For the money you're going to spend, stop fooling around with props. If you want absolute reliability and safety go out and get a CJ or Citation IISP. You'll fly fast and get over all of the bad weather. If you lose an engine it's a no brainer. If you get a good IISP, the money you save will pay for the MX and fuel.

On a TP it is also nice to get the 6.3 PSI cabin found in the 441 and some of the larger Kings. A 5 PSI cabin is nice for a piston twin, not really enough for a TP, it will be stuck down low, slow, and burning more fuel

Max has the ultimate aircraft... Extra 330... I can dry lease a TP!

They embarrass the entry level jets. Cessna prefers to sell jets.


The TPE331 twins operate for about the same engine reserve and fuel per mile. That big block PT6A-6x engine is pretty pricey to run. It is not clear than any particular TBM will be cheaper than any particular 441, for example.

Mike C.

Everyone on here has an airplane that prefer and a list of reasons why. Every airframe / engine has pros and cons.

What you find when you take a broader perspective is that the market is self leveling. There’s a lot of very intelligent people actively pursuing aircraft every day. An aircraft that is less desirable or becoming less desirable will face downward price pressure until it levels with purchase price being one of its strengths. The market causes most airplanes to be on a level footing.

Pay more, get more... newer... faster... bigger... whatever it is you are looking for.

The real key is to get good information prior to making a decision and buy the airplane you like best. Even if you love it, you’ll be thinking upgrade before long!

If the bonus/179 are important to you this year, then just remember that in most cases you may roll the depreciation without recapture into another aircraft next year and beyond should the TBM be unsuitable. IANACPA YMMV ETC. talk to ATC or Advocate of course.

For me it was mission.
I loved the TBM but 4 men golf clubs and baggage were not going to be comfortable.
We went with a souped up E90.
No I am back to a duke which will still do the mission. But the dukes are going , and I am backing down to a travel airline golf is no,longer part of the mission.

If the bonus/179 are important to you this year, then just remember that in most cases you may roll the depreciation without recapture into another aircraft next year and beyond should the TBM be unsuitable. IANACPA YMMV ETC. talk to ATC or Advocate of course.

I added the bolding as I believe this refers to the use of a 1031 Exchange. It appears that that tool will no longer be available for personal property (aircraft) should the tax "reform" bill pass this week. This isn't a political comment just a statement of fact.

As long as the one single engine never quits, she will likely forget about her desire for a second.

If the one single engine does quit, you'll never hear the end of it.

We lost an engine in a friend's Cheyenne. Oil line (~35 hours on it, was replaced during prebuy) failed, torque meter started bouncing around at same time oil pressure dropped out, shut down and landed without a lot of fuss. 4 qts remaining, oil all over inside of cowling.

If it was a single and we hadn't shut down, what would that have bought us? Two, three minutes? And a toasted engine at best, loss of the plane and possibly our lives at worst. Don't think just because it's a TP you're immune from engine failure.

Hey, I'll give the JC response myself -- only 50% chance we would have even had the failure in a single

80% of the new PC12 & TBMs built are flown from Europe with less than 10 hours on the PT6.
They have not once lost one in over 27 years.

Ryan
An Eclipse will do that mission and be faster safer and less expensive

A challenge to get it done by the 31st though

I'll suffer two engines failures where the outcome is a landing and a repair rather than one where the outcome is a crash and total loss or worse.

Mike C.