So I'm giving serious thought to setting aside my Commander 112TC in the next zero to three years, and buying a different plane to tide me over until my own design is flying.
Mission requirements:
What designs do folks suggest looking into that meet all of the must-haves, and do okay on nice-to-haves?
[Edit: For the record, my 112TC meets all of the must-haves, except it's right at the hairy edge of "comfortable" on a 2400 ft field. It meets all of the nice-to-haves except E/AB (obviously) and glass cockpit (for mine). The only reason I'm looking to move on is thinking about the future need for an engine overhaul, which is not a real option for the TO-360. I'm also thinking about doing an alternate engine either under Mosaic+STC or by taking it to E/Exh, but I'm really more interested in having something to actively fly than a project.]
Mission requirements:
- 2+ seats
- 140+ kts cruise
- 600+ nm useful range (+ reserve)
- 500+ lbs useful load at 600 nm range
- Useful ceiling of 15+ k ft
- Capable of comfortable operation on a 2400 ft field at gross weight [rules out most of the LongEZ family]
- Comfortable for a 260+ lb, 5'10" pilot + pax [rules out Sonexes etc]
- IFR capable
- Autopilot
- Okay for ramp tie-down [rules out fabric covered]
- Tricycle landing gear
- Multiple instances of design on market for < $200k [rules out RV-10s and RV-14s]
- If experimental, enough community experience to make a thorough pre-purchase inspection possible
- E/AB
- 3+ seats
- 150+ kts cruise
- Turbocharger for more performance margin at my 5 k ft field
- Aluminum construction
- Unrestricted operation on 100LL (no decalin etc needed)
- Single engine
- Glass cockpit (for primary instruments)
- Some chance of grabbing one for < $150k
What designs do folks suggest looking into that meet all of the must-haves, and do okay on nice-to-haves?
[Edit: For the record, my 112TC meets all of the must-haves, except it's right at the hairy edge of "comfortable" on a 2400 ft field. It meets all of the nice-to-haves except E/AB (obviously) and glass cockpit (for mine). The only reason I'm looking to move on is thinking about the future need for an engine overhaul, which is not a real option for the TO-360. I'm also thinking about doing an alternate engine either under Mosaic+STC or by taking it to E/Exh, but I'm really more interested in having something to actively fly than a project.]
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