At Least He's Honest. Would This Attitude Have 'Saved' Light Airplane Business??

On 22 Dec 2004 11:38:42 -0800, "Michael"
wrote:

Drew Dalgleish wrote:
I think there's a lot more homebuilts registered each year than
factory built planes.

How many homebuilts out there with more than 1000 hours on them?
Lots but what does this have to do with anything
If you can't find a homebuilt that outpreforms
your spam can you're not looking very hard. post your requirments and
I think you'll be amazed at the choices

I think you're the one who is going to be amazed. Here are my
requirements (which are actually less that what I currently have):

Twin engine, with a single engine absolute ceiling at gross not less
than 5000 ft (not negotiable - not interested in singles)

150 kts cruise at low altitudes (less than 8000 ft) at less than 65%
power (don't like running the engines hard) and less than 18 gph (don't
like spending money either). Must be able to burn either Avgas or
Jet-A (no special fueling issues). Note that this is a bare minimum -
my spam can does better in every respect.
Does it burn coal and natural gas too
5 hours endurance at 150 kts (including climb fuel and VFR reserves).
Enough useful load to carry the fuel required for that endurance and an
additional 600 lbs of pax/cargo as well as a full redundant IFR panel
(dual nav-coms, dual AI's, GPS and LORAN, stormscope, autopilot, ADF,
DME, etc). Again, these are bare minima.

Cabin room for full size adults (think Bonanza and up - not Mooney).

Not interested in building - will only buy one that is already built
and flying. No one-offs - only want a design with enough track record
to be insurable for hull (I will take whatever training and meet
whatever experience requirements they want).
I'm looking forward to your suggestions.

Michael

I guess I was Wrong I can't think of a single homebuilt that is worthy
of you. What kind of magic carpet are you flying?

I guess I was Wrong I can't think of a single homebuilt that is worthy
of you.

You know, I find it amazing that proponents of homebuilts seem to get
defensive when you point out that the homebuilt is not the be-all and
end-all. It's not a matter of being worthy, it's a matter of meeting
mission requirements. In this case I can't find a homenuilt to meet my
mission requirements.

I'm not against homebuilts. In fact, I own and fly a homebuilt glider
(HP-11T). I love it. It gives me performance that no certified glider
can match at anything less than twice the price. It meets my mission
requirements and saves me money and hassle.

If I could find a homebuilt to meet the mission requirements of my twin
(long range, overwater, night&IFR) I would own it. I hate dealing with
the FAA any time I want to upgrade, and I hate being locked into
obsolete and expensive parts. But there's nothing out there. I've
looked before. I would have been genuinely happy if you found
something I had missed the first time around. I would have bought it.
If someone comes up with something that meets those requirements (I
might even bend on the insurable-for-hull bit) I'll write him a check
for $100K tomorrow. That is substantially more than I have in my
existing twin.

What kind of magic carpet are you flying?

I'm flying a Twin Comanche, but a Beech Travel-Air would also work for
me.

Michael