Vegas FBOs

scooter2525 said:
Last company I flew for used to have the 421s and they performed but like Mike said, they are temperamental. You have to keep positive power on the props or it can cause problems for the gears if the slipstream is pushing them IIRC.
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Im digging into the way back machine of 22 years ago flying 135 cargo; we had a small charter operator next door who would have some of our pilots on his payroll for their 414 and 421. Trying to remember the issues that were being dealt with. I do remember the 421 being in the hangar alot for general maintenace, as well as one of the 520s having to be replaced early for damage due to suspect mismangement.
 
ATN_Pilot said:
From what I've gathered, the geared engines aren't a problem as long as you treat them right. Since I'd be the only one flying it, I wouldn't have to worry about someone not babying it. And when you've got a family business and need to haul family around that is scared of "small airplanes," the really quiet cabin is a big selling point.

If I ever go turbine, I'd be a King Air guy. Loved the Hondo.
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As I remember, the general maintenance upkeep costs were fairly high for it, so just something to research closer so as not to be surprised; budgeting @$50K/year (+/-) probably would be a fair ballpark. Being that they haven't been built in awhile, if Cessna were to build them today, I wouldn't even want to know what the cost new would be.

King Air's not a bad bird at all.
 
MikeD said:
Im digging into the way back machine of 22 years ago flying 135 cargo; we had a small charter operator next door who would have some of our pilots on his payroll for their 414 and 421. Trying to remember the issues that were being dealt with. I do remember the 421 being in the hangar alot for general maintenace, as well as one of the 520s having to be replaced early for damage due to suspect mismangement.
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There is a reason why the company ditched them and it was for being MX queens. Too many pilots that will inevitably fly them differently. And they flew fine if you treated them right but 135 ops can't always depend on that.
 
MikeD said:
As I remember, the general maintenance upkeep costs were fairly high for it, so just something to research closer so as not to be surprised; budgeting @$50K/year (+/-) probably would be a fair ballpark. Being that they haven't been built in awhile, if Cessna were to build them today, I wouldn't even want to know what the cost new would be. King Air's not a bad bird at all.
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Yeah, that's about what I've gleaned from owners. Between $30-$50k. I would imagine they'd go for at least $1.5 mill if sold new today. Possibly more. New Barons are going for over a mill. Crazy.
 
MikeD said:
Nice bird, but those 520 engines are tempermental, and can be costly maintenance-wise if not taken care of well, namely manging the CHTs and RPMs correctly.
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I fly my io520K (Max RPM 2,850) like I stole it. Not an engine issue in 1,400 hours.
 
fholbert said:
I fly my io520K (Max RPM 2,850) like I stole it. Not an engine issue in 1,400 hours.
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GTSIO-520? The geared ones were the finicky ones. Nice engine like any other, but just has to be treated with some extra TLC.
 
Mike might be able to shed some more light on this, but we had a Golden Eagle operated by CalStar Med have a nasty asymmetrical flap issue a few years back. I remember they got it on the ground ok, but it was a huge deal because they got rid of all their 421s shortly after.
 
ATN_Pilot said:
Why'd it take so long? Looks like about the same distance. Winds or bad weather?
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It was December, winds were worse, 10 of the westbound 15 was Hard IFR, couldn't get on top without O2 (didn't have it yet)
Hit Jim Kelly Airport in Nebraska for fuel (450ft ceiling, VOR A), then had to plan through the pass, weather looked worse (and was) so planned a stop in SLC for fuel and a quick nap as I had no autopilot and was hand flying through the junk.

Return was good, VFR from Vegas to Salina, KS, but had to file from there to Muskegon as IL, WI and MI were overcast and snow, ATC kept me way wide of ORD so that added some time as well.
 
jskibo said:
It was December, winds were worse, 10 of the westbound 15 was Hard IFR, couldn't get on top without O2 (didn't have it yet)
Hit Jim Kelly Airport in Nebraska for fuel (450ft ceiling, VOR A), then had to plan through the pass, weather looked worse (and was) so planned a stop in SLC for fuel and a quick nap as I had no autopilot and was hand flying through the junk.

Return was good, VFR from Vegas to Salina, KS, but had to file from there to Muskegon as IL, WI and MI were overcast and snow, ATC kept me way wide of ORD so that added some time as well.
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Sounds like quite the trip! Hoping mine is easier. :)
 
The guy I bought the Mooney from takes his 182 there every week for work, and he said it was awful. I think he was paying something like $9/gallon for avgas there.
 
SrFnFly227 said:
No choice unfortunately. They are still the only FBO at the field and there aren't really any other airport choices near where the boss wants to go.
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Martin is too far from the city? I had a neighbor at DMW who had just moved from Signature. He said they were charging something like 2 or 3 thousand dollars a month for a T-hangar for his T-34.
 
ATN_Pilot said:
The guy I bought the Mooney from takes his 182 there every week for work, and he said it was awful. I think he was paying something like $9/gallon for avgas there.
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They charge us $1000 just to show up to the ramp. We went in twice in the same day once and got charged both times. When we asked about it, they told us that "you don't have the status for us to waive it." I hate that place. Oddly though, the fuel is the same price as our home field once we use the Colt pricing.

milleR said:
Martin is too far from the city? I had a neighbor at DMW who had just moved from Signature. He said they were charging something like 2 or 3 thousand dollars a month for a T-hangar for his T-34.
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Martin is the wrong direction. They live in Annapolis. We talk them in to Easton occasionally, but the drive is about 15 minutes longer and they have to cross the bay bridge. Traffic can suck at the wrong time of year.
 
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