Cross Country Turboprop

Truther

Truther

Member
Looking for advise on a plane to travel from Atlanta to LA. on a regular basis.

Leaning towards a 340 or a 414, seen several in our budget. Trying to keep the cost per hour reasonable, under $400 per hour. Thinking the 421 might be too costly ...
 
That's a LONG trip for a turboprop.

We used to routinely do New England to Southern Florida in the PC12 and that was a 4+hr ordeal, sometimes more depending on winds/stops. LAX-ATL is going to be more than 1.5x that distance.

How often is a regular basis?

If a 421, which is not a turboprop, is too costly, then I'd suggest to start looking at airline tickets.
 
Your hourly can go up if the speed on the aircraft does, too. However, even at twice the speed, you'd only be at $800/HR and that won't cover all the fixed and variable expenses of anything turbine. Atlanta to LA -- you're definitely better off in an airliner on a regular basis than a piston twin.

I'm thinking about 4 fuel stops westbound.
 
Truther said:
Looking for advise on a plane to travel from Atlanta to LA. on a regular basis.

Leaning towards a 340 or a 414, seen several in our budget. Trying to keep the cost per hour reasonable, under $400 per hour. Thinking the 421 might be too costly ...
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On trips that long, a higher per hour cost will probably be much cheaper because of how much faster the plane is.
Atlanta to LA? That's a jet. But if you have to stay with props the TBM 900 or the P.180 are two of the fastest.

I'd rather buy a ticket on Delta than sit in a 414 from Atlanta to LA.
 
Truther said:
Looking for advise on a plane to travel from Atlanta to LA. on a regular basis.

Leaning towards a 340 or a 414, seen several in our budget. Trying to keep the cost per hour reasonable, under $400 per hour. Thinking the 421 might be too costly ...
Click to expand...

Look carefully at useful loads on these twin Cessnas. If you're looking to do long trips and top the tanks off many of them end up being a 2-3 seat airplane with baggage. Otherwise, lots of fuel stops.
 
Sounds more like from where the dirty birds play to the bayou.

My brief experience in the 421 is that $400/hr maybe a little low for that.


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Erik10 said:
Delta.
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z987k said:
On trips that long, a higher per hour cost will probably be much cheaper because of how much faster the plane is.
Atlanta to LA? That's a jet. But if you have to stay with props the TBM 900 or the P.180 are two of the fastest.

I'd rather buy a ticket on Delta than sit in a 414 from Atlanta to LA.
Click to expand...
ctab5060X said:
I hate the LA abbreviation for Lower Alabama...
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Latin America? Perhaps cargo is involved???? ;)

In any case, if you want to fly long distances - yourself - efficiently and with a good load-out, get a Baron. You can find 'em pretty cheap.
Else, look at the Lear 31 & 35 markets. Those are even cheaper, but with much higher operating costs. Heck, you can buy a really decent Lear for less than a Cirrus. Plus, a Lear will make a man out-a-ya... as opposed to some squishy, amorphous thing that sits in a Cirrus.
 
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z987k said:
On trips that long, a higher per hour cost will probably be much cheaper because of how much faster the plane is.
Atlanta to LA? That's a jet. But if you have to stay with props the TBM 900 or the P.180 are two of the fastest.

I'd rather buy a ticket on Delta than sit in a 414 from Atlanta to LA.
Click to expand...
That's either because A. you've been doing this too long, or, more likely B. you fly too high. West of the Mississippi +20AGL to -20AGL is the recommended altitude. Rivers full of fish, plains full of antelope and canyon walls are sooooo much more beautiful close up.
 
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