MoD Tucano Sell Off
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 106
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From: UK
Back to the thread...
Having flown a Tucano today for the first time in a few years, I think you'd be mad to buy one. Fun, granted, but for fast A to B you'd be better off in something a little more comfortable. That would be pretty much anything. For general looning around in, buy a Yak / Extra / Sukhoi and you'd have plenty of money left over to run it.
But it's your money!
Having flown a Tucano today for the first time in a few years, I think you'd be mad to buy one. Fun, granted, but for fast A to B you'd be better off in something a little more comfortable. That would be pretty much anything. For general looning around in, buy a Yak / Extra / Sukhoi and you'd have plenty of money left over to run it.
But it's your money!
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 106
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From: UK
RAFAT,
What's it for? A to B at 240 kt can be achieved in other turboprops without the hassle of protective clothing / uncomfortable bang-seats. The oil system places restrictive time limits on less-than-1g flight, which coupled with monstrous torque and heavy controls means aeros are less fun than in a dedicated steed. I guess people will want them for the best of both worlds...to be able to go places and aerobat if the mood takes. I confess I have no idea what they'll be selling for (and hence how desirable compared with other ac), but maintenance is not likely to be cheap. Furthermore they're not as solid as most other military ac, need tarmac and turboprops are noisy.
If it was my money I'd look elsewhere, but I appreciate the novelty / prestige factor may be alluring.
What's it for? A to B at 240 kt can be achieved in other turboprops without the hassle of protective clothing / uncomfortable bang-seats. The oil system places restrictive time limits on less-than-1g flight, which coupled with monstrous torque and heavy controls means aeros are less fun than in a dedicated steed. I guess people will want them for the best of both worlds...to be able to go places and aerobat if the mood takes. I confess I have no idea what they'll be selling for (and hence how desirable compared with other ac), but maintenance is not likely to be cheap. Furthermore they're not as solid as most other military ac, need tarmac and turboprops are noisy.
If it was my money I'd look elsewhere, but I appreciate the novelty / prestige factor may be alluring.
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 532
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From: UK
Thanks for the advice. I've done enough aeros to last me more than a few lifetimes so it wouldn't be for that, simply the appeal of a reasonably respectable touring distance, 240 kts, FL250, and a bit of novelty value thrown in as you point out.
Moderator
Joined: Feb 2000
Aviation Qualifications: CPL
Posts: 14,480
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From: UK
Don't forget, the type has no civil CofA, so you'd have to go through a lot of work to get it into a PtF, then still be restricted to day VMC, and need permission to fly it outside of the UK.
I believe it's possible to get a Pilatus PC7 Mk.1 with an EASA CofA, that would not have those restrictions, and probably be a better aircraft anyway. (Having done quite a lot of flight testing on the Tucano early in it's RAF career, I'd agree with most of !!!!'s criticisms, and could add a few dozen of my own).
But, I still hope that I can buy one, it'll make a great engineering teaching airframe!
G
I believe it's possible to get a Pilatus PC7 Mk.1 with an EASA CofA, that would not have those restrictions, and probably be a better aircraft anyway. (Having done quite a lot of flight testing on the Tucano early in it's RAF career, I'd agree with most of !!!!'s criticisms, and could add a few dozen of my own).
But, I still hope that I can buy one, it'll make a great engineering teaching airframe!
G
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 768
Likes: 52
From: TBC
PC7 for sale here. I want that!!! Ejection seats, HUD, anti-g system, etc. One hell of a toy for a 'I-couldn't-join-the-RAF' type like myself. Are you allowed furniture removal on a civvy aircraft?
I shudder to think what the asking price is though
Ginger
I shudder to think what the asking price is though
Ginger
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 480
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From: Livin de island life
I shudder to think what the asking price is though
Nice to travel in - good range with drop tanks and generous luggage space.
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 768
Likes: 52
From: TBC
between $1M and $2M, depending on spec
(I'd probably become a victim of 'regime change' I suppose
)Ginger
Joined: Jun 2003
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From: EuroGA.org
I wonder what the oxygen system endurance is at FL250?
Most non-P piston planes have an o2 endurance (assuming say 3 people, FL250) substantially shorter than their fuel endurance. The sales brochure doesn't tell you this of course, yet they do base their speed figures on the FL250 TAS
Most non-P piston planes have an o2 endurance (assuming say 3 people, FL250) substantially shorter than their fuel endurance. The sales brochure doesn't tell you this of course, yet they do base their speed figures on the FL250 TAS
Moderator
Joined: Feb 2000
Aviation Qualifications: CPL
Posts: 14,480
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From: UK
Genghis - did they ever mod the capton wiring? that stuff was an absolute nightmare for the Engineers.
Incidentally the Tucano is also unpressurised with a helmet/mask system. My very vague memory thinks that on 100% O2 you had about 2 hours, but I could be miles out.
G
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 532
Likes: 2
From: UK
Yes it was Genghis. Additionally, a lot of the wiring looms were apparently fitted before the skin was, so cable replacement was at times impossible without returning the airframe to the Acceptance hangar at Scampton and removing the skin from the relevant areas! Some cables needed to be replaced as soon as the airframe arrived from Shorts as they were tie-wrapped too tightly causing a breakdown in the integrity of the cable. This was commonplace when it came to the co-axial cables feeding various avionics equipment.
I would assume that the Engineers ironed out these problems over time though so my level of interest remains high.
I would assume that the Engineers ironed out these problems over time though so my level of interest remains high.
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Joined: Feb 2000
Aviation Qualifications: CPL
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From: UK
My involvement with the Tucano was primarily on handling qualities assessments, so I'm unsurprised I didn't know. But, a little surprising - not an aeroplane I'd have expected a major weight issue on, and it's not that plenty of other cost saving measures weren't made elsewhere on the aircraft!
G
G