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Old 22nd August 2002 | 09:53
  #14 (permalink)  
flyer43
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Joined: Sep 2000
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From: UK
It's not surprising that the old twin vs single contest has reared its head again. However, I am more concerned with the heavier commercial market rather than the civil market, so maybe my views are rather tainted.

Seems that everything boils down to cost in the end, but it is amazing how quickly a client can change his/her mind when you dump them rather unceremoniously in the back of nowhere when the only means of support fails.
As for twins being less reliable, this can of course depend on how they are being operated. There have been many occasions when a twin, particularly a light twin, has been loaded such that it can't maintain cruise at any height with one engine inop. All you have here is the equivalent of a single engine helicopter with "stretch glide" facility but with twice the probability of an engine failure.

Having said that, with the improved reliability of engines these days there is much to be said about singles, provided they are operated over areas from where rescue is feesible in the event of an engine failure.
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