Turbo Commander Operators, Please Step Inside

[G100driver]

I dunno ... I would not get an airplane that has a habbit of shedding its tail and or wings

 

[pilotyip]

I dunno ... I would not get an airplane that has a habbit of shedding its tail and or wings

didn't know that was a problem with the TC.

 

[G100driver]

Been more than one fatality ... mostly on older 690's. There is an STC out for both the tail and wing, however.

690 was a great airplane in 70's.

 

[TAG2]

Let me broaden this topic a little. What would you say is the most reliable, economical cabin class piston twin or turbo-prop?

Of the airplanes I flew, the Gulfstreams had the absolute best dispatch rate. As long as they are flown regularly, very few mx problems. Even the old GII I flew with it's millions of relays, as long as it was exercised regularly, it just ran. But, that is about a million miles out of my financial category.

Beechjets weren't real bad, but they had their issues, mostly avionics or computers. C500 and 550 had several pre-takeoff failures.

I flew an older C-414 that usually ran well. Even though I put that in my question, piston twins can get very expensive to operate (Continentals) and not very good single engine performance.

The Turbo-Commanders are sexy looking airplanes and pilots seem to love them, but they are loaded with AD's and SB's. A few inflight break-ups.

The MU-2 is a tank, but if you search NTSB records, too many of them have met their demise. Even two pilot operations. But again, MU-2 pilots seem to love them.

I want something that I am comfortable loading my family or employees into.

King Airs seem to be just friendly airplanes that won't break any speed records, but the acquisition prices push on jet prices.

 

[340drvr]

Let me broaden this topic a little. What would you say is the most reliable, economical cabin class piston twin or turbo-prop?

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I want something that I am comfortable loading my family or employees into.

......................

King Airs seem to be just friendly airplanes that won't break any speed records, but the acquisition prices push on jet prices.

You've answered that one already. King Air has to top that list, not the sexiest or fastest on the block, but, there's a reason they still sell lots of King Airs. Reliability, comfort, relative economy.

 

[brokeflyer]

keep your money and invest in gold

 

[400A]

I could not advise more strongly to not buy a Merlin. Worst flying POS I have ever been in. I have flown both -3 and -10 powered. -3 is scary under powered and -10 is still marginal. It will do 300 knots, but hates to climb. In one of these I also had the center windshield decide it no longer wanted to stay present for duty.

Big fan of King Air's. If you just have to have garrets, look at a B-100. F-90 is a hoot to fly. Other SN B-38 King Air 100, I have never had a King Air I did not enjoy.

 

[G100driver]

keep your money and invest in gold

Yes .. you will lose your money less quickly than in purchasing an aircraft!

 

[AC560]

Piston Commanders For Life!

 

[jergar999]

I did contract work in a Commander 690B with -5 engines for several years. They are a wonderful airplane, and we had 100% dispatch reliability with this particular airframe. The wing and tail ADs were completed before I started flying it.

Maintenance wasn't cheap, and the 150 hour inspection interval instead of an annual can be a little funny depending on how often the aircraft is flown.

 

[acpilot]

The 690 is a fantastic airplane. It's simple, it's easy to fly, it's got decent engines, it's efficient, it's fast, and it's a rock-solid IFR plane. I know of a few 135 outfits that use them for USFS fire fighting contracts. A lot of the work is down low over the mountains (turbulent) from high DA fields. If I could add one thing to the plane, it would be a larger door to allow loading of cargo.

Breakups will happen if you try to punch through turbulence at too high an airspeed in any plane. There is an AD out to beef up the tail and a placarded speed of 180 through rough air.

http://www.aviationweek.com/articles/BC4055.pdf

Good luck!