I fly the MU-2 now and it is a good plane. The company sent me down to simcom. The instructors name was Leif, has like 20,000 hrs in mu-2. Had two different sims, one J model and one marq. the j is better.

who are some companies that fly MU-2s?

I am aware of a few freight companies from way back. Use to fly checks. I'm certain there are some out there. Try doing a search. I would guess there is someone in Iowa. Iowapilot might know.

I'm pretty sure there is a group called BankAir out of BWI that flies em, but I know nothing about them, nothing on google either :p

there is a company in iowa that has 4 that they use for passenger charter. ACT has a bunch, Air 1st has a bunch. I only know about the midwest. And there are a bunch of single pilot ops and owner operaters out there still using the rice rockets.

know of any in kansas city?

Check NBAA directory, Even an old one may have info on who in KS is flying MU2's, Check registered airplanes in KS and find who has MU2's. Search.

It's a good plane. Respect it, fly within it's boundaries and train with Howell initially if possible.

That is the plan.

I'm pretty sure Iowapilot and I work for the same company. We did the "recurrent" package at Simcom, rather than the "initial", since we did a fair bit of training in the airplane and got our 135 PIC signoff before going down there. It's a fine program, and Leif definitely knows his stuff, but the sims are non-motion and my recollection is that they don't "feel" much like the plane itself. I'm not sure I'd want to try flying it without some actual time in the plane. I've rarely heard anything bad about Howell and plenty good.

My impression of the plane overall is that it's a great performer, and perfectly safe, but as everyone says, it requires a bit more effort when something goes wrong than a KA or other similar aircraft. It's nothing a normally skilled pilot who is current and stays that way can't handle. It's also built like a brick outhouse. No idea where the reputation for being difficult in ice came from, as I've been in a fair amount of ice in it and never had any white-knuckle moments.

Operators that I'm aware of are: ACT, Air 1st, Bankair (I think they've parked at least some), Epps, and I think Royal still has some, although I don't know whether they're still flying. Those are of course all 135 cargo. Don't know how many corporate operators there are.