SkyHigh

MEI Experiences:

"I would highly recommend getting your multi-engine instructor rating and building multi time that way. You should be able to do it for about $3,000, and the experience you will gain will far out way the experience you would gain flying around from one $100 hamburger joint to another." Flyboymatthew

An early death might be one of the experiences you get as a MEI, or you might enjoy growing old while waiting your turn for the next multi student. I have done both and highly recommend buying your own plane if you have the opportunity. Lots of fun. Don't get insurance. Buy gas at ARCO. Maintain the plane yourself if you have some basic mechanical skills. (Always refer to the AC regarding owner maintenance rules and regulations).

SkyHigh

WannaBleftseat

the dutchess and most other light twins wont be able to climb on one engine especially in warm florida weather. They, unlike, part 121 and 135 operations are not required to have climb performance on one engine. Normally with the loss of one engine (i fly out of BLM in NJ and also HWV on Long Island a lot) you may be able to maintain altitiude but climbing will be limited to 100 - 200 fpm at best. most of my light twin time is a seminole so you are looking at 180hp each side. but with one engine gone you lose 50 % of your Thrust but 80% of your performance. you have a lot more drag out there. soo flying a light twin although seems a lot "safer" to the common person isnt a whole lot better. best of luck to you. hope i was a little bit of help

LAfrequentflyer

...50% thrust lost but 80% performance hit.I understand the 50% thrust lost, don't get the performance hit. Please explain...Bettter yet, point me to the books and I'll educate myself- probably retain the info longer and if i have questions I'll ask...

Thanks,
LA

mike734

The old joke:

Q. Why do twins have two engines?
A. cause they don't fly worth a crap on one.

Of course a duchess will fly on one. It is important to keep the weight down for a single training flight. Half tanks and no pax should be enough to give safe single engine climb performance.

Pilotpip

Without getting too technical, it has to do with the increase in drag from having your rudder and other controls deflected to maintain straight and level and the loss of the accellerated airflow over the wing. If you look at performance data for nearly every piston twin made the loss will be very close to 80%.

WannaBleftseat

if you can get your hand on the Jeppesen multi manual... it does a pretty good job. pretty much any multi engine training book can explain it. you wont really have to get to technical on your Comm multi checkride but they will ask you to for your mei. Your mei is one of the best ways to build multi time ... in jersey and new york there are quite a few multi students here and there. instructing part 61 is tougher but you can try and get into a part 141 school and there will be more instrument students and multi students... those are the best students to have as they keep your instrument skills sharp while keeping multi aerodynamics fresh in your mind. hope i was a little help.

OrionFE

I baught a IFR C-172 and put very little of my own money into it. I lease it back to a flight school. It pays for itself and I fly it almost as much as I want. I just finished my instrument ticket in it. All the money that I recieve from the rental goes into its own account and it pays all the maint. costs, loan, insurance, fuel, etc. and what's left over goes towards the next engine overhaul. Great cross-country plane.....

LAfrequentflyer

C-172 is just a safe/fun/go characteristics plane to fly...Of course, I haven't flown anything else- but the F-15, F-22 here at Langley look like they would be fun to fly around in as well...

OrionFE, where did you educated yourself on buying a plane? I've seen some good c-152 on-line and think about getting one in a few years to fly around in...

Thanks,
LA

OrionFE

My buddy had a C-172 that he leased back and was using it to build time in. He as well, put very little money into it and it was paying for itself. He also, got a couple of traffic contracts that he used it for and they paid pretty well. So I started looking. I found mine and it was in great shape (Avionics needed updating). It listed for $38K, booked at about $38.7K, and I offerd $34K. We settled for $35K.

I found a Hurricane Damaged (very little damage) same year C-172 with a fresh engine and a IFR Certified GPS. I bid on it at a auction and picked it up for spare parts (engine, instruments, etc.) and I am selling it off part by part.

Bottom line, the airplane breaks even and I fly it (build time) for free. I just finished my Instrument and I am working on my Commercial. My buddy is selling his ( he is FO on a RJ) as he doesn't fly it anymore. We are considering picking up a cheap twin (C-310) so I can build multi time in and maybe we can haul frieght and/or do some advanced intructing in it.

OrionFE

I see C-152's all the time in the low $20K's.