If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Advice and experts with 400 series Cessnas (414 and 421), purchase and training
I recently got back into flying after a 12 year layoff. I am current,
and flying high-performance singles (182). I have around 80 hours in high-performance planes, including retracts. I am currently building time to improve my skills and getting ready to take the next step. I am finally in a financial position to not only be able to afford to fly, but to own an aircraft. I've been doing research on the various costs, fixed and hourly, and I will not buy an airplane unless I am sure I can: 1. afford to fly it regularly 2. have sufficent income to handle unexpected expenses 3. have funds for initial and recurrent training 4. can put 50-100 hours of dual in type I am trying to map out how I want to proceed going to the next step. I want to get my instrument rating, and possibly multi (which, of course I'd do, if I went for a twin). So, here is my dilema. I've pretty much settled on a T210 or a 400-series Cessna. I'd prefer the twin, because I'd like to replace most or all of my airline travel. I want to be able to take 4-6 people on medium to long trips. I'm based on the west coast, in California. We seldom have seriously bad weather here, and if I travel east, I would allow plenty of time to divert or wait out bad weather. One reason I'd prefer a twin is that certain areas of California can have persistant fog, with below-IFR ceilings, that I occasionally need to overfly. If you lose a single engine, an emergency landing in those conditions have a low chance of success. To get use out of my plane, I would like to be able to fly over areas with those conditions. A twin would almost certainly get you to a clear weather airport. My total time is about 300 hours. Yes, I know, low time. If I went for either plane, I would do all my training in that plane. That would mean 50-100 hours of dual. When I started my refresher (extended BFR), I told the instructor I was in no hurry, and we'd keep going until we were both satisfied. If I buy either plane, I would do the same. No hurry with time, no money constraints on training. I'd tell the instructor I want to go through training slowly and do everything over and over until there is no doubt I'm ready for the next thing. I would also plan several dual-instruction, cross-country, point to point flights (hopefully in actual IFR) to gain practical experience in the system and with my plane. As for insurance, I'd look for a pilot with lots of hours in type to add as first insured. The best case would be to find a CFII, MEI that would want time in type, could train me in my plane until I'm ready and have enough time in type, and could use my plane part of the time. So, the questions a 1. are there any schools that specialize in 414/421 initial and recurrant training? 2. any advice on how to find local instructors that have experience in type? 3. if anyone has any advice on buying and training in T210s and 400 series, your advice would be welcome Again, I want to emphasize that I would do EXTENSIVE training, including extended training and dual instruction flights, before I'd consider myself worthy of acting as PIC. I realize that a 400 series Cessna is a very complex aircraft, and I would do everything necessary to become proficient in my aircraft. I take flying and training very seriously. |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|