Adam A500....why?

[JimG]

Just for shyts and giggles...

I just finished reading an article in Twin & Turbine magazine on the new A500 and wondered what the reasoning would be to spend $1M for a new concept airplane that doesn't do anything better than my C340 (w/Ram VI's) does at 1/3 the cost.

Avidyne flat panels and dual G430's are nice, but I have an Avidyne and a G430 in my panel too.

The A500 has:

No deicing boots.
No heated windshield

Performance is less than the 340...I burn less fuel for higher speeds.

Pressurization is better (8,000@FL250 vs. 8,000@FL200 in the 340), but their best performance is in the low 20's where I fly anyway.

The company claims $1B in orders (which probably includes the A700's too), but I'm interested in where the order file comes from and the person who would buy one?

 

[ackattacker]

No need to use your feet. Much safer.

 

[mzaharis]

No deicing boots.
No heated windshield

From the ADAM website:

PPG Industries-Glass Windshield

The A500 will have a glass windshield with Electro-thermal deicing capability. This will allow the A500 pilot to have the protection of a heated windshield without the visibility disadvantages of peering through a hotplate. In addition, glass windshields are known to be more resilient to bird strikes than their plexiglas counterparts and will also resist scratching better.

Also, a number of articles indicate that they're going to provide known icing capability using TKS. Although they're working on it, I don't think they've gotten their known icing certification yet.

As to the value question, I think that you can always find a used aircraft with similar, or even better, performance for a third the cost, if you're willing to get something old enough. The A500 seems to compare favorably, though, with the nearest things currently on the market pricewise, such as the Baron and Malibu Meridian (at least at the brochure level). Of course, VLJs may change that performance-value equation.

 

[JimNtexas]

The Adam may be safer than a conventional twin in an engine out situation, and certainly has that new airplane smell.

 

[clickclickboom]

Adam did their market research and determined that there were many buyers out there for cabin class piston equipment. Dont get me wrong i love twin cessnas have owned a 340 and currently own a twin cessna but the reality is that with the exception of some factory leftovers that were released in 84 the newest 340 is 25 years old.. Plus the biggie here is fleet commonality.. A guy can buy the a500 build time and upgrade to a similiar model 700 and who knows maybe there will be an a500 with turbo diesels or turbines out there.

Insurance is becoming cost prohibitive for new pilots.. Have you seen what they would quote for a 340 for a 1000 pilot with mel and minimal time in type?

PS if you have factory locker tanks you better check the spar caps for corrosion.. My buddies cost over $80,000 to repair

 

[JimG]

Adam did their market research and determined that there were many buyers out there for cabin class piston equipment. Dont get me wrong i love twin cessnas have owned a 340 and currently own a twin cessna but the reality is that with the exception of some factory leftovers that were released in 84 the newest 340 is 25 years old.. Plus the biggie here is fleet commonality.. A guy can buy the a500 build time and upgrade to a similiar model 700 and who knows maybe there will be an a500 with turbo diesels or turbines out there.

Insurance is becoming cost prohibitive for new pilots.. Have you seen what they would quote for a 340 for a 1000 pilot with mel and minimal time in type?

PS if you have factory locker tanks you better check the spar caps for corrosion.. My buddies cost over $80,000 to repair

Mine's a 1978...it is getting "old", but I flew a 1960 M-model Bonanza before this one, so she feels "almost new" in comparison...lol.

As far as insurance...I know.

My first year was $15K with 1200 hours, MEI.

My second year dropped to $10K.

Hopefully, the renewal next spring will be even more good news.

But can you imagine what the premium's going to be on a $1M airplane with the same pilot experience?

I just had the spar caps and exaust AD done a couple of weeks ago....no problems.

 

[mzaharis]

and who knows maybe there will be an a500 with turbo diesels or turbines out there.

And here's the candidate for a turbodiesel Adam (which, interestingly, will also be STC'd for the 340) . . .


http://web.thielert.com/typo3/index.php?id=621&L=1

 

[JimNtexas]

Mine's a 1978...it is getting "old", but I flew a 1960 M-model Bonanza before this one, so she feels "almost new" in comparison...lol.

As far as insurance...I know.

My first year was $15K with 1200 hours, MEI.

My second year dropped to $10K.

That's interesting, because I've heard similar numbers for Cirrus owner pilots with 1000 or so hours but low time in type.

 

[JimG]

That's interesting, because I've heard similar numbers for Cirrus owner pilots with 1000 or so hours but low time in type.

Is that with the ballistic chute discount?

 

[TurboAWD]

I'll take a cetified TKS system over boots any day. And if Beech can get buyers for the G58, I think the A500 could at least get a few buyers. Between the two, I know where my (fictional) money would go...

Turbo