View Full Version : Novelist research: typical celeb hire-aircraft
I am helping a writer friend with some aviation details. The characters in his novel, who have bundles of cash but are not Div 1 super-rich, fly to London from Paris for dinner and back again. I have suggested to him that they might fly from Le Bourget and land at Celeb Heathrow aka RAF Northolt, but what would they hire to be flown in? I know zip about twins and such. Maybe a Citation, but I am thinking that a propeller driven aircraft might be more likely. Are things like Cessna 340s and 414s old hat?
Thanks for your help.
LGW Vulture
1st May 2003, 19:06
How about a Beech King Air 90 or 200...
topcat450
1st May 2003, 20:46
by monday I bet you've a fair few responses...but KingAirs - nice enough..maybe Cessna Golden Eagle..a Citation or Learjet is not SUPER expensive...way outta my league but there's many that can afford one.
If I had wedges...a chopper would be up there...a S76 or A109 are both quick and comfy....anyway..back to fixed wing
A TBM700 - single engined but turbine powered?
Or a Piaggio P.180 Avente...v nice..a tad unusual..but sleek looking machine and ideal for short VIP hops.
You've set me off now....
TC (trying not get in a huff 'cause can't afford any of 'em :( )
aztruck
2nd May 2003, 04:02
Might have to be a Golden Eagle, night jet ban for Charters at CDG and Orly/Le bourget. So only a Piston Prop will do. For a bit of real drama why not get your wide boys to land in a field in the middle of the night somewhere West of London......
Hilico
2nd May 2003, 04:18
Weren't you the chap who asked a couple of weeks ago whether this character could land a 747? Did it get written off in the attempt and so he couldn't use it for the Paris jaunt then?
Thanks for your helpful replies. Hilico, you appear to have confused me with someone else.
High Volt
3rd May 2003, 06:41
HS 125 Le Bourget to RAF Northolt. Anything slower than a Jet and you might as well go on the train. Don't know about prices these days but when I was doing that sort of flying it £1500 per hour plus add ons. Hope this helps.
corp.f/a
3rd May 2003, 07:03
Chances are you probably wouldn't get a cabin attendant in anything smaller than an HS125.
Wish your friend good luck with the book!
CFA :)
Hilico
3rd May 2003, 16:52
Somewhat less flippantly then (although when you read it you might pause), I remember seeing an interview in Pilot magazine with Robin Keith, then MD of MacAlpine Helicopters when they were close to Heathrow, saying the AS365 Dauphin would be competitive with the jets because it went city-centre to city-centre whereas the fixed-wings spent time going up and coming down. As to the cost, he didn't say, but I have a feeling it wouldn't be hugely different to the jets.
corp.f/a
4th May 2003, 16:53
Oh Hilico!!!!!,
Let me put this another way. Operators do not put cabin attendants on anything smaller than HS125's as standard practice unless the client specifically requests one.
I personally will work on ANYTHING that gets airborne, started my career on a private King Air 200 and would say that was the happiest time of my career! I wasn't being flippant just tired after a trip and wanting to get the message over.
CFA
Hilico
4th May 2003, 19:31
Sorry Corp, the "flippantly" was aimed at FNG, not your preceding post. Quite agree about the small stuff, which is all I've ever flown.
jettgoddess
5th May 2003, 05:36
A night out in Paris? nothing less than a G4 or G5 !!!!!isnt that what the super rich fly????;)
Thanks again. Although it wasn't me who posted the q about someone landing a 747 after the Captain and FO both say "I'll have the fish", I can confirm that the answer is: it can be done, but only if
(1) you are Doug McCLure
(2) you can control your 'Nam flashbacks
(3) George Kennedy is in the Tower yelling "Land that motherfugger, baby!" over the radio