Scudrunners

Maybe now that I have a little one and I hate airline travel my eyes keep turning towards my own aircraft.

Down the line I would like my own bird and would prefer something pressurized to hop across the rocks. Duct taping a tube in my toddlers nostrils doesn't sound like too much fun but the budget might say otherwise.

I might have to settle for a Mooney or similar in the meantime.

A friend just bought one and has cut his travel time in the van with the dogs and kids to the grandparents from 8+ hours to 1.2 one way.

Any of you have a preference or suggestion, not in the budget at the moment but I like dreaming about the perfect family SUV.

Cost and comfort wise the pressurized 337 is a good bird.


We had a bunch of 337's as bird dog airplanes and two of them were pressurized and I did a few trips across the rocks IFR in them, except for ice they were fine.

I have flown both, both have pros and cons, 340 is at gross weight with full fuel and 2 guys with bags, but you will always be getting out on pavement - important when you are over water or mountains

Malibu - good fuel flow, and comfortable cockpit, one stove makes me nervous though.

For the money, I would rather a piston p210, a bit less cabin pressure, but for me would be a better bang for your buck.

I really enjoyed flying a mooney, and price wise they are pretty good (both for purchase and for running). I'm also willing to fly single engine over the rocks.

*GASP*

I'd also put a vote in for a P210 if it's in your budget and you don't mind one engine.

E

This guy needs new partners. 2 of the 3 guys want out. It even went down in price a bit.

I of course have not been able to collect enough cans and bottles, partially due to increased competition in my area.

http://www.controller.com/listings/airc ... okee-6-260

Never been a big fan of the Cherokee 6 for some reason.

I'd like to buy a $12000 share in your Malibu then. I will only fly it when you are at work except one trip per year for no more than a week.

http://www.controller.com/listings/airc ... ibu-mirage

[quote author=David MacRay link=topic=3181.msg8958#msg8958 date=1464388580]
This guy needs new partners. 2 of the 3 guys want out. It even went down in price a bit.

I of course have not been able to collect enough cans and bottles, partially due to increased competition in my area.

[url=http://www.controller.com/listings/airc ... okee-6-260]http://www.controller.com/listings/airc ... okee-6-260[/url]
[/quote]


That airplane's price has been going down quite regularly since it's been on the market.  The engine is getting on in hours (and more importantly, years), it has dated avionics and the whole thing looks like it could use some TLC (Why on Earth don't people remove the freaking duct tape before taking photos to sell an airplane?!).  I think it's finally priced pretty close to what it's worth.


I've never flown one but I used to navigate one back in my CASARA days.  Big, comfortable, solid machine.  The cabin is 4 feet wide and cavernous, passengers love it.  Tons of useful load (that particular one was a 260 hp model and its useful load was somewhere north of 1500 lbs).  If you don't actually need all that space it's a bit of a fuel hog for the speed it makes though, block to block average was about 16 gph for 140 knots in cruise (I suspect you could do somewhat better with more careful leaning).  The owners said that the stone simple systems made for relatively cheap maintenance (it is just an overgrown Cherokee after all).  If I had need of an airborne minivan it would be on the top of my list. 

Its amazing what people think their planes are worth compared to reality, my friend who bought a Mooney checked out a Comanche as well. The Comanche had numerous issues and even an improper/ not certified  modification.

He made and offer reflecting the cost to rectify the defects, a week went by and he had not heard back so called left a message etc, two weeks more went by and he finally got a hold of the guy and he exploded on the phone yelling at him and that he thought his offer was a joke etc and "did you even checked the blue book value of the plane" etc.

lol long and short, buddies plane is still for sale many months later and has lowered the price below what my friends offer was.