PC-12 vs. Turbo Commander
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Texas
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I stumbled across this, and it made me smile. I have about 2000 hrs in Turbo-Commanders (primarily the 695B) and about 300 in the PC-12. Both are great airplanes. As previously noted, the PC-12 is very roomy, modern, and nice (but ours did not have a potty). The Commander is more like a Corvette, but still carries several passengers and has a potty (but not very private). The government was footing all the maintenance costs, so at the time I was not thinking of it from an owner's point of view.
From a typical cruise speed perspective, the Commander wins by about 40 knots. The ceiling for the Pilatus is 30,000 (but flight levels only allow for 290), while the Commander can move up to FL350 when needed. Strictly from the safety perspective, the Commander is definitely the winner. It can fly single engine anywhere. When giving instruction to pilots new to the Commander, we would shut down one engine, and fly with the gear down at 16,000' - so single engine capability is amazing!
From a typical cruise speed perspective, the Commander wins by about 40 knots. The ceiling for the Pilatus is 30,000 (but flight levels only allow for 290), while the Commander can move up to FL350 when needed. Strictly from the safety perspective, the Commander is definitely the winner. It can fly single engine anywhere. When giving instruction to pilots new to the Commander, we would shut down one engine, and fly with the gear down at 16,000' - so single engine capability is amazing!
Join Date: Jan 2024
Location: Illinois
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Turbo Commander 1000 (695A) Experience
We own a 1981 Turbo Commander 1000 (695A) and have now 300 hours on it, and we have taken it across the Atlantic both ways. I spent 4 years researching the best airplane for our particular missions. We regularly fly more than 1,000 NM East and West over the Rockies. Private use only - owner pilot. Enough space for me, a 6' 2" big guy at 300 lbs with O legs. On-board lav. Reasonable economics.
I have looked at all the VLJs, all the single engine turbo props and the multi engine turbo props. Again and again I came back to the Commander 1000. The VLJs are too small for me and have short legs. The new Single Engine Turbo props like the Eclipse, the TBM, the PC 12 are outrageously expensive at $ 5 mill plus. The Piper Cheyenne is not supported, almost impossible to get a low time Cessna Conquest and the King Airs are way overpriced, at least 2x the Commander. In the end we went for a low time Commander 1000 with a Garmin G600 glass cockpit, dual GTN 750s with a modern Genesys (S-Tec) 3100 autopilot. We upgraded to the 5 blade MT props. All in $ 2 million.
Of course , we are biased, but I have to say we LOVE the Commander 1000. It never left us stranded. We can fly for 6 hours and go 1,500+ NM, if the misson calls for it. The aircraft and the Honeywell (Garrett) TPE 331-10 engines are very efficient and very reliable. The TPE 331 has been built by the 10s of thousands and is still in production, especially for the military (drones). At regular cruise of 285 kts to 290kts we burn 70 gal of JetA (for both engines). We can take advantage of tail winds up to FL 350 and we can stay low at 4,500 ft to avoid the headwinds without loosing too much range. When I push back the pilot seat, my legs won't touch the pedals and my knees are roaming freely. Try that in a Phenom or a Mustang or a TBM...
The 5 blade composite props are significantly lighter than the 3 blade metal props. In addition to the weight savings, that means start up of the engines is a lot quicker and easier on the batteries. Since I have the new props, I never had to use an external power source (GPU) for starting the engines. Temperatures during start up are also lower. In terms of performance, acceleration, take off and climb perfromance is about 15% improved. No impact on cruise performance. And of ocourse they are much quieter and produce less vobration.
In terms of support, Twin Commander Aircraft company supports the type certificate and part supply. There are service centers in IN, IL, OK, and OR. Commanders have been exported around the world and you will always find knowledgable people even internationally and the TPE 331 is well supported.
Every mission has the perfect airplane. For our missions, the Commander is the perfect airplane at "reasonable" cost.
I have looked at all the VLJs, all the single engine turbo props and the multi engine turbo props. Again and again I came back to the Commander 1000. The VLJs are too small for me and have short legs. The new Single Engine Turbo props like the Eclipse, the TBM, the PC 12 are outrageously expensive at $ 5 mill plus. The Piper Cheyenne is not supported, almost impossible to get a low time Cessna Conquest and the King Airs are way overpriced, at least 2x the Commander. In the end we went for a low time Commander 1000 with a Garmin G600 glass cockpit, dual GTN 750s with a modern Genesys (S-Tec) 3100 autopilot. We upgraded to the 5 blade MT props. All in $ 2 million.
Of course , we are biased, but I have to say we LOVE the Commander 1000. It never left us stranded. We can fly for 6 hours and go 1,500+ NM, if the misson calls for it. The aircraft and the Honeywell (Garrett) TPE 331-10 engines are very efficient and very reliable. The TPE 331 has been built by the 10s of thousands and is still in production, especially for the military (drones). At regular cruise of 285 kts to 290kts we burn 70 gal of JetA (for both engines). We can take advantage of tail winds up to FL 350 and we can stay low at 4,500 ft to avoid the headwinds without loosing too much range. When I push back the pilot seat, my legs won't touch the pedals and my knees are roaming freely. Try that in a Phenom or a Mustang or a TBM...
The 5 blade composite props are significantly lighter than the 3 blade metal props. In addition to the weight savings, that means start up of the engines is a lot quicker and easier on the batteries. Since I have the new props, I never had to use an external power source (GPU) for starting the engines. Temperatures during start up are also lower. In terms of performance, acceleration, take off and climb perfromance is about 15% improved. No impact on cruise performance. And of ocourse they are much quieter and produce less vobration.
In terms of support, Twin Commander Aircraft company supports the type certificate and part supply. There are service centers in IN, IL, OK, and OR. Commanders have been exported around the world and you will always find knowledgable people even internationally and the TPE 331 is well supported.
Every mission has the perfect airplane. For our missions, the Commander is the perfect airplane at "reasonable" cost.
https://www.controller.com/listing/f...oprop-aircraft. 2.4M
more than half time engine.
https://www.controller.com/listing/f...oprop-aircraft
1.4M
Less than 1/2 time engines
Since I rarely have to fit a quad/seadoo in the back. And I can do a lot of time at 200 hrs/yr for a million bucks, I know which one I would buy.
more than half time engine.
https://www.controller.com/listing/f...oprop-aircraft
1.4M
Less than 1/2 time engines
Since I rarely have to fit a quad/seadoo in the back. And I can do a lot of time at 200 hrs/yr for a million bucks, I know which one I would buy.
