looking to buy a twin- questions??

[guidoverduci]

Hello all- I'm looking to buy a twin. I was wondering what kind of plane do you recommend? I am an MEI so it will be used partly for training, otherwise to build hours. I'm looking for something with counter-rotating props, something that is reliable- I've heard certain models tend to need more maitenance! any ideas?? I'm looking to spend around 120,000 to 180,000. thanks in advance

 

[MarineGrunt]

Then the Seminole is probably your best bet. But be warned, you will be paying out the a$$ for insurance and aircraft operation. If you can train at least 10-15 students a year, you might get it to pay for itself. I was thinking of doing the same thing, and calculated every penny.... too high risk with the money I make (or, actually, don't make).

If you got the cash, go for it. But if you're planning on getting a loan, just make sure you can afford the payments when no one shows up to fly it for two months. Also as a CFI you know that bad wx can shut you down for sometimes a month...

Good luck!

 

[MarineGrunt]

An afterthought....

I hear a plane called a "Cougar" is a pretty nice twin trainer. There weren't many made, but there is one in Trade-a-plane right now...

 

[WrightAvia]

I bet you could get a Beech Duke for that kind of money. Real good looking plane. You could probably charge more per hour than a duchess or seminole besides.

 

[banned username 2]

I bet you could get a Beech Duke for that kind of money. Real good looking plane. You could probably charge more per hour than a duchess or seminole besides.

Holy maintenance nightmare, Batman... and you would NEVER want to do twin training in a Duke... Those geared engines would NOT be happy about all the power changing...

Are you sure you meant a Duke? (Cabin Class, Pressurized Twin)

 

[WrightAvia]

Are you sure you meant a Duke? (Cabin Class, Pressurized Twin)

I'm sorry, I thought I said Queen Air.

 

[banned username 2]

I'm sorry, I thought I said Queen Air.

 

[WrightAvia]

Hehehehe. Obviously, those are the types of planes the original poster shouldn't even be considering. If he has that money he's talking about spending on a twin available, he should be looking in this very reliable guide called "Aviation Consumer Used Aircraft Guide".

It's available at...

http://www.aviationconsumer.com/airplanereviews/

I swear by it. Everything it had to say about the 320 Skyknight was right on the money, as we were to find out later.

 

[JimNtexas]

Twin Commanche

 

[sky37d]

If you weren't doing training, I would suggest skymaster. They are counter rotating, however, no one is going to go train in it with you, unless they are working on their CLT-ONLY rating.
Not enough of those in the world to justify, unless you can prep them for their new Adams.

Seneca is counter rotating, reasonable performer. Stay away from Beech, none of those, that I am aware of, are counter rotating. For real training, however, you can't beat a Beech. Sturdy, reliable aircraft. The travel Air is a resonable performer.

 

[Citationkid]

C-R prop Navajo. It's a great little airplane. Yesterday we had 7 people and 75% fuel, in the chieftan, and it was still under gross and only used up 3,000'. I've never been in a ''little'' navajo but if it's as good as the chieftan I would recomend it.

 

[freightdogfred]

no light twin out there is cheaper to maintain than the Piper Apache......four cyl Lycomings, easy on gas, docile single-engine handling, and reasonable priced. You could buy an Apache for what one of those GTSIO-720 motors on a Duke cost to rebuild.

 

[flywithastick]

An afterthought....

I hear a plane called a "Cougar" is a pretty nice twin trainer. There weren't many made, but there is one in Trade-a-plane right now...

Grumman Cougars are a really nice training twin. O-320's and the plane handles well. Only problem is that there weren't many built to select from.

Training, time building... IMVHO, don't consider anything larger than 4 seats. Exceptions might be a normally asp Aztek or older Seneca. Re. insurance, last I checked it was 3-4 times higher for instructional/commercial coverage for singles. Haven't quoted commercial multi.