Most popular piston twin in Australia? [Archive]

bentleg

17th Jan 2009, 02:26

What do you think is the most popular piston twin in australia?

If you want the REAL answer, rather than speculation by PPruners, download the Australian Register here (http://www.casa.gov.au/casadata/register/datafiles.asp), pick out all the twins, then sort them by type.

Had a quick look at the register -

I think the PA31 type wins with 192 on the register.
PA31 = Navajo/Chieftain/Mojave/Cheyenne family.

There are only 14 DC3s on the register

(edited the data)

Wildduke

17th Jan 2009, 03:29

THanks for the link, took a little while but here are my findings,

PA31 family - 192 reg in Aus
Be-58/95 - 187 reg in Aus
C310 - 114 reg in Aus
C402/404 - 91 reg in Aus

Matt-YSBK

17th Jan 2009, 03:51

If you are talking training twins. It would have to be the Duchess

(Braces for Seminole drivers abuse) :sad:

Howard Hughes

17th Jan 2009, 04:04

What about the venerable PA-23 with 47 on the register?:eek:

By the way do you want to know which type has the most aircraft, or which is most popular with pilots/passenegers? I have flown most type's of light piston twins and the Baron would be my fave to fly, the 402/404 the most comfortable...:ok:

Wally Mk2

17th Jan 2009, 04:08

...................If you want the REAL answer, rather than speculation by PPruners, download the Australian Register here (http://www.casa.gov.au/casadata/register/datafiles.asp), pick out all the twins, then sort them by type.................ah don't kill off the speculation 'bentleg', obviously anyone can look up the exact answer but where's the fun in that?:bored:

I too would have thought the old PA31 navajo/chieftain (same thing).
Those 'trucks' have carried the back of Aussie aviation at a base level for yonks.
There wouldn't be too many older drivers around that hasn't poled around an old 'nevago' at some time or another.

but for a real mans plane? DH series:ok:

Wmk2

TexanPilot

17th Jan 2009, 04:10

Baron would be my fave to fly, the 402/404 the most comfortable

Could not have said it better myself.:ok:

tinpis

17th Jan 2009, 04:40

PA-31s would have poured in during the tax haven days of the seventies.

ForkTailedDrKiller

17th Jan 2009, 05:55

the Baron would be my fave to fly, the 402/404 the most comfortable...http://static.pprune.org/images/smilies/thumbs.gif

ditto that!

Dr :8

dogcharlietree

17th Jan 2009, 07:04

No doubt about it, the DC3.
Right on!!! No Contest :D

The Green Goblin

17th Jan 2009, 07:16

BE58 was my Favourite to Fly

C404 to land

PA31 for the beer stories

BE76 for a renewal

P68 to pull the piss :ok:

Jetpipe2

17th Jan 2009, 07:16

The islander makes the most noise for the least result.
The baron is the best to fly and the 402 was the best to ride in.
However the CHieftain was a very close second to the 402, but both would have been beaten by the 421C if the engines had held together long enough.

Desert Flower

17th Jan 2009, 07:44

but for a real mans plane?

Anything with GTSIO-520's in it! :ok:

DF.

Unusual-Attitude

17th Jan 2009, 09:40

The islander makes the most noise for the least result.

Hmmm, i'd like to see how your Barron, 402 or Chief would go into some of the strips in the PNG Highlands, and even a few in the Straits, (AND carry 9 pax plus bags).

A little harsh Jetpipe. The Bongo's got it's place...god bless her. :O

Peter Fanelli

17th Jan 2009, 09:52

tinpis

17th Jan 2009, 10:05

UNUSUAL PERSON

Hmmm, i'd like to see how your Barron, 402 or Chief would go into some of the strips in the PNG Highlands, and a few in the Straits, and carry 9 pax.

Me and some mates in here would truly love to be able to give YOU the F:mad:IN ride of your life in a BaRon or 402 in PNG

Not gonna happen so why not print a T-shirt?

I FLEW IN A TALAIR BARON AND SURVIVED!

Cap'n Arrr

17th Jan 2009, 11:21

Barron can't be popular, I've never heard of it! Although there's a lot of BE-55/BE-58 floating around...:E

tinpis

17th Jan 2009, 11:26

You is norty 'ARR
Read the thraed on dsylexic

Unusual-Attitude

17th Jan 2009, 11:31

Tinpis...maybe you could come back and show us how's it's really mean't to be done? :E

DIVINE WIND

17th Jan 2009, 11:35

402's used to be the most popular in Australia in terms of number in country, but many of them went home to the states to continue their careers when faced with having wings ripped apart and put together crookedly to comply with unique Australian regulations.

But Australia is unique in every way isn't it.

Whoever rebuilt the wings of VH-ROS fecked it up good and proper!

The spar strap mod, if thats what you are talking about was started in the US. One of the machines that started it all is finally being rebuilt after sitting idle in a hanger. The main wing spar was severly damaged after being through 10-20 landings a day with 9 pax which led to the AD. I don't know about Oz, but it has to be done by 10,000 hrs in the US. Used to fly an Aussie modified 402 once and the spar strap was actually alot beefier than the FAA required mods.
402 has been a great workhorse but we are finally trying to replace them.
Had the privilge of flying both the first and last 402C's built, both are still flying.

Jetpipe2

17th Jan 2009, 12:16

Hey UA why whats harsh about the truth?

It flies slower lower and does make more noise than the others.
I agree its a great work horse but you still had to shout to hear yourself think.

Unusual-Attitude

17th Jan 2009, 12:40

Well 'most noise for least result'? Guess it depends on what you mean by 'result', if you mean a 180kt cruise, fair enough, not so good, but if you're talking lifting a decent payload out of short strips...

I recon, and as you agree, it's a fantastic work horse for what it was designed for, ie 'Island' hopping, (as we used to do in the Orkney's and Shetland Isles) it's hard to beat.

Bless em, they get a bad wrap, but i've got a soft spot for them!

They're only noisey till you eventually go deaf...

SeldomFixit

17th Jan 2009, 22:51

Bring back the PIG, full of chickens, I say !!! :ok:

tinpis

18th Jan 2009, 00:03

Theres a Baron in PNG still?

Tinstaafl

18th Jan 2009, 03:16

Hey UA, the joys of Out Skerries, Fair Isle, Foula, Papa Stour & Fetlar, huh?. Especially when the gales** were around. As much as I dislike flying the BN2, I'm hard pressed to thing of something that could replace it in Shetland.

A short body C208 with the bigger engine *perhaps*. Skerries would be the limiting strip. But try to get the CAA to agree to single engine ops pax. transport ops? No chance.

**Todays TAF for Sumburgh:
TAF EGPB 180206Z 1803/1812 17028G42KT 9999 SCT025
TEMPO 1803/1812 7000 SHRA -SHRAGS BKN014CB PROB30
TEMPO 1803/1812 3000 SHGS SHRASN BKN010CB
BECMG 1803/1806 21033G50KT

sthaussiepilot

18th Jan 2009, 04:38

Hmmm, i'd like to see how your Barron, 402 or Chief would go into some of the strips in the PNG Highlands, and even a few in the Straits, (AND carry 9 pax plus bags).

*Cough* Dick Lang? :ok:*Cough*

Mr. Hat

18th Jan 2009, 09:00

Barrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrron by far the best!

Desert Flower

18th Jan 2009, 10:22

*Cough* Dick Lang? :ok: *Cough*

Poor old fella got the bejazus scared out of him last time he went to PNG - I have never seen him so shaken!

DF.

sthaussiepilot

18th Jan 2009, 11:45

haha What happened? havent had a chat to him a while, still got his Ferarri?:ok:

KRUSTY 34

18th Jan 2009, 19:12

Strange no-one's mentioned the Aerostar. I used to have many an "arguement" with a mate about the PA60 vs BE55-58. For me the C,D,E55 were the most delightful flying machine. You tended to "wear" as opposed to sit in it, once used to it. Ergonomics! Now thats a different story.

But oh..., the sound of those 520's on take-off!

Tinstaafl

19th Jan 2009, 00:03

I like the Aerostar. Not for short runways though. And compared to the BE55/58 series and others, at least the rear row has a proper, upright seating position instead of sitting with your bum near the floor & your knees near your nipples.

If a light twin was ever in my budget I would probably choose a -600 for my own use.

Scion

19th Jan 2009, 01:25

D H Dragon Rapide.

This is still the best twin in the country, ask anyone who has flown one!

Wally Mk2

19th Jan 2009, 04:02

'scion' as I said in an earlier post............but or a real mans plane the DH series:ok:

Wmk2

p.s....speaking of Aerostars many years ago at TW there was a 601 or was that a 701? Anyway 425 hp a side (might have even been more), 4 blades owned by an ex CX skipper, went like sh1t off a shovel & crzed at VNE, even on one it was slippery, now that's a real plane too:)It's demise is another story, not for here.

sms777

19th Jan 2009, 05:40

It is the 2000 hrs in my own QueenAir that made me grow hair on my chest. The Navajo's i flew after do not even come close in comfort and reliability.
Once you have mastered the engine management it became the most docile machine to fly with performance Navajo's would envy.

:ok:

Snatch

19th Jan 2009, 05:50

D H Dragon Rapide.

This is still the best twin in the country, ask anyone who has flown one!

Oh well... since we have entered the realm of fantasy... how about that other piece of de Havilland magic, the Mosquito? :ok:

Walked into the aviation hall in the AWM the other day, for the first time, and with the Mozzie just hanging there I had a most inappropriate reaction :E

Unusual-Attitude

19th Jan 2009, 07:24

Snatch ol mate, nuthin wrong with having an 'inappropriate reaction' to a good looking twin...if she happens to be accompanied by her equally good looking identical sister!

But i guess that would then be an entirely 'appropriate' reaction?!

Dry humping a Mozzie main wheel like a randy jack russel on the other hand...:}

lk978

19th Jan 2009, 07:51

I would rather be flying my new caravan :}

KRUSTY 34

19th Jan 2009, 08:00

What was I thinking, Queen Air of course. Big baron, silghtly lower rate of roll, all the wonderful flying manners but with elbow room, and much improved ergonomics. Frontal area of a block of flats though. TAS for the B65, I recall around 165 kts?

Donks were ok, as long as you didn't get too undersquare, and as long as you were properly trained. Definitely the Queen of the skies! :ok:

tinpis

19th Jan 2009, 09:24

"Desert" be reeling in the years now wouldnt he?
Or did he always look an older fckuer?(Last seen 1981)

sms777

19th Jan 2009, 09:27

There you go KRUSTY, i knew you had the taste for real aeroplanes!
I used to love coming home to BK 3 o'clock in the morning in my Queeny and getting all the abusive phonecalls for waking up the whole suburb. You could never miss the sound of those IGSO engines.
I had the pleasure of flying the Excalibur versions for Air Eastern for a while, IO 720's with 400 horses, 185 tas, 8 pax with full fuel. What a beast it was.
Only if i could turn back time....:{:{

Wally Mk2

19th Jan 2009, 09:47

Hey 'Krusty' what would you rather, a "Queen" or a "King"? the latter 175 kts lvl flight at 6000' on a lowish pwr setting. Oh that's on 1 donk BTW:ok:

I never flew the Queen but can remember them as freight planes parked on the far southern apron at Tulla of a day time resting in the 80's, those planes where the closest thing to radials, oil everywhere bar in the engines:E

Wmk2

Jamair

19th Jan 2009, 10:00

Got some RHS time in B65 Queenairs....FWG & RUU ..... before one ended up meatbombing and the other burnt down with its hangar...... only thing noisier than a Bongo, but still noice .....

Personal fave - Titan.

MakeItHappenCaptain

19th Jan 2009, 10:04

Queenairs don't climb.......they ascend.

Loving my 414 at the moment.

How about piston twins you would LIKE to fly??
I wanna try a BE-56 :E:E:E(or Duke)

apache

19th Jan 2009, 10:28

aerocommander!

LOVED flying it!

KRUSTY 34

19th Jan 2009, 10:40

Fairly similar performance Wal', but as you say on one! I flew old AMG not long after she retired as an air Ambo. Jim Hazelton was doing my endorsement and after looking around the old girl for a bit, commented that she was the same A/C that transported him from Orange to Sydney after his aortal annuism!! "Well Krusty" he said, "we better look after her, for she sure as hell looked after me!"

I know the Excaliber you're talking about sms777. Never had the opportunity to fly it though. Gotta' be the ultimate piston beech! 185 kts! Close to Aerostar speeds.

Noice!

Unusual-Attitude

19th Jan 2009, 11:16

What?! No votes for the 337?! :E

Hasherucf

19th Jan 2009, 13:31

What?! No votes for the 337?! http://static.pprune.org/images/smilies/evil.gif

You freak !!!!

Horatio Leafblower

19th Jan 2009, 13:32

...nor for the 737 for that matter :confused:

Peter Fanelli

19th Jan 2009, 13:34

Aero 145

The message you have entered is too short. Please lengthen your message to at least 10 characters.

j3pipercub

19th Jan 2009, 23:26

Bongo, fantastic workhorse or the PA-30. 155kts at 70 ltrs/hr

KRUSTY 34

20th Jan 2009, 02:05

Piston twins Horatio, piston twins...:cool:

Horatio Leafblower

20th Jan 2009, 02:20

Oh **** sorry..

.. I was thinking LIGHT twins :ooh:

Pinky the pilot

20th Jan 2009, 05:04

aerocommander!

LOVED flying it!

Sure it was'nt the overnight destination you flew it to that you loved Apache?:hmm::ok:

Re my personal favourite; Only flown five different types so would have to opt for the Chieftain. Would'nt mind flying a Titan though.

Cap'n Arrr

20th Jan 2009, 10:02

I'll put another hand up for the old Twin Com. Still a fair few on the register too. Nice to fly, and you can't beat that efficiency! At least as long as both are up and running...

Wally Mk2

20th Jan 2009, 10:28

yeah 'twin-can' would be amongst the nicest light twins, cheap as a twin to run too. With a few mods they could actually land nice too:-)
'Hasherucf':D, what a crack up! I don't see too many good points about the C336/7. Funny story though I had only a few hrs on type & did a quick job down to FLI many years ago. Was trying to taxy the beast into possy off the tarmac onto the grass using assy power....dohhhhh, well I did say I only had a few hrs on type, was a natural reaction to push up a single lever to make a twin swing around tightly, not the 337, straight ahead big time!:E Noisy sucker, typical Cessna, shaked rattled & rolled:ok:

Wmk2

pc12togo

20th Jan 2009, 10:58

PA 31 350, The best of them all, a great work machine, did some 8000hrs in them.

402 c, has the range. and fantas to fly. Still flying one of the last ones to come of the line, Built in 85.

Aerostar, The best, fast and fun to fly. a pilots machine

B58, 2nd best to the Aero.

Seneca, Its an aircraft.

Some 10,000 hours in these and others and they have all served me well

DU

tinpis

20th Jan 2009, 21:42

I know,I know, OT but...

Corsair was a nippy little bugger

But, I gotta post this again :ok:

http://www.royalturbine.com/images/RoyalTurbine006.jpg

Even the paint/trim is going fast.