Fairchild Merlin IV vs King Air
- Thread starter mjg407
- Start date
SpiraMirabilis
Possible Subversive
Metros are very fuel efficient.
ackeight
Well-Known Member
Don't let the tail fall off:dunno:. In all seriousness, it's pretty darn small compared to everything else your talking about getting. I guess you didn't take my suggestion because it only has one motor. If you looking for the best haulin mo fo out there that can cost fractions in operating cost compared to the other options it's the best hands down.
mjg407
Well-Known Member
Thanks, it would be a lease. But they are maintenance dogs? Any more info, please post or PM me thanks.
kiloalpha
Well-Known Member
I talked with our director of MX, he said that just about any part is $5000. We used to have one in our Op Specs but got rid of it just because we weren't making money on it. But if you do some research you may find a prestine -10 conversion with a passenger side cargo door on it, used for medevac flights. It's not as roomy as a King Air but it is alot faster.
Edit: Also the AD's limit the spar inspection to 36 months and I've hear those are really pricey. I think there is a lifetime spar STC but not sure. They were dumb when they designed the airplane and stuck steel and aluminum next to each other. :banghead:
Edit: Also the AD's limit the spar inspection to 36 months and I've hear those are really pricey. I think there is a lifetime spar STC but not sure. They were dumb when they designed the airplane and stuck steel and aluminum next to each other. :banghead:
beasly
Well-Known Member
OhioStatePilot
Well-Known Member
I like where your head's at... but someone still needs to take off the cartoon engines and props and replace them with real round engines...
WacoFan
Bigly
MJG specified Turbines....he is kind of "metro" that way...
OhioStatePilot
Well-Known Member
mjg407
Well-Known Member
I use hair gel too! How metro is that?
But nope, just a twin turbine due to the reliability over pistons.
WacoFan
Bigly
And if I recall you also drink feminine coffee...
Is your handle MJG407 on Gayviator too???:rotfl:
WacoFan
Bigly
I was actually thinking this too. The 441 is a great machine I think. Also makes me wonder about Cheyennes - would they do the job and be cheaper?
spbrian
Well-Known Member
I think the ultimate question is, how much cargo and how far are you going to take it??
Extra points on the san antonio sewer tube is that its a fairly ground loving airplane, sea le
vel and anything under about 4000 feet runway and your gonna be sweatin a lot. If you really watch the weight and temps you could do sea level and a 3500 foot strip but I would say to bring your michael jordan game.
Unimproved runways doubtful. Engines are torque limited on anything warmer or higher than sea level and about 20c, weights start coming down at I would venture a guess at 28c at sea level. Water meth injection works good lasts not long enough will get back what you loose due to temps or altitude but another system to maintain and fluid to buy and store.
Its a great airplane, not as hard to fly as people make it out to be, just busy on taxi and it won'thelp cover up mistakes in emergency situations a v1 cut is akin to rubbing your good luck charm, clenching the nearest person while cussing and praying all at the same time.
After 3 years in all kinds of weather in all corners of the us I can still say the airplane is a blast to fly, but with respect needed.
Extra points on the san antonio sewer tube is that its a fairly ground loving airplane, sea le
vel and anything under about 4000 feet runway and your gonna be sweatin a lot. If you really watch the weight and temps you could do sea level and a 3500 foot strip but I would say to bring your michael jordan game.
Unimproved runways doubtful. Engines are torque limited on anything warmer or higher than sea level and about 20c, weights start coming down at I would venture a guess at 28c at sea level. Water meth injection works good lasts not long enough will get back what you loose due to temps or altitude but another system to maintain and fluid to buy and store.
Its a great airplane, not as hard to fly as people make it out to be, just busy on taxi and it won'thelp cover up mistakes in emergency situations a v1 cut is akin to rubbing your good luck charm, clenching the nearest person while cussing and praying all at the same time.
After 3 years in all kinds of weather in all corners of the us I can still say the airplane is a blast to fly, but with respect needed.
kiloalpha
Well-Known Member
Alright, got some more info on the AC690. There's an AD on the airplane limiting the airplane to 180kts in turbulence. Apparently a few lost their tail cones in severe turb and crashed. No issues with the CG fully loaded.
The guy I've talked to has never heard of a TPE-331 failure, but has heard of a couple PT-6 failures on the Caravan or King Air. He says the 331 is not for dummies. Really easy to hot start, but the 331 is way more efficient than the PT-6 and the 690 is faster than a King Air, so it's a double win.
Easy to fly, alot like the 500 (I'll vouch for that, like a Cessna 206 with two engines,) will climb on one engine, gear and flaps down.
The spar is an issue. You can get them with the 36-month inspection (a spar cap is installed to prevent corrosion) or have the entire spar replaced (no more inspections ever) but those are really pricey.
He says to expect to pay anywhere from $600k-$850k on a really good machine, one with all the work done, and if you do buy one, always get the pre-buy done at a Aero Commander service center, like Aero Air or Byerly.
As far as your cargo, I'm sure a wheel would fit no problem, its just the door is in the front and it would have to be strapped down in front if you have passengers, but it's really easy to load and shouldn't have a problem since the door is right off the ground.
I'm not sure if unimproved airstrips would be a problem. The main landing gear on the Commanders are virtually indestructible. The nose is a little bit more fragile (we've had a couple snap off when the line tried to tow with the parking brake set.)
If you have anymore questions, I'll be here all day!
The guy I've talked to has never heard of a TPE-331 failure, but has heard of a couple PT-6 failures on the Caravan or King Air. He says the 331 is not for dummies. Really easy to hot start, but the 331 is way more efficient than the PT-6 and the 690 is faster than a King Air, so it's a double win.
Easy to fly, alot like the 500 (I'll vouch for that, like a Cessna 206 with two engines,) will climb on one engine, gear and flaps down.
The spar is an issue. You can get them with the 36-month inspection (a spar cap is installed to prevent corrosion) or have the entire spar replaced (no more inspections ever) but those are really pricey.
He says to expect to pay anywhere from $600k-$850k on a really good machine, one with all the work done, and if you do buy one, always get the pre-buy done at a Aero Commander service center, like Aero Air or Byerly.
As far as your cargo, I'm sure a wheel would fit no problem, its just the door is in the front and it would have to be strapped down in front if you have passengers, but it's really easy to load and shouldn't have a problem since the door is right off the ground.
I'm not sure if unimproved airstrips would be a problem. The main landing gear on the Commanders are virtually indestructible. The nose is a little bit more fragile (we've had a couple snap off when the line tried to tow with the parking brake set.)
If you have anymore questions, I'll be here all day!