What twin to buy for cheap time building

[Eric]

If one was going to buy a twin to build time, what would you suggest. Cost is the main factor - purchase, operating, mx, insurance

I'm debating the Apache, Aztec, Seminole, Duchess, Twin Comanche

What are the pros or cons of these aircraft? Any others ya'll might suggest?

Thanks
Eric

 

[siucavflight]

Eric,
Where do you live. and are you interested in a partner?
I like the Aztec.

 

[SierraPilot]

You might want to check out this website, it breaks down the operating cost based on plane type.

http://www.planequest.com/operationcosts/default.asp

 

[SierraPilot]

Aztec Total Costs/Hour: 191.03

Apache Total Costs/Hour: 147.97

Seminole Total Costs/Hour: 120.65

Dutchess Total Costs/Hour: 169.37

Twin Comm Total Costs/Hour: 130.56

These are based on averages.. I'd pick the seminole

 

[WrightAvia]

Get yourself a nice old turbocharged 320 Skyknight. Preferably 200 hours shy of TBO and with TSIO 470 engines. Having no parts available from Continental to rebuild them, will teach you all about how to get an STC for different engines or how expensive a fire wall forward from Colemill is.

Make sure when you buy it, that the previous owners mechanic does the annual for you. That way a year later, you can take it in to get your first annual on your own and find out how much crap the previous mechanic swept under the rug. Missing data plates, cylinders with no markings to prove where they came from...ETC.

10,000 dollar annuals are hard to beat also.

 

[brett]

We ran our Apache for about $90 an hour wet. (Including mx set aside but not engine overhaul reserves.) Insurance was $4000 a year because my partner started out 200 TT/0 ME and I trained him in the plane.

They run great on auto fuel. Just make sure you pay the bucks for a good one (still a lot cheaper than other twins) that has had proper maintenance, and all ADs complied with. Definitely don't get one with the old props that require the repetitive ADs -- they'll eat you alive in cost for labor to do the ADs and replacement parts (or whole props) when they don't pass.

Any twin you get will require a fair amount of maintenance, make sure you budget for it.

 

[sstearns2]

....

Buying a twin to build time might seem cheaper, but look at all the fixed costs (insurance, annuals, property tax, tiedown, etc) and see how much your really likely to save in a best case situtation. Also, look at how much money you could make by putting the purchase price in a CD or other guarenteed investment. $50,000 at 3 percent for a year is $1500 or about 10 more hours of twin time. Then, look at how much it can cost if things start going wrong.

I think the best thing to do is find a partner to rent a twin with a block rate and plan a long trip around the country. Go IFR with the NFP as safety pilot so you both log PIC. I don't think owning an airplane can come close to the economics of splitting time and there is no chance of major MX expenses ruining the fun.

Scott

 

[FracPilot]

Give this one a look. You could probably operate it for $30-40 an hour overall.

http://www.vstolaircraft.com/Pages/Pairadigm.html