Conquest,Caravan,PC-12,King Air?

[steve937]

The Caravan would be the cheapest to operate and maintain. very easy to work on, but it's slow you would get board with it fast. The conquest is built cheap. I have no experiance or opinion of a PC-12
The King Air is the best ride by far!, The C-90 has a nice roll rate, and has a sporty feel to it, Raytheon has pretty good product support.
Happy Hunting!

 

[Kingairrick]

Get the newest B200 you can afford. It is perfect for the mission you described. Lots of room for comfort. It is basically a twin PC-12.

 

[j41driver]

.....

 

[Palmtree Pilot]

TPE-331'S ARE CRAP!

I DISAGREE!

And they are the coolest sounding and loudest engine out there; which is very important as a TP Pilot. Actually I would trade in a TPE for a TFE.

Pt P

 

[kingairyahoo]

yea, im with rick on this one. but only if youre gonna be seriously taking 8 pax. it sounds like the PC12 could handle 8, but the three in the back might not appreciate it much. a king air 200 can handle 8 with ease...and beg ya for more

 

[prpjt]

First, if you will ever need to carry 8 pax, you need to kick out the C90 - it will hold 7 max, and then it needs to be a 1 hour or less trip.

Questions to ask the boss are how much comfort is required, and how long do they want the trip to take.

Sounds like most of your trips are 200-300 miles. In the van you are in the low low teens bouncin' around in the summer, unless they want to wear O2. In the others you are looking at 180 to 220 on the 200 milers. Much more comfy. Boss won't spill his drink.

Flight time on a van verses the others, well, the 200 mile trip will take about 20 - 30 minutes longer each way in the van. A 300 mile trip will take 45 mins longer each leg. If you fly 15 days a month, the boss will save 15 hours or more of flight time each month in the other planes you mentioned. That's 180 hours a year, or 4 and a half work weeks he won't be riding in a plane. (or paying for) Whats his time worth.

The Conquest is no longer in production and some parts can be a bear to get. The cabin is not near what the PC12 or a King Air is. If he is over 5'9 he'll feel like the ceiling is touching his head.
Like I said the 90 can't hold 8. If you decide that 8 pax isn't a must have a C90B is a good choice. For 2 mil, a nice 89 - 91 B200 can be bought. In my opinion this is the best play. If he doesn't mind a single engine the PC12 is a great aircraft. I just can't see the Caravan as the most comfortable ride.

If you need some #'s on a C90 let me know. We fly ours on short hops 90% of the time. We will be selling it within 30 days and moving to a 200.

Good luck!

 

[Yellow Snow]

I am biased but I like the merlins. I have a little time in a 3B and it is really flexible. I carries a ton of fuel and can take eight pax no problem. Oh did I mention it goes like a bat out of hades.

 

[kingaira90]

Turbo commander with -10 conversion, faaaaaast and flys MUCH better/easier than the MU2. Although the 8 peeps is out. So if the 8 people are a must, the Merlin. Much less than a King Air 200 and FASTER!-kingaira90

 

[Yellow Snow]

Merlin burns less fuel too. Also looks really cool. You can pick one up for under a million with fresh engines and new leather. The usual useful load for a 3B is a little over four thousand pounds which allows 8 pax and about three hrs fuel. With light pax load you can go about two thousand miles as fuel capacity is about 650 gals. Many of the merlins have also had the dash 10 conversion so they are very fast. I think its one of the best aircraft i've ever seen for a corporate mission with props. The one I flew was very quiet and comfortable we had seven pax for a flight to the bahamas and no one was crammed in like they would be in a 441. The king airs are very good acft but they just can't match the performance.

 

[kingaira90]

Many of the merlins have also had the dash 10 conversion so they are very fast. I think its one of the best aircraft i've ever seen for a corporate mission with props.

I forgot about the -10 on the Merlins too. Get that. Cheaper than any PC-12 and it has 2 engines. You could buy more engines and LOTS of Maint and fuel with the million you save!-kingaira90

 

[AeroDMB]

I need some help. I have been tasked with choosing the new company A/C and would like some input from the sterling steely eyed aviators that frequent this board.

I have around 2 mil to play with. Heres the job

4-8 people (usually 4)

Usual flights are SF Bay area Sac valley down to so-cal. Every now and again a trip to bakersfield muni, delano, shafter.

We have it narrowed down to King Air 90, PC-12, Grand Caravan, or ConquestII.

The boss wants a Caravan, With all the research I have done so far my vote is for the Conquest II. I am normally a Beachcraft Guy but the Conquest beats up the c90 in every category except looks.


Any and all input would be greatly appreciated

VERY LIGHT JET

 

[kingaira90]

VERY LIGHT JET

So he can wait at least a year and have enough useful load to carry full fuel 1 passenger and a pack of crackers?-kingaira90

Joking

 

[Lrjtcaptain]

TPE-331'S ARE CRAP!?????????????

other then being noisy id take a tpe over a pt6 but that is just me.

In and out of the bay area down and the routes you will be flying id go with the Pc12. Operating costs would be cheap. The caravan although a cool airplane just doesn't have any speed even though the majority of your trips are short haul. C90's suck. Im sorry, I flew em, I hate em and thats all I will say about them. The KA line is great but the C90 is nothing but a big baron that can do 235kts at Fl220 on a good day.

Go PC12

 

[Yellow Snow]

Please find a VLJ that will seat eight has a little range and costs less than two mil and let me know who makes it I want to invest

 

[msw]

Yeah the other guy that said C90's suck, I think he is right..... at least for your passenger load profile. They are much too small for 8 passengers (or even 6 really) and they are slow. I'd get an E90 or an F90 for their speed, before I'd get any C90; but the F90 and E90 still have the too small cabins.

You really need either a King Air B200 or a PC-12.

Grumman Guy: When you finally decide, how bout letting us know what your decision was, and why? I'd be curious to hear where all the input finally led you to in the decision process.

 

[Grumman guy]

Thanks again for all the very usefull info.

At this time we are heavily leaning towards a PC-12. Probably going to spend a little more money than origionally intended but hey thats aviation.

So far the operating costs are the big determining factor.

I am still pushing for the Conquest I or II, reasonable initial purchase price, two engines, very fast, FL 300, . The only problem is the boss doesnt want any airplane older than a '98. He thinks an 85' Conquest is an old airplane, but hey its his money.

Thanks again for the help

 

[pilatus96]

I don't think you can buy a PC12 for 2mil. Even used. Maybe. If you're flying your boss and especially his family, I would be concerned about losing an engine, really especially if you ever had to fly at night. If you're boss is comfortable with a single, as long as you can afford it, don't even think about it just buy the PC12! Otherwise, definitely the Merlin or B200.

 

[pc12_driver]

Speaking from experience, the PC-12 is the airplane you need. Our typical trips are 300-600 miles with 4-6 pax. Even the 9 pax with coolers full of fish out of a 3000' strip is a piece of cake!!Operating cost is unbelievably low, if you buy new( 3.5 mil, well equipped) everything for the first 3 years is covered under warranty. We have not had any major problems to speak of, but even the small things are immediatley turned over to warranty!

 

[Swass]

Please find a VLJ that will seat eight has a little range and costs less than two mil and let me know who makes it I want to invest

The Spirit Lear is close to that number.

I owned a Conquest II but recently sold it in a merger. Great plane, the comments in this thread are pretty spot on. I would consider a Merlin as the Cessna was a little crowded in the back with more than five (or so they say, I never spent much time in the back, and never when it was packed in). Very nice to fly, I don't have any time in a Merlin so I can't comment on that one. I would stay away from the MU-2 and wouldn't hesitate to pick the Conquest over it again if I had the need. A Turbo Commander would be nice if you can live with the limited seating, I almost purchased one before finding a hell of a deal on the Cessna, otherwise I would have.

The -10 conversion makes a ton of difference in both planes.

 

[kingaira90]

The Spirit Lear is close to that number.

Yea but 8 in a lear 25 is a joke for any length of time. Even with 7 you put someone side saddle on the potty/jump seat ugh. Seen it done, but not with me in back! Oh and each person gets a gym bag for luggage.