BeechTalk - BT

Username Protected · **Posted:** 13 Apr 2017, 21:45

Username Protected wrote:

Merlin IIIA with -10s. ISA +30 today yielded-

FL260- 292TAS
FL240- 298TAS
FL220- 305TAS

Not my numbers, a professional pilot ferried it down to Rusty for the prebuy. The seller is a good guy, the airplane is in excellent shape, and I'm pretty thrilled with what I'm getting. The Mits will always be a favorite of mine, but now my family can relax in comfort. Can't put a price on that.

Brannigan can have the Mits for 750k, anyone can. It's not likely I'll wind up selling to a BTer though- you dicks all think you're going to steal an airplane (and I'm no different, lol) and I just OHed both of those motors. I've got 550k left in motors at 300k a side on a 5000 hour TBO, and with fresh paint, interior, and avionics I think the airframe is worth 200k easy.

We'll see.

Merlins are awesome, though those numbers seems a bit fast per the charts I have seen. Was he extremely light? We

Username Protected · **Posted:** 13 Apr 2017, 21:56

Dude, what?! That is a real plane, look at the nose gear! Post more pics!

Username Protected · **Posted:** 13 Apr 2017, 22:00

Rodolfo, the Breitling team had a Merlin 300. Did you ever ride in it?

Username Protected · **Posted:** 13 Apr 2017, 22:07

Wow, don't even need to fly it. Just stand on the ramp by it on the weekends. :clap:

Username Protected · **Posted:** 13 Apr 2017, 22:11

Nice Craig! :bow:

Username Protected · **Posted:** 13 Apr 2017, 23:23

Username Protected wrote:

Rodolfo, the Breitling team had a Merlin 300. Did you ever ride in it?

Nope. BTW, I don't work for Breitling (wish I did). Just a fan!

Username Protected · **Posted:** 14 Apr 2017, 08:36

Awesome ride! Congratulations.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 14 Apr 2017, 10:31

Nice!

Username Protected · **Posted:** 14 Apr 2017, 10:46

Wow, awesome. Congrats!

Username Protected · **Posted:** 15 Apr 2017, 11:59

Thanks guys! I'll post more pics when I get it back- it's seriously cherry, the guy who owned it last took exceptionally good care of it.

I was bummed about having to get rid of my Mits until I saw it- it's absolutely gorgeous and the guy who ran it said it ran strong with very few nit-pick squawks.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 15 Apr 2017, 12:43

Very cool. I'll be glad to make you a low-ball offer on your mits....

Username Protected · **Posted:** 15 Apr 2017, 12:49

Very nice, it must feel great to have that. What a machine!

Username Protected · **Posted:** 15 Apr 2017, 12:52

Username Protected wrote:

Merlin IIIA with -10s. ISA +30 today yielded-

FL260- 292TAS
FL240- 298TAS
FL220- 305TAS

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/N39M ... /KEKM/KTYR

Flight shows cruising at FL260, then FL240, then at FL220, so it seems to be the flight in question.

Quote:

Not my numbers, a professional pilot ferried it down to Rusty for the prebuy.

Let's see how well he did.

FL260: around Apr 13, 1830Z. Average ground speed 273 knots, 220 deg course.

Winds: 302 deg, 44 knots, -36C, ISA+0.

True airspeed works out to 283 knots.

FL240: around Apr 13, 1905Z. Average ground speed 290 knots, 220 deg course.

Winds: 310 deg, 30 knots, -27C, ISA+5.

True airspeed works out to 290 knots.

FL220: around Apr 13, 2000Z. Average ground speed 284 knots, 218 deg course.

Winds: 256 deg, 23 knots, -20C, ISA+9.

True airspeed works out to 302 knots.

It certainly wasn't ISA+30, and the speeds up higher were somewhat over estimated.

You don't expect the Merlins to do well in the high 20s due to the engine being only slightly derated as compared to, say, an MU2 or Conquest.

Mike C.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 15 Apr 2017, 13:12

The estimated temp in relation to ISA was likely off, but that is an error than anyone can make

The speeds are good. Wait for winter and they will pick up (as will the fuel flow).

In fact, when you compare the size of the Merlin to slightly faster -10-441/short -10-MU2/-10 Commander aircraft I'd say Ed Swearingen did a heck of a job getting that large ship streamlined and moving along quickly.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 15 Apr 2017, 13:28

This was with -10 upgraded engines, the -3s would never have gotten close to these speeds.

https://www.controller.com/listings/air ... erlin-iiia

Why the split times on hots? One looks normal, the other about 400 hours premature. Will become an issue when you get to ~4600 hours and that one engine HSI times out.

I never understood why they went with inlet up engines. Would have improved ground clearance a lot with inlet down, or allowed shorter gear legs.

Mike C.

Look what I got!