Well they are looking to pick up an Arrow to offer complex endorsements and commercial single tickets as well so the game plan sounds like they are setting up a one stop shop, and like I said this is a business so they are trying to make a buck. Cant speak for others but they are building a flight school, not time.

Well if the owner is also a decent pilot then having him along could possibly save the day if you were shooting approaches in the soup and lost an engine. The Apache does not have very good engine out performance and quite a few low-time multi pilots do not respond adequately to the genuine loss of an engine. My thought would be if I were a low time multi pilot and he is not charging to go along, his value would come down to how good he is as a pilot. I would see that as an advantage until I had reached a point where my own proficiency was up in this airplane. Also, how good is the panel? Most Apaches have been redone so many times I would want to see what the current condition is before using it for approaches. Garmin 430? Dual VORs? DME? Decent clock? Dual flip flops? HSI? These are the minimums in my view and it all should work.

My reservation would be flying the most underpowered twin in existence in the heat of TX. Will that thing even hold altitude if an engine fails? Arent they only 150hp a side?

This is where I flash back and remember paying $127/hr wet for a Seneca.

If I were him I would look for another insurance broker. I have a close friend who rents a PA23-180 (Apache-Geronimo) for about the same price in central florida for instruction and solo rentals and does not have this restriction. His insurance requires 50hrs multi or 20hrs in type for solo.

Like previously mentioned the Apache is a great airplane but is different then other trainers such as the seminole. It actually has a legitimate critical engine and only has 1 engine driven hydraulic pump on the left operating your flaps and gear. This airplane can quickly turn into a handful for a low time multi pilot. For this reason it is a great multi trainer in my opinion and will make the transition to 135 gigs operating Aztecs or Navajos very easy.

Outlaw: If your friend is interested PM me and I will forward you the contact information of this insurance broker if he feels this restriction is hurting his business.

Outlaw - is this guy located at Lancaster? I did some flying with a guy kinda like this there, but I can't remember if he had an Apache or an Commanche... Either way if this is the same guy... its really not a bad deal at all... A buddy and me split the time (both sitting up front) while the guy sat in the back and read a book... Obviously, we did a check out with him sitting up front with both of us prior...

I need to get current but after that I might be willing to eat up some multi time on the cheap... Let me know if anyone is interested...

Hes out of TRL, but hey if you need a pickup in LNC or elsewhere Im sure he can work out something. I still drive 90 minutes once a week to pipe out of there, so no one can really say its too far of a drive...

Besides theyve got a quasi crash pad there if you need to spend the night. He knows your drive to fly, and will help you get where you want to be.

I think we had it down to 16gph. We were up at 8k-10k and it worked out great. The other person flying it has since become my friend and he owns the aircraft so we split the expenses.

Talked with him recently. Sounds like more people are getting in contact with him about the block time.

It sounds like he is not interested in renting it out without him in the plane. While insurance doesnt allow it, fact of the matter is that it the twin, so if someone goes out there and runs 27 squared to find top speed, that aint good.

Should of probably mentioned he lightened the weight of the plane substantially...took out unnecessaries like the heater and whatnot, but also added some mods. While the prime goal is time building, itll be one of the fastest rides youll experience.

You say "time building" as though that is a worthy goal in and of itself- pumping up multi time. But what exactly is the value of this time building if it consists of riding around in the southeast watching waypoints float by with another person who is doing even less than you are? Do some engine out approaches in IMC. Riding around on an IFR flight plan with two engines is no harder than doing basic instrument training. Shoot as many approaches into as many oddball airports as you can, with an engine in sim-feather and nobody else helping. Other than that, maybe practicing VMC demos and doing air work. Just flying IFR in what amounts to $100 hamburger runs is useless. Be creative about your time and design a self-training curriculum that will challenge you.

Oh no doubt, but the logbook doesnt speak on the experience. Logbook speaks time, and when youve got companies like Eagle setting the bar at 500/50, everything else is merely padding and interview stories.