Merlin IIIb vs King Air 200 vs Cheyenne 2/3
01-22-2012, 03:07 PM
#1
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Joined APC: Jun 2008
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Merlin IIIb vs King Air 200 vs Cheyenne 2/3
I am working on putting together a partnership and wanted to get some "real world" opinions and numbers for the above planes.
The Merlin seems to really be a very capable aircraft and a better performer than the other 2, but I am really just going by book numbers.
thanks
The Merlin seems to really be a very capable aircraft and a better performer than the other 2, but I am really just going by book numbers.
thanks
01-22-2012, 03:30 PM
#2
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A long long time ago I was contemplating the same comparison for an owner looking to move up from a Cheyenne II (he wanted something larger). I don't remember the specifics, but I remember it basically boiling down to this:
1) Buy the King Air 200
2) If you can't afford the 200 but need the size, buy the Cheyenne III
3) If you hate your pilots, buy the Merlin
In all seriousness, the only reason to not buy the King Air is if you couldn't afford it. Other airplanes might have better numbers in some areas, but there's a reason why the BE20 is always on the short list when people talk about the best airplanes ever built. Easy to fly, easy to find quality maintenance, and easy to find a current and qualified pilot should you need one.
1) Buy the King Air 200
2) If you can't afford the 200 but need the size, buy the Cheyenne III
3) If you hate your pilots, buy the Merlin
In all seriousness, the only reason to not buy the King Air is if you couldn't afford it. Other airplanes might have better numbers in some areas, but there's a reason why the BE20 is always on the short list when people talk about the best airplanes ever built. Easy to fly, easy to find quality maintenance, and easy to find a current and qualified pilot should you need one.
01-22-2012, 04:41 PM
#4
Respek
Joined APC: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,603
When I was selling part's we (as one of the largest distributors in the country) had almost every part needed to build our own King Air. Not so much with a Merlin or Cheyenne even. Part's and MX wise you're better off with the King Air. Then would come Cheyenne followed by the Merlin.
01-22-2012, 05:31 PM
#7
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Buy the King Air. You'll notice that it's the only one still being made. There's a good reason for that.
Have a look at the link below and tell me you want to fly another airplane.
AVwebFlash Complete Issue
Have a look at the link below and tell me you want to fly another airplane.
AVwebFlash Complete Issue
01-22-2012, 08:44 PM
#8
Are we there yet??!!
Joined APC: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,010
Originally Posted by trafly
Buy the King Air. You'll notice that it's the only one still being made. There's a good reason for that.
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Survey says no.
Last time I checked, you can still buy a brand new Merlin if you pony up to Fairchild/Swearingen. Of course it might take some time to complete the build.
I have a couple of thousand of hours in the Merlin/Metro and several hundred in BE-100/200s. The King Air is an all around better choice.
01-22-2012, 09:30 PM
#9
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I flew and managed two Merlin III's for a corporation at one time. As the old saying goes never buy just one Merlin you'll need two. One to work on and one to fly. The performance, speed, payload and fuel burn are impressive on a Merlin they really are. And so is the maintenance required to keep one flying.
You'll be bit slower and burn more fuel in a King Air but you'll have way less headaches in one too.
You'll be bit slower and burn more fuel in a King Air but you'll have way less headaches in one too.
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