Aircraft choice...

Our club is getting ready to purchase another airplane. To keep insurance
costs low, we're leaning strongly towards fixed gear. But if we want higher
performance than we get from our 172s and our DA40 (hoping for 150kts or
better), it seems we're limited to 182's, Cirrus, and Columbia. The last 2
probably blow the insurance budget and insurance would also probably require
a lot of instructor time for club members... Suggestions?

On 10/18/2011 7:06 PM, Robert Barker wrote:
Our club is getting ready to purchase another airplane. To keep
insurance costs low, we're leaning strongly towards fixed gear. But if
we want higher performance than we get from our 172s and our DA40
(hoping for 150kts or better), it seems we're limited to 182's, Cirrus,
and Columbia. The last 2 probably blow the insurance budget and
insurance would also probably require a lot of instructor time for club
members... Suggestions?


Grumman Tiger. 140+ kts with lower fuel burn than the 182.

Curt Johnson wrote:
On 10/18/2011 7:06 PM, Robert Barker wrote:
Our club is getting ready to purchase another airplane. To keep
insurance costs low, we're leaning strongly towards fixed gear. But if
we want higher performance than we get from our 172s and our DA40
(hoping for 150kts or better), it seems we're limited to 182's, Cirrus,
and Columbia. The last 2 probably blow the insurance budget and
insurance would also probably require a lot of instructor time for club
members... Suggestions?


Grumman Tiger. 140+ kts with lower fuel burn than the 182.

I agree, though I'm biased as I own a Tiger.

For a 150 nm trip, the difference between 150 kts and 140 kts is 4 minutes.



--
Jim Pennino

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...
Curt Johnson wrote:
On 10/18/2011 7:06 PM, Robert Barker wrote:
Our club is getting ready to purchase another airplane. To keep
insurance costs low, we're leaning strongly towards fixed gear. But if
we want higher performance than we get from our 172s and our DA40
(hoping for 150kts or better), it seems we're limited to 182's, Cirrus,
and Columbia. The last 2 probably blow the insurance budget and
insurance would also probably require a lot of instructor time for club
members... Suggestions?


Grumman Tiger. 140+ kts with lower fuel burn than the 182.

I agree, though I'm biased as I own a Tiger.

For a 150 nm trip, the difference between 150 kts and 140 kts is 4
minutes.



--
Jim Pennino

Remove .spam.sux to reply.

I agree on the speed difference, but the difference from the DA40 to the
Tiger isn't much. It's hard to "sell" the difference to renters. There's
something magical about breaking 150kts. To be honest, I'm kind of pushing
the rest of the board to a really nice Columbia 300 but it's a hard sell.
I'd have the Columbia over the Cirrus any day. They'll probably end up with
a retract like a Mooney Rocket or something similar.

From an insurance point of view, I agree with the Grumman Tiger. Especially with today's fuel prices. However insurance prices have been falling this year so the rate should be very competitive.
Bill
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Originally Posted by Robert Barker

...
Curt Johnson wrote:
On 10/18/2011 7:06 PM, Robert Barker wrote:
Our club is getting ready to purchase another airplane. To keep
insurance costs low, we're leaning strongly towards fixed gear. But if
we want higher performance than we get from our 172s and our DA40
(hoping for 150kts or better), it seems we're limited to 182's, Cirrus,
and Columbia. The last 2 probably blow the insurance budget and
insurance would also probably require a lot of instructor time for club
members... Suggestions?


Grumman Tiger. 140+ kts with lower fuel burn than the 182.

I agree, though I'm biased as I own a Tiger.

For a 150 nm trip, the difference between 150 kts and 140 kts is 4
minutes.



--
Jim Pennino

Remove .spam.sux to reply.

I agree on the speed difference, but the difference from the DA40 to the
Tiger isn't much. It's hard to "sell" the difference to renters. There's
something magical about breaking 150kts. To be honest, I'm kind of pushing
the rest of the board to a really nice Columbia 300 but it's a hard sell.
I'd have the Columbia over the Cirrus any day. They'll probably end up with
a retract like a Mooney Rocket or something similar.