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Old 5th Dec 2011, 18:54
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gordon field
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: UK
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The most popular full four seater is the Cessna 182 Skylane and for around €100k it should be possible to purchase one of the later non glass 182S models with a fuel injected engine. These offer decent payload, comfortable cabin, reasonable cruising speed and range, good short field performance off grass and most importantly good spares support.

Others have mentioned buying a Mooney, Robin, Rockwell, Grumman or Piper but all of these aircraft manufacturers have had well documented problems with parts supply, possibly no longer in business and many of the aircraft are only supported through the efforts of owner groups.

Many of the models mentioned have an odd combination of engines and propellers that are often unique to that aircraft. One touch on a prop blade and you could find that spare blades are no longer available. Need a camshaft or a non standard cylinder for an odd ball engine then you could find that once again they are hard to locate even in the USA.

Some of the aircraft such as the Mooney have limited prop or gear door clearance, the Cirrus have small wheels and thus restrict the grass fields from which you can operate.

With a typical full load check the take off performance on a hot summers day off a grass field and also the C of G with a typical load not just for take off but for the landings as well as many can prove to be out of limits at the end of a flight as the C of G moves aft with fuel burn. Pilots and passengers gradually weigh more and carry more goodies all of which need to be taken into account when judging the size of cabin, baggage area and number of cabin doors.

There is a wealth of information available on the web and you can download Consumer reports on individual aircraft or as a group of aircraft.

Hopes this helps.
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