5th seat in a single
 

Anyone recommend the best single to go for with 3 adults and two (very) little ones (1 & 3 yrs old)?
I want to stay away from 6 seaters and twins due to costs.
350-400 nm typical so reasonably quick, IFR capable.
I appreciate the 5th seat is not for adults.
Nothing too flash, only have 100K euro to play with.

You're really left with six seat options..the rear seats are often narrow enough that they're best suited for children, anyway. For the performance, trying to squeeze a lot of people into a small airplane can be a losing proposition.

A Cessna 206 or 210, or a Cherokee 6 might fit your bill nicely if you can find one in your price range.

Try the TB10/20 nice aircraft and ideal I would say for 3 + 2. TB10 seems about your price range http://www.avbuyer.com/AircraftSales...aftResults.asp
(select Socata for manufacturer)
:ok:

Thanks Foxmoth, I understand the TB10 is 120 knots cruise? the TB20 (early models) around 140-150? Is the extra cost (purchase & operating ) worth the extra speed? any other considerations between these two (I have only flown TB9)? Is a 5th seatbelt option available?

Wassmer Baladou,some Jodel D140 (its a tailwheel),either only if fitted with fifth seat belt.Both comfortably within your price range.VBR Stampe

5th Seat choices
 

The TB10 has the fifth seat as standard. TAS 118kts but tanks holding in excess of 200ltrs which gives the aeroplane a good range.

Subject to your bladder, range can be more important than speed. The more refueling stops then the more time lost. Landing to re-fuel can be extremely time consuming. Sometimes an enroute divertion for fuel will be owing to no fuel at the destination, a real bore.

You could possiby find a good Cessna 206 which has six seats (4 + 2), has excellent range, thirsty but fast at circa 150 kts. The Cherokee 6 300 previously mentioned is a superb carrier with a very good range but is thirsty at only 130kts.

Both the Cessna 206 and the Cherokee 6 have good short field performance which may be an important consideration giving access to local strips.

For 100 euros you have a reasonable choice.

And you could of course go for:-
http://www.airshows.org.uk/2006/airs.../foxmoth_1.jpg
Though I will admit it falls a little short on the IFR capability!:}

Have operated a TB20 with 2 adults up front and two female adults plus female child (8 years old) in the back. Comfortable enough on a 2 hour flight between the UK and Paris. The limitation however is you can't exceed 509lbs on the rear seat (shouldn't be a problem with the scenario you post)

If you can find one within budget I would really consider the 20 over the 10 if you're going to be lifting 5 people. The extra 70HP makes all the difference in performance, plus the extra speed means they're not seated for as long.

As for Homeguards figures for the TB10 - compare that with 336 litres and 145Kts TAS. I get a fuel burn of 50l/hr @ 2500-3000ft, reducing to 43l/hr @FL110. Get a 20 and you will never look back (but after a while you do hanker after a 21 :\ ).

Siai Marchetti 206 has 5 seats. It is an Arrow equivalent - I know of one which might be for sale at around £40k! It has tip tanks which give it around 6 hours endurance.

Thanks for the input so far, what about C182 (N/P or later). Can these take a 5th seat?

Go for a Beechcraft F33A, these are very nice planes and you have a fifth seat option. Stay withing W&B and get one with a Yaw Dampener Kit.

Great for a year, unfortunately kids have a habit of getting older and then will still need that extra seat.:ugh:

How about a Maule? The M-7-235 has five seats, can be outfitted with IFR kit, is reasonably quick, and can be built with either a nose or a tailwheel depending on your preference.

The new list price starts at around 120,000 euros, so you could probably pick up a decent second hand model for around 100,000 I'd guess.

http://www.mauleairinc.com/Our_Plane..._b_c/index.htm

hobbit, any idea why ? Maule is a badly constructed plane with a cheap airframe and an oversized engine.

When you are flying a Maule you must understand you act as a 'test' pilot.

I think there are a few Maule pilots out there who will disagree with you! Care to back that up? I've never come across anything to suggest so.

Certainly the many bush pilots in the US who fly them seem to be happy with them.

Hey, who's that dissin' ma Maule?!:=

I have an MX7 180B, land on a sixpence, cruise 120kts TAS. IFR, over 7 hours to fumes (9.5gph, 73 gals useable). I can take the family (parents, 2 kids), luggage and full fuel. In that configuration I'm getting to aft limits of cofg but still have way to play on MAUW. The 235 comes with 5 seats.

If you're not on for the tailwheel option, then get the tricycle.

Do some internet research, people are pretty happy with their Maules (and you get a LOT for your dollar/euro).

Even better, buy now in the US (dollar on the floor), fly it back (which I'm doing with mine next week) and still save a load of money. Not happy (unlikely but possible), sell it in Europe for a profit!

Sam.:):):):):):):):):):):):):):)

Thanks for the Maule idea. On paper it is a great option, however it just doesn't LOOK right. My other half just said "no way I'm getting in that". That's the opinion of an aviationally ignorant passenger, but it says something.
For me planes (and boats) have to look right as they are emotionally charged purchases, and the Maule is UGLY - even more so in tricycle config.
I know that shouldn't figure in my choice, but it does!

Sorry for the offence to Maule owners, beauty is in the eye of the bill payer.

Beauty could be expensive! ;)

You should still look at buying in the US and flying the aircraft back (estimate USD10K for the flight back, add that to the price and make your comparison). Check, but I believe you can still import via Denmark at 0% vat.

N register also means FAA IR if you want to take that option later.

Sam.

I didn't think they looked THAT bad..!

http://www.mauleairinc.com/Our_Plane...7-235B%203.jpg

I agree with you on the tri gear option though - urgh.

You mean NTSB ? Loads of Maule reports over there.

Sorry but your 9.5gph is what ? at 50% power ? Doing 80KTAS ? Tell me what your fuel burn is with that lousy 120KTAS ? 15gph ?

I flew a Maule once, this is nothing for Europe, Africa maybe. The poster asked for reasonably quick, IFR, 5 seater, that is not the Maule.

About the dollar, that is for every plane, prices are dropping DAILY... sellers are screaming for a deal, you can get 30-40% off asking price these days.

You are joking, there is no market for a Maule in Europe, nobody buys that over here, Maules stay on the market for LONG!!!!!