Has IO540 started a new life under his other side's nickname?
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 581
Likes: 3
From: ZRH
I think Peter flies in a plane most of us cannot afford.
Were I to win the lottery this weekend and have a few mil to spare he is certainly one of the people I would talk to at length about my purchase of a good touring aircraft and the process of acquiring the skills to fly it competently.
Fact of the matter is, there are very many people out there who THINK a PA28 is "cheaper" than a TB20 or a Mooney to travel in, however that is not necessarly true. When I evaluated a good travel airplane, I had the choice between several PA28/C172's and Arrows or Mooneys. Today, some TB20ties would probably even come into consideration, given how prices have gone.
Fact is, for travelling, speed is money. 90-110 kt airplanes are good for hour building, when the flight time is actually the target to get you to a higher amount of flight hours. 140-160 kt airplanes cost slightly more per hour, but not necessarily per trip. If you do a 500 NM trip in a 100 kt plane, that is 10 flight hours return, however, with a 150 kt plane it's 6-40. Now, if the 100 kt plane costs £150 and the 150 kt plane £200, make the calcs. Yep, the 150 kt traveller is £170 cheaper. (Figures purely mathematical, but insert the proper ones and you'll see).
So if Peter's TB20 is an unaffordable dream, well, I'd think it might make sense to reconsider and actually run numbers. What I am sure of out of my own experience is however that travellers with 150 kts can be found for the same or close by price than a 100 kt hour collector and can be flown more efficiently and cheaper. For example, look at the C/E/F Mooneys out there.
Whereas Peter is concerned, I'd have to say he's one of the main reasons I am here a lot more than in the national forums I frequent. His attitude to GA and flying in general is what I'd like to see more. Proficient, knows what he's talking about and at the same time someone who has not resigned to the "overwhelming" EASA bureaucracy but carries on regardless.
I do hope he'll be back.
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 211
Likes: 0
From: UK
A slight thread drift but...
Couldn't agree more. You pay more and go further in the same amount of time. You pay less, you go less far. I conform to the former type of pilot hirer. I'd rather pay more and go further gaining exponentially more experience than remaining in the local area seeing everything I've already seen at least 45 times before, but paying a minimal rate (this is the most frikkin frustrating thing I frequently see fellow low-hour club members do Grrrrrrrr).
As for IO540... go back to being IO540 - you made for much more amuzing reading! Perhaps hitting 15000 posts meant it was time for a down-power re-power?
Fact is, for travelling, speed is money.
As for IO540... go back to being IO540 - you made for much more amuzing reading! Perhaps hitting 15000 posts meant it was time for a down-power re-power?
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 267
Likes: 0
From: UK
I do hope he'll be back.
)
