Huh, I never thought I would read a plane comparison based on [the inoffensive and often delightful differences of assorted peoples and places], least of all here. It's like [a time where people were often sensitive or even hostile to the differences of peoples of different origins] called to discuss planes from [a time when many aircraft were manufactured] in [today].

What sort of Jet would [a personage of questionable sensitivity to inequality across ethnic lines, and possibly wearing a pointy-headed bedsheet] acquire?

Edited to be less inflammatory. Because I care. Coming to a United Colors of Benetton ad near you.

"Hmm, phone's not ringing, slow sales day. What can I do to put my name in front of more people? I know, let me start bashing other airplanes on BT and see what happens. That ought to be good for at least 20 posts where I can display my 'expertise' and maybe drum up some business. If nothing else, maybe I'll stop losing King Air sales to that evil rice rocket..."

Mike C.

"Hmm, phone's not ringing, slow sales day. What can I do to put my name in front of more people? I know, let me start bashing other airplanes on BT and see what happens. That ought to be good for at least 20 posts where I can display my 'expertise' and maybe drum up some business. If nothing else, maybe I'll stop losing King Air sales to that evil rice rocket..."

Mike C.

James,
I'm flying a Marquise. It's a nicely equipped example with great interior, G600/530W/430W.
I'm loving it so far. The cabin is very large, comfortable and wide. I think the PC12, Merlin, and Marquise are the TP leaders in this respect. All three have flat floor and a wide cross-section.

The Marquise is noticeably slower than a Solitaire. I see 270kts to 295kts depending on weight/alt/temp, but I almost never see 300kts. The reality is that even on a 3hr trip, that difference is only a few minutes though, 10-15 min max. The -10 Commander is probably faster in cruise, and certainly so up high, but my guess is the ground speed will be slower during the climb so in the end the block times will likely be very close.

I've never flown a Commander so I cannot give a valuable comparison. The owners I've talked to loved them. You can bet the Commander will have better high altitude performance and better SE performance, and get to altitude faster. I think the Mitts will win on slogging through turbulence and cabin comfort.

Regarding cabin size, how do the Commander vs MU2 vs King Air compare in cabin height and width?

What?! Are you serious?

I don't believe I bashed the MU2 other than saying I like the Commander better for many reasons.

This thread is about James considering upgrading from the MU2 to the Commander... there are several reasons to do so.

Now I've been called a racist and my motives questioned...

I assure you that we are anything but slow right now. I'm also not concerned about "losing" King Air sales to "rice rockets" (I don't use that term it seems prejudiced) as my primary business is not selling airplanes... King Airs or anything else.

When I did sell airplanes I sold a wide variety of aircraft, but yes King Airs and Citations were the bulk of my experience.

Lets say for the sake of argument that I did bash the Mits (I have before) why is the response a personal attack directed at me?

I feel like your question is at least partially directed at me.

Here are the quotes:



I summarized those remarks to be telling me:

When comparing a Mitsubishi MU-2 to a Commander, you favor the Commander because:

1. It was once flown across the country on one engine.

2. It is not a Japanese airplane. (Both being built in the US)

I may have misunderstood your meaning. Did you not mean to suggest the Mitsubishi aircraft was inferior because it was "a Japanese airplane" ?

Irish humor is the best.

Green text is your friend.

Irish humor is the best.

For the record... I flew our Mitz ALL the way across the entire County on one engine.

I think being a pilot does help when choosing airplanes but certainly not required as there are many other factors. Cabin size, wing loading, Delta-P, stairs vs direct entry, hangar size.

Fact is they all share basically the same systems (engine, ACM, Avx, A/P). And few of us are doing the heavy wrenching, and mechanics bitch about airplanes more than pilots bitch about early descent clearances.

A good mission and needs analysis will usually point you squarely at the right airplane.

If you read some of my other comments and knew more about my history you'd understand.

My love of Commanders goes beyond the machine, it started with Ted Smith... a genius, an aviation hero. It's an American success story. The first airplane deal I was ever involved in was a 690B Commander.

My early days in aviation were primarily Garrett powered airplanes, the Mits, the Commander and the Merlin. All three great airplanes in their own right. The Merlin has somewhat of a story... the Mits has none that I am aware of...

The Commander... WOW!

From Ted Smith to Bob Hoover... the TC is iconic!

The Shrike Commander is a thing of essential beauty.

I spent those early years of my aviation career traveling to Oklahoma City, walking the ramp at Downtown Airpark... hanging out with guys like Ron Farish and Dave Amis III, staying at the Embassy Suites because of free drinks at happy hour.

Bruce Byerly, Matt Hagens, RJ Gomez... it was a big, sometimes dysfunctional family. I was just a distant cousin... but all of those guys made me feel welcome and shared their knowledge and experience with a green kid that loved airplanes.

If being a Turbo Commander loving, aviation history loving American makes me a racist... then I guess I'm guilty.

BTW... one of my favorite jets is the Mitsubishi Beechjet 400A... but we'll save that for another thread.

This is nuts! Discussing where an airplane is manufactured and assembled is "racist"? Then a sharp turn to "David Duke"? WTF?

Some people are just looking for a reason to be offended.

I'm as white male privileged as they get, and seldom offended.

IF you wanted to say "rah rah Ted Smith is amazing", that's all good and agreeable, and I think a perfectly fine reason to favor a plane.

Instead, you took three opportunities to point out that the MU-2 was Japanese. That's all I was keying on. I found it strange. It resonated in a way that I thought you didn't intend, and wanted to point it out as a potential gaffe. I think I was wrong, and there was no gaffe.