Pick an Airplane...

[iflyabeech]

I am flying a Cheyenne II now and it is a great bird. . .We looked at 421's and King Airs, but this Cheyenne is pretty, fast, and get er done. Don't have any problems at all with her besides the fancy new avionics giving me a little trouble every now and then.

 

[TXDA2000]

The IIB is truly ancient, but if I recall, most 421B's aren't exactly spring chickens!

I used to fly a TooBee and found it to be an excellent airplane for the money. Ours had -6's among many other mods, old and new avionics, and the same cabin as our current IIIB. 240 kts on 70 gallons/hour.

Maintenence on the old Merlin is costly, especially if it has been let go, BUT it is I believe still cheaper to operate than any 421 I've had experience with.

I used the occasionally fly the next to last 421 C-III built, it sold for over a million. We sold our solid IIB for $165,000. The new owner upgraded the panel, paint and interior, and hot sections. He has around $350k in it now and has a great airplane.

Lot's of people knock them, and for some good reason, but it is a great value for the money and I'd trust the Garrett over any geared/turboed piston any day.

And yes, about a thousand hours of geared engine time to back it up in 421's and the ever lovely QueenAire.

I don't think I'd consider a Piper, no parts support to speak of, plus every time you take off you get that funny feeling in your crotch that you might not clear the fence. Same feeling in the Puke (Duke).

 

[CDogg]

How much of a factor is speed? Conquest I or the Kmart King Air IIXL would be a good choice. I currently fly a 421C and with myself, 4 other people and bags you don't have too much fuel to play with. However, if your trips are 400 miles and less, it would suite quite nicely. The 421 likes it up there in the upper teens, and you can get a pretty good fuel consumption (usually around 36-38gph from what I have seen)

Short trips, i'd rather have the 421, longer trips, go with a Conquest or IIXL where it's going to pay off cruising up high for a longer period of time.


...But then again, what about a nice old twin beech with the round motors on it?

 

[pilotyip]

I flew a 690A for over 1000 hours, I loved that airplane, a real pilots airplane, go anyplace at 270 Kts. We had the props Q tipped it really cut down the noise in the airplane, we also had an electric Freon A/C systems for ground ops. It did spend alot of time in the shop, minor things,easily fixed by almost any mechanic. It is the airplane I would buy for personal use if I win the lottery.

 

[iflyabeech]

I don't think I'd consider a Piper, no parts support to speak of, plus every time you take off you get that funny feeling in your crotch that you might not clear the fence. Same feeling in the Puke (Duke).

Ha, I guess you are talking about a Piper Tripacer. My Cheyenne II throws you back in your seat when accellerating and climbs at sea level about 2000-2500 FPM at gross. My passengers that are used to flying on Lears sure like it!

 

[421Driver]

I know three people that flew a 421 for a living. One lost an engine out of TEB, another had a cylinder pop off and through the cowling (and make a nice hole) over Nevada somewhere, and the third spent over $100,000 doing engines 200 hours before tbo.

I also know of four 421's that I fly, and a few others that som friends operate. Our engines have been making TBO for the past 5 years, with TBO occuring every 4 years or so on each plane. The plane in my experience is as reliable as any other piston twin. Add in some GEM's and Gami-jectors, and you have a monitoring capability that can predict many failures if interpreted correctly.

But as with any old airplane, it comes with its drawbacks. If you find one with low time (engine and airframe), clean mx history and upgraded avionics, you will easliy spend $600-700k. Spend less for a higher time plane, and you may be suprised when the eddy current inspetions find a tiny crack.

Good luck in your continued search, and remember, there is no such thing as a "good deal" on an airplane.