Company's first airplane
10-12-2010, 11:05 AM
#1
Gets Weekends Off
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Joined APC: Jan 2008
Posts: 408
Company's first airplane
My friend owns a company and is looking to get a plane, He seems to currently be looking hard at a Piper Chieftain. Most of the flying would be done in TX and all the surrounding states, with occasional trips further to say FL or SC.
I'm trying to put a list together of a few planes and the pros and cons of them all. He currently just has a Piper Cherokee 6.
Any ideas what would be a good starter plane for a small business looking to make day trips from dal to the following cities mostly lbb, okc, tul, shv, lit, hou, and soon the business is expanding to Tennessee not sure where exactly.
I'm trying to put a list together of a few planes and the pros and cons of them all. He currently just has a Piper Cherokee 6.
Any ideas what would be a good starter plane for a small business looking to make day trips from dal to the following cities mostly lbb, okc, tul, shv, lit, hou, and soon the business is expanding to Tennessee not sure where exactly.
10-12-2010, 12:01 PM
#2
Flying Farmer
Joined APC: Jul 2006
Position: Turbo-props' and John Deere's
Posts: 3,160
I think the Chieftain is a good choice as far as the trips involved you're talking about. How many pax, range, etc, could change that to a turbo-prop down the line if the longer-range trips become the norm.
10-12-2010, 12:13 PM
#3
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Well, he bought a Cherokee 6 a few years back it has been alright, except I think he wants something to carry 6 pax plus cargo. When I flew the 6 for him he often had the rear seats pulled for cargo.. He likes to take clients on hunting trips. Also he wants to get management to the different branches and back to Dallas in one day. It was possible in the 6 but most people would not fly in it.
Also a few times I had to cancel trips due to known icing last year, so it would be nice to get a plane that is known Icing cert. I Haven't told him if I'm going to fly it for him or not yet. If I do decide to join the company it would benefit me to have something with a turbine maybe a Cheyenne. But right now I am just looking at the best option for him.
Also a few times I had to cancel trips due to known icing last year, so it would be nice to get a plane that is known Icing cert. I Haven't told him if I'm going to fly it for him or not yet. If I do decide to join the company it would benefit me to have something with a turbine maybe a Cheyenne. But right now I am just looking at the best option for him.
10-13-2010, 09:21 AM
#6
The NeverEnding Story
Joined APC: Sep 2005
Posts: 7,512
A Cheyenne might work, but for one pilot, six passengers & bags on a semi-regular basis a King Air 90 might be a better option. Also maybe a turbine 400-series Cessna with the wing spar fix complied with?
If only 6 total seats are necessary, another option to look into besides the Cheyenne would be a Beech Duke with the Royal Turbine PT6 conversion...I understand from an acquaintance who flies one these things have spectacular performance (and do away with the Duke's engine-related maintenance issues).
Any of the small turbine twins will likely run from $500k-$1M...with suitable six-place piston twin options (BE58, CE340/414, PA31) in the $200-$500k range.
If only 6 total seats are necessary, another option to look into besides the Cheyenne would be a Beech Duke with the Royal Turbine PT6 conversion...I understand from an acquaintance who flies one these things have spectacular performance (and do away with the Duke's engine-related maintenance issues).
Any of the small turbine twins will likely run from $500k-$1M...with suitable six-place piston twin options (BE58, CE340/414, PA31) in the $200-$500k range.
10-13-2010, 10:21 AM
#8
The NeverEnding Story
Joined APC: Sep 2005
Posts: 7,512
Originally Posted by Danzig
Pilatus PC-12. Excellent for short or unimproved strips, FIKI, single turbine efficiency, great mission profiles.
Sure the PC12 costs less to operate...but you can operate a small twin turboprop more than a couple hours on just the interest of the $500k+ delta in price.
10-13-2010, 03:34 PM
#9
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2009
Posts: 276
Originally Posted by minitour
We just listed a 421 I could probably get you into. Pretty nice plane.
-mini
-mini
10-13-2010, 04:35 PM
#10
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Joined APC: Jan 2008
Posts: 408
Thanks guys, the Piper Chieftain still looks to be the best option, followed by the King Air 90. I like the PC12 and the 208 but both are a bit pricey.
What about an MU-2?
What about an MU-2?
Last edited by piper338; 10-13-2010 at 04:48 PM.
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