x. I'm a M20J owner and big fan of the model, and it will meet your speed requirements, but for flying off grass, the field had better be smooth. The gear doors hang down so low that you're going to munch one the first time you drop one of the main gear into a small hole. Thanks Dave, I am too. I've got about 400 hours in Mooneys and always enjoyed it. I've looked at a couple of M20J and they're in the running. |
#16
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"Maule Driver" wrote in message . com... Seems like the 2500' grass is a major gating factor in this one. Perhaps add a 'Bo to the consideration and definitely the big Cessnas. The really difficult is to making accurate assessment of your needs and the priorities. For example, my mission profile has changed considerably over 8 years as my "primary fields" have too. In retrospect, the only part of my mission that hasn't changed has been my home field. Everything else can change and compromises made given the a/c I have. You're right. The good news is, about 5nm away from the grass strip is a 5500' paved. I sure would like to land on the grass though. |
#17
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John Doe wrote: Ok, Dont' care about purchase price right now, avionics, etc. Looking for performance/maintenance/operating costs/issues people know of. If cost isn't a factor, buy a Cirrus. BJ |
#18
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On 7/22/2005 09:08, B. Jensen wrote:
John Doe wrote: Ok, Dont' care about purchase price right now, avionics, etc. Looking for performance/maintenance/operating costs/issues people know of. If cost isn't a factor, buy a Cirrus. BJ English really is a strange language. What I read was that he wanted to first consider factors other than cost, not that cost wasn't a factor. -- Mark Hansen, PP-ASEL, Instrument Student Sacramento, CA |
#19
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"Doug" wrote in message oups.com... You seem to want a low wing. Bonanza's do pretty good on rough and short fields. Mooney's don't. Another piece of advice. Get it equipped with the avionics you will be happy with. IFR GPS and autopilot. Upgrading avionics is expensive and you don't get the money back at sale. For high wing a Cessna 182 is hard to beat. The RG's do ok on grass. Gear is an anethema, but if you want to go fast, you need it. If you are going to go up high, you are going to have to have oxygen for everyone. Kind of a hassle. Pressurized is the way to go, but it's BIG bucks. But a pressurized Bonanza would do everything you specify, if you have the money. I wasn't aware that there was any such thing as a pressurized Bonanza. Mike MU-2 |
#20
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On Fri, 22 Jul 2005 17:09:46 GMT, "Mike Rapoport"
wrote: "Doug" wrote in message roups.com... You seem to want a low wing. Bonanza's do pretty good on rough and short fields. Mooney's don't. Another piece of advice. Get it equipped with the avionics you will be happy with. IFR GPS and autopilot. Upgrading avionics is expensive and you don't get the money back at sale. For high wing a Cessna 182 is hard to beat. The RG's do ok on grass. Gear is an anethema, but if you want to go fast, you need it. If you are going to go up high, you are going to have to have oxygen for everyone. Kind of a hassle. Pressurized is the way to go, but it's BIG bucks. But a pressurized Bonanza would do everything you specify, if you have the money. I wasn't aware that there was any such thing as a pressurized Bonanza. How about a P-Baron with one engine caged? |
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