In 2009 I found this wonderful forum. That lead to purchasing my first aircraft, an A36,] which was followed by a 58P. There were so many great BT'ers that helped me along the way. This forum also educated me on other aircraft and helped me better understand the MU-2, which I was always infatuated with.

With an eye on the MU-2 market I set about selling the 58P, which I absolutely loved. Craig Hili dropped everything to give me a ride in his awesome Solitaire when I was in Raleigh for a Veterans Airlift Command mission. Immediately sold on the MU-2.

The 58P sold to a good friend and business associate and I simultaneously came across my new ride, currently N99ZP, soon to be N22MK, a 1978 -P model with low time -10 engines. Great history (IJC maintained), recent P&I, very nice panel and the current owner is just an awesome guy who made the transaction very smooth. He still owns a Solitaire and started his business career with Mits in the '70's.

I'm very excited to get rolling with training. Scheduled for the initial at Simcom in 3 weeks, then 25 hours with a mentor pilot and then a in-plane recurrent with someone like Reece. Then I'll start learning on my own. The plane is currently at Ranger for new N# then off for a couple avionics tweaks.

The MU-2 community, just like BT, is filled with great people who have given up a lot of their time to help guide me along the journey. Lots of history and some colorful personalities. Special thanks again to Craig - unfortunately the timing just didn't work out or likely would have bought his Solitaire.

Looking forward to 300KTS @ FL280...

Matt,

WOW!!!

Congratulations on your new bird! That's an amazing plane! You're going to love it!

Can't wait to see the MU! Love it.

Congratulations!

Wow Matt! I thought I saw that you had sold your 58P and wondered what your next step might be. Let me know when your training is all finished. I'd love to come down and see it when I'm in town one day.

Congratulations!

Congrats Matt.

Remember to put this on your calendar, in neighboring PA: The 2017 MU-2 fly-in, hosted by SureFlight in KMQS, Coatesville, PA (near Philidelphia) September 29 - October 1, 2017.

Lots of veteran MU-2 pilots to learn from and lots of MU-2's will be there.

Very cool

Nicely done. Beautiful airplane.

Very nice. Please keep posting on the transition. Inquiring minds want to know.

Matt

Congratulations on your beautiful new MU2! Seems that they should post a warning on 58P's

"these planes are know by the Surgeon General to be a gateway drug for turbine airplanes"

As you know, folks on here ask about the benefits of pressurization and many BTers jump in and list them. But reading a list is not the same as flying one through all of the various conditions over time. In the P, I'd come across all of these situations and reflect on what they might have been like in my former unpressurized airplane and I'd appreciate the P even more. Moving from a P to a turbine airplane is very much the same. We can list the differences but I know you'll have these "light bulb comes on" moments when you experience these for yourself (caution, these moments can cause distracting "smile cramps").

Another caution!!! the Surgeon General also needs to put a gateway drug sticker on turbo props - they lead us unsuspecting pilots into the jet world (BTW - I'm heading to ten days of CJ school today).

Can't wait to hear your stories!

Congrats! The 58P guys will all miss you, but so happy to see you move to such a great airplane. John said it correctly: I'm kinda looking for my next fix too.

Keep us informed about the transition.

Matt,

Awesome looking airplane!! Congrats on the purchase and I second your kudos for Craig---super guy and always willing to lend a hand!!


Matt

Great looking bird. Who did that interior?

The Mu2 is a little time machine. Enjoy your transition training.

Fantastic. Congratulations.

Awesome. That's a nice bird, enjoy!

Congrats, I went to PROP last year and was overwhelmed :-)