Best personal cross-country airplane

[minitour]

...I fly mine on 1200nm trips once/month without a hiccup...

except for that d@mn ice, right?

haha

I'm just messin with ya

-mini

 

[TDTURBO]

except for that d@mn ice, right?

haha

I'm just messin with ya

-mini

Not for long, they have an STC for TKS for 20K. I sure could use it, eh?

 

[minitour]

Not for long, they have an STC for TKS for 20K. I sure could use it, eh?

no kiddin?

That's pretty shwag-dilly-licious

sounds like a phat deal to me

-mini

 

[Stinkbug]

IMO, if you have the coin, the best all around x-country airplane for speed, comfort, cost/hr, range, reliability ect is without a doubt, a R182 or TR182.

See if you can find a plane that will haul 4 full sized adults with luggage 156-170 kts at 13 gph 1000 nm away that won't kill you in maintenance.

The motors are bullet proof, (O-540), they actually routinely see 2200 hrs without a top, the turbos add only a buck or two/hr, (cheaper and more reliable than any turbo on the market due to derated 235 hp engine), with an airframe you need a back hoe to pull apart.

Ever try and buy a part for a Bo? Hint: You'll need to mortgage your house.

You have to consider maintenance costs on older airframes, the oldest R182's are '78 vintage and can be had IFR ready for between 100 and 115K with mid-time engines.

I fly mine on 1200nm trips once/month without a hiccup. Get a good pre-buy(annual) before committing to any plane, you won't regret it.

I've looked at the Skylane...curious, how much speed would I lose if I were to go with a fixed gear model? Also, could you estimate the difference in acquisition and maintenance costs if I went fixed-gear over the retract?

By the way, I really appreciate everyone's replies...

 

[Moonfly201]

Mooney 201 ! The ultimate personal transportation for those of us on a budget.

The Lycoming IO-360 is one of the best engines ever made forreliabilityand ability to go way past TBO. With GAMI injectors,flying on the leanside of peak, they burn 7.5 to 8.5 gal/hr and carry64 gals useable.That's coast to coast on two fuel stops.

The 1982 and newer models have individually removeable rear seats,andare perfect for organizing kids and baggage. Push-pull controlrods,steel cage surrounding the cabin, tough reliable gear, decentusefulload, and an airframe that ALWAYS has 100% of its' parts foundin thesmoking hole after things go totally south.

 

[TDTURBO]

I've looked at the Skylane...curious, how much speed would I lose if I were to go with a fixed gear model? Also, could you estimate the difference in acquisition and maintenance costs if I went fixed-gear over the retract?

By the way, I really appreciate everyone's replies...

You would lose 17-37 kts depending if it is turbo'ed. A significant difference I might add.

Acquisition cost is 3-15K higher for the RG models, negligible if you factor in the speed difference. I would run Vref comparisons on the different models then subtract 15% to get a real world estimate on what they sell for.

Insurance will cost 2400/yr with 150TT with 15HRS Complex/HP no IR or 2000 YR with IR for 1 million smooth and 150K haul coverage. It is cheap to insure for low time pilots because it has the best safety record of any retract. The most common mishaps are flare out accidents with newbees landing on the nose wheel bending the firewall. In the air, it is a locomotive stable IFR platform.


As far as maintenance, the difference is $200 at annual for the gear swing on a NA RG and $300 on a turbo'ed model. If the gear actuator bolts are safety wired before the housing cracks, which if it was cracked has NEVER caused a gear up, the gear is a non-issue. Gear issues have been sensationalized in years past but recent surveys by Aviation Consumer and the Cessna Pilots Association have revealed it to be a non-issue since the easy fix.

AD's on this plane are the shotgun variety and will have been complied with. There are no GEAR AD's on this plane! There are few if any recurrent AD's on this plane either. Either way, this plane has escaped the veritable AD lists from hell.


BTW: A Mooney will have leaking fuel cells and won't carry half the load. Check around, the fix is over 10 grand! Also, the TR182 will blow it away. It's a fine airplane for 2 small framed people but not the x-country hauler you will need. If you are on a slim budget, (under 75K), I would consider a 201 over all other choices.

I don't care how long you look, you will not find a better airplane that will do this job!

I would spend the extra money and part with 150K, find one loaded, newer and with lower TT, the '78's have bladders and hold less fuel. Anything past '80 should be ideal for ya!

Don't worry too much about total cost if possible, you can always flip them for more money a few years down the road. They hold their value extremely well.

 

[UGAflyer]

I have a 172XP, not to be confused with an SP, and I love it. If you don't know, the XP is a 172 with a 210hp continental IO360 engine that is usually derated to 195. It also has a constant speed prop. It is a great airplane, I usually get about 125-130 ktas at about 9.5gph. It is a great short field performer if that is of any value to you. It probably gets 90% of the performance of a 182. It is a great airplane.

 

[floatflyer99]

If you are comfortable with the idea of a taildragger, I'd say a C-180 would be a good bet. They are faster than the 182 and are more versatile. Very economical to operate and repair, too when compared to other aircraft of similar horsepower. Not all that expensive to buy, either. A Cessna 180 would get my vote any day.

 

[RightPedal]

Try winning the AOPA twin comanche. If you could afford the taxes on your windfall it'd be a fantastic cross country airplane.

Has a winner been selected for the Comanche? I can't find anything about it. Even a search for win-a-twin on the AOPA website returns nothing. I thought it was suspose to be anounced by now. All I find is all the hoopla about the next give away.

I'm still waiting for them to call me though

 

[B GUMPS]

For high end singles Piper Malibu is awesome but very high maintenance and insurance. Beech F33A, A36 are both very good cross country planes. Lower priced singles I would have to agree on the Piper Dakota. Piper Cherokee Six, not so fast but it will carry anything you can fit into it. Cessna 210 is a nice plane but they also have outrageous maintenance costs, stay away from turbocharged ones though. As for twins Senecas would be o.k. personally I would love an Beech P58 Baron but Im only dreaming.

 

[Blubaron]

Has a winner been selected for the Comanche? I can't find anything about it. Even a search for win-a-twin on the AOPA website returns nothing. I thought it was suspose to be anounced by now. All I find is all the hoopla about the next give away.

I'm still waiting for them to call me though

http://aopa2.org/sweeps/rules.html?PF
Says around February 15 for the drawing. They aint gonna call you they're calling me.

 

[minitour]

*edit*

Actually it looks like the winner has already been notified....better luck next year...

-mini

 

[TDTURBO]

The next plane give away is going to be a Commander 112A......I would sell it.

 

[Vik]

Get a PA-30 .. twin w/ single engine costs.

Actually, I own one, PM me and if you're planning on buying a plane to time build, I'll quickly talk you out of it

 

[JimNtexas]

Either a Mooney 201 or a Cardinal C177RG. Both have the bulletproof Lyc IO360.

If you and your pax are comfortable in the coffin like Mooney interior it's impossible to beat the combinaiton of speed and economy.

If you want a comfortable interior with room for four fat adults then get a Cardinal RG. Same motor as the Mooney, but trades off a few knots of speed for greater comfort.

Buy the plane with most of the radios you want, it's much more expensive to add them than to buy an airplane that already has most of what you want.

The Mooney's good looking, and the Cardinal is the best looking single engine four seat airplane ever made.

A C-182 is the next best personal airplane, but with gas getting so dear now the four bangers same you some bucks.

 

[Corona]

Many here have suggested the Mooney. I second that, with the admonition you stick with later model 201s. I flew a '74 M20F and it was quite a pig, both in speed and maintenance. In fact, apparently when LoPresti redesigned the Mooney to make the 201, they found that more air was coming out the front of the air intake of the engine cowling than going out the cowl flaps. I suspect that is where a lot of the speed gain came from.

Other pluses include an absolute bulletproof engine (Lycoming O-360) and, I'm surprised only one other has mentioned, really tight controls due to the control rods vs. cables. Also, Mooneys have a nice, light-yet-effective rudder feel. Sorry, I'm a big Cessna fan, but their control feel is like cold wet noodles compared to the Mooney. Did my Commercial in the 20F and could land it on a dime after 15 hours or so of practice.

BTW, wish I could have your problems, if this is your biggest dilemma!

C

 

[JimNtexas]

"Sorry, I'm a big Cessna fan, but their control feel is like cold wet noodles compared to the Mooney."

Have you flown a Cardinal? The Cardinal has a much more responsive flight control system than any other single engine Cessna. It's nothing like a 172 or 182.

 

[PropsForward]

Try winning the AOPA twin comanche. If you could afford the taxes on your windfall it'd be a fantastic cross country airplane.

Yeah, got the tax money ready, just need AOPA to deliver...

 

[PropsForward]

Bonanza is reasonable in price, but parts are expensive. Decent cruise speed.

Saratoga or Centurion are fast but will cost you a few more bucks to get.

Mooney are great, but the cabin is kinda crampt.

Sirrus seems like the cats meow of the faster singles, just kinda pricey.