TC,
Nice to see you comparing the 429 to aircraft more than 30 years old and no doubt you would expect some improvement.
The 145 is only a progression of an old design and is still a BK117C2 and the end of the day.
The 427 was a duffer (2 engined 407 and not much else) and the 429 is not a progression of that aircraft as far as Type Certification goes.
The TC was issued in 2009 and we are talking about a clean sheet of paper here.
Looks like somebody has tried to play "wag the dog" and the dog ain't wagging.
After having operated a couple of models with PW200 engine and first seeing the 429 up close and then learning it was under Part 27 the first impression was either it was made of unobtainium or someone had a rubber calculator.
The other bit that I have difficulty understanding is that there is no room for growth of the aircraft under Part 27. Whats next - 8000 lbs? If they had started with it in Part 29 - no issue.
