Step-up Planning

I know nothing first hand about this class of plane, but I recently read an
article [1] on the Malibu Mirage, and it seems to get within shouting
distance of your requirements:

Ceiling 25,000
Top speed: 220kts
Range: 1055nm
Cost per hour: $200-$300 (direct + indirect)

http://www.avweb.com/news/usedacft/182792-1.html

Sami,

I got into this hunt late, but I read a lot of the posts, and our resident
Mu 2 jockey is spot on.Especially with the suggestion to go for more weather
gear and altitude and less speed. I see you are ready to drop
pressurization, and thats good for several reasons.

If you like everything about the Arrow except speed, you might look into a
Mooney Bravo with TKS. It gets higher, goes faster, and you know how to use
the turbo already, so it will be a natural step up. Not 250, but I believe
220 plus is in the cards.

The Lancair 400 is also a sweet ride. Haven't flown one, but people I trust
are raving about it. Only problem, you cannot get one at any price, gotta
wait.

Any turbo powered Beech might be a good idea.

Lastly, if you really feel the need for speed, the modded planes like the
Rileys could work out, but I am not that familiar with how well they
dispatch. I would try to stick with more conventional power plants if its
for business.

If you could spend more and wait, the D-Jet comes the closest to meeting
your wants. Unfortunately, they haven't even flown a prototype yet. This
plane and its competitors are throwing a lot of FUD into the old turbo prop
market, so waiting to step into that morass would likely be a wise idea.

Thanks. More good advice. All of the posts have been helpful. This is
exactly why I wanted to start thinking about the next step early.
Everyone's ideas really help me understand what realistic expectations
are, and what the trade-offs are. My timeframe for the next step is
about 24-30 months. From what you say and what I have been reading,
some really interesting changes can happen in that time. The Lancair
400 should be available by then as well.

-Sami


Dude wrote:

Sami,

I got into this hunt late, but I read a lot of the posts, and our resident
Mu 2 jockey is spot on.Especially with the suggestion to go for more weather
gear and altitude and less speed. I see you are ready to drop
pressurization, and thats good for several reasons.

If you like everything about the Arrow except speed, you might look into a
Mooney Bravo with TKS. It gets higher, goes faster, and you know how to use
the turbo already, so it will be a natural step up. Not 250, but I believe
220 plus is in the cards.

The Lancair 400 is also a sweet ride. Haven't flown one, but people I trust
are raving about it. Only problem, you cannot get one at any price, gotta
wait.

Any turbo powered Beech might be a good idea.

Lastly, if you really feel the need for speed, the modded planes like the
Rileys could work out, but I am not that familiar with how well they
dispatch. I would try to stick with more conventional power plants if its
for business.

If you could spend more and wait, the D-Jet comes the closest to meeting
your wants. Unfortunately, they haven't even flown a prototype yet. This
plane and its competitors are throwing a lot of FUD into the old turbo prop
market, so waiting to step into that morass would likely be a wise idea.