I finished my type rating in my Eclipse and flew it home solo from New York. Exciting flight for sure!

Big jump from the Baron, not so much flying the airplane (it's super easy to fly) but learning how to fly in the Flight Levels. I thought I knew the IFR system flying the Baron around but not really, a big eye opener. The autopilot is screwy and only flies heading and altitude hold/changes. Not really that big a deal. The Ipad and the 796 make up for most of the avionics shortcomings.

I think I got lucky and my plane seems to not have some of the quirks of some of the other Eclipses. Seems to be reliable and work properly in the 35 hours I've flown it. I really love the extra speed and the fuel costs don't seem to be too much more than the Baron.

Anyways, for those looking to answer what's the NEXT step after a Duke or Baron, I think this might be it. I wouldn't in a million years trade this for a TBM or Meridian even though both are great airplanes; I think the Eclipse is better. It flies like a little fighter yet it slows down like a Baron. The fuel economics seem to be acceptable too.

Maybe I'm in the blissful stage of falling in love but until something expensive breaks, I'm a big fan of the Eclipse.

Mike

Way to go!

Enjoy!

Congrats! I have always loved the Eclipse

Congratulations!
My friend has an Eclipse. It does indeed feel like a little fighter jet!

Congrats Michael! Now let's stay safe out there

Congrats!

How long/hard was the type rating? Did you do it in the plane or in a sim?

This was my first type rating. I didn't think it was hard but it was a big jump for someone with little to no jet experience. I memorized the POH/emergency procedures/numbers and flew about 10 hours in a buddy's plane in the left seat prior to the type rating.

It's a few days of ground school and a written exam, taking the King course RVSM/high altitiude/jet intro training online then 16 hours of flying (I did mine in the plane) and 15-25 hours of mentoring (flying around).

I used Al Itani who I really liked and highly recommend.

Insurance is under $10k a year (about triple the Baron) but I didn't think it was insane based upon what others have told me they pay for their Meridian or TBM.

Mike

What are the geographical limits of your insurance?

I'm guessing he's not carrying insurance

No, its fully insurance, canada, mexico, carribean. Europe is additional i believe.

Mike

They let you fly solo with wet ink on your type rating? You must have a great broker like ale or TJ

Anyways, for those looking to answer what's the NEXT step after a Duke or Baron, I think this might be it.

Will show this to my wife when she gets home. Makes perfect sense to me.

Tom, I agree. A man of your standing and import... Its the obvious next step.

Literally wet ink, flew it solo home. Great broker! I think the jet is easier to fly than a baron, other than it goes twice as fast!

Mike

The Avidyne Eclipse is a fun airplane until you are on the TEB1 departure when the weather is down, single pilot and you get a reroute from NY then everything goes blank on you, or the autopilot kicks off and you get the overspeed and stall warnings going at the same time (AF447 style). The standalone backup attitude indicator you keep on top of the glare shield will save your ass. Pitch and power, because you don't have anything else (and you might not even have power as sometimes when the computer gets goofy the throttles don't respond)

It's amazing how much different the 1.5 and higher planes are. An autopilot that actually works, decent radios/transponders, gps, de-ice, etc. That's why they are 3x+ the price.

Enjoy it, though. I was exactly where you are two years ago and if I could go back I don't know that I would do anything differently. It was a whole lot of fun!