Old Aircraft - How much longer can they fly?

[InTransit]

520,

Of course that "last one" is yet to see the light of day, and probably won't for quite some time. The problem with the whole situation is that PT is like a chook without a head, has no time to do anything let alone rebuild one, and now two aircraft. Old warwick took a LONG time to get out of the hangar, and it was only a minor issue!

[Continental-520]

Right....

In which case, is it really such a good idea that he's doing his own hundred hourly's and AD's, etc, especially now with a larger fleet, how is there enough time to get those things done properly when time is so tight?

Would think you'd need a team of at least 3 engineers, one licensed of course to get a C210 through a proper/thorough hundred hourly in one working day.

520.

[Rich-Fine-Green]

HH:

Off the Cirrus Design Website:

SR22-G2 Base Price: US$334,700
Cruise Speed: 185 KTAS
Maximum Payload: 1,150 pounds
Maximum range cruise: over 1,000 nm


Not bad performance for the same fuel burn as a C210.

4 seats with 522Kg payload - higher speed and less maintenance.

Hmmmm - Maybe I was wrong about refurbishing the older girls.....

[flyby_kiwi]

I think the reasons we wont see then end of some of the older GA types is also that they are generally of a tried and proven design. As much as the likes of the SR22 looks like a great a/c is simply hasnt proven itself over the decades like the C210's and Bonanzas (bar the v-tail).
Then there are those types for which there are not really any replacements out there such as the larger twin pistons ie a PA31, C421 and on a larger scale the likes of such a/c as the CV580 now about 50years old.

[rmcdonal]

Flyby Kiwi
The PA31 are allready being replaced by the Caravan in some roles, on the east coast they are trading up for the turbine version over the twins for frieght.
Caravan not a bad machine, can handle the tough strips

[Howard Hughes]

4 seats with 522Kg payload - higher speed and less maintenance

RFG,

These are great figures, however these aircraft are designed to be flown by owner operators and to be operated on long, comfortable cross country flights. They are not designed for the 30 sectors a day that goes on in some parts of the country, I do realise neither was the 210, however it does perform this task quite well (ie: Groote to Bickerton islands, 6 minute flight time).

But still the C-210, can carry 500kg of payload with enough fuel for 4 hours, the 522 for the cirrus includes the weight of fuel. With 2 less seats you are still going to have to make 2 trips, to move the same as you can in the venerable C-210.

Whilst I would give my left gonad for a Cirrus or any of the other new high performance singles, I don't think that too many operators will be willing to do the same. I for one eagerly await the arrival of the Eclipse Jet, see here what a fantastic replacement this would be for the ageing fleet of 6 place piston aircraft, especially for sectors of 2 hours or more so readily seen in outback Australia. Sadly once again I think operators will be slow to uptake this new technology, why? perceived cost!! Whilst these aircraft are significantly dearer to buy, I think operators fail to see the decrease in ongoing costs, ie: fuel consumption, maintence, etc... as well as the added benefits of passenger appeal.

Quite frankly I'm with you on this one RFG, unfortunately the operators are not as yet. But when they do join us in the new millenium, I'll be out of the regionals and back into GA in a flash.
(like you said earlier, provide the whole pay thing is right)

Cheers, HH.



PS: If you get your hands on one of theses machines, can I come for a fly?