Yup, conclusion, $200k Citation. Not gonna happen.

Smith/Piper Aerostar is the fastest piston twin GA airplane commonly available. I have never flown one, and I know nothing good or bad about them except that they are considered a handful to fly and the insurance company will probably insist that you go through a Flight Safety course or similar. They also have a reputation for sportscar handling that delights experienced pilots and frightens inexperienced pilots. But they go like a scalded cat. They have O-540 turbo engines on them, so they suck up a lot of dinosaur juice, but I believe some of them flight plan out at 300 mph or some wicked number like that.

There are two used ones available here locally (greater Los Angeles). BCP forum member 182STOLdriver has a good line on one of them for sale, and I just found out about the other one today. No idea on the asking price.

Lease, if it's only for two years. If he thinks he will keep it for future work then look at buying. Only his accountant will know for sure. On the other hand accountants have never liked airplanes. Yearly operating budgets tend to be within 10% regardless of the type of airplane, within a particular class that is.

If you buy one of those $500,000 G2's let me know, I'm current!! 12 passenger seats, only $1.5 million a year in operating costs and in two years assuming the market improves he could probably sell it for $510,000. No crew overnight expenses, do the round trip in one day....What a deal.....

But seriously for $200,000 you are looking at an old 421, 340 etc. Average block speeds are going to be around 180 kts or so and require a stop or two. Salina, KS. and Grand Island NE. are both good. I agree that mountain performance in the summer is going to require a fairly high performance airplane, most of the piston twins are not really that good loaded up. I can see taking off with a load of 6 workers, their bags and you and your overnight bag with enough fuel to make Pueblo. Then you still have a 1300 mile slog ahead of you. Coming the other way factor in 30-50 knot headwinds.

Looking at older turboprops that are not that expensive to buy, but more to operate than a piston and have 6 seats. hmmm. By the way is that 6 passengers plus crew, or 6 total?
Realistically you are looking at a stop or two with a turboprop as well. By the way, the rule of thumb is: If your boss says he wants 6 seats, look for a 7 seat airplane. Those sideways bench seats are uncomfortable and cramped on a long flight. Having an empty seat will work wonders for the passengers disposition. If it turns into an all day adventure he will have a mutiny on his hands.
Look at a King Air E90, F90, B200 and maybe a Cheyenne 2. I've flown the F90, B200 and Cheyenne. The B200 has a bit of an engine upgrade from the original 200, better for the mountains. The Cheyenne 2 is almost a rocket but would be a bit tight on space for 6 big passengers and their bags. The early C90 is cheap, but not all that fast. The King Airs have some great aftermarket stuff available from Raisbeck that would help the takeoff performance out of Colorado. http://www.raisbeck.com/

If it is a two year job be dammmm sure you find something that won't have any major SCHEDULED maintenance for at least that long. Unscheduled is another story, ask anybody who owns an airplane.

I second the motion to try a couple of charters, find somebody with a King Air, Citation 5, maybe a Westwind 2 (not a 1, its a dog). See how they work, these days you could probably find an operator that would love a 2 year contract at a pretty reasonable price. I also agree, the insurance company is going to want fairly high times for this class airplane if you buy or lease. You can get a break from them if you fly with two pilots even in a single pilot airplane, so you may still have a job! As much as I hate to say it, the airlines will also give him a big break if he promises 6 seats per week for two years.

Get an idea of asking prices: http://www.controller.com/ http://www.aso.com/ It is still a buyers market but I'm seeing some slight signs that it is starting to tighten up.

Great info, John!

If Gary's landlord was able to acquire a large turbo prop or mid-size jet (or even one of them G2's), here's another thing to consider, if the plane is leaving S.W. CO. Sunday night/Monday morning and setting in N.E. PA. all week till Friday afternoon, would it make since to chartering it out? (if the owner could or wanted to). Even though it's tough times for many business's, the plane will be close to a huge market in the North East and Mid Atlantic area for a few days.

I'll till you a short story.

About 4-5 years ago when I was with the Motocross Team, our rider at the time Chad Reed met this guy that had an old Hawker and a Citation III. This guy (and I can't remember his name ) flew Chad, his wife, and anybody else tagging along with the Reed's for the race weekend to about all of the Supercross's and Motocross races for about 2-3 years. All Chad had to pay (from what I was told) was the fuel bill and some operating cost for the plane. But, during the week and even during the race weekend sometimes, both the planes were always very busy flying other charters, especially the Citation III. The owner of the planes was a huge Motocross and Chad Reed fan, too.

Anyway, I'm trying to keep this alive, Gary. I just can't imagine flying the airlines from S.W. CO to the east coast every week for two years.

Betcha there's tons of these or the like on Trade a Plane, Barnstormers and such.

1970 Cessna 310Q http://www.wingsandwheels.com/want-ads10.htm Scroll down mid page till you see a sweet looking twin.

TTA 5485, 1125/1125 SMOH, Annual 4/2010, Garmin GX-50 GPS (coupled) King KY-196 Digital Comm, MAC 1700 dig Nav/Comm, Dual G/S, PS Engineering PNA-6000M Audio Panel, Intercom, King KT-76 Trans., King KNS-80 RNAV/DME, Insite SF-2000 Strikefinder, Cessna 400 Autopilot, Starter Disengage Lights, Manual Door Seal, Altitude Alerter, Full Deice, Boots 3 Blade Hot Props, Alcohol W/S, Polished Spinners, Large Luggage Door, Shadin Digital Fuel Flow Center, EGT's, Wing Tip Strobes, Manual Door Seal, E-Z Engine Heaters, Dual push to talk control wheels, New windshield 2008, Useable Fuel: 140 Gal. 1690 U/L, Always hangared, located OH USA
$77,000.00 OBO
Robert B Curry 419-692-0411 , 419-303-1059 [email protected]

I guarantee you... You as pilot, with six company bigshots, make one 1700 mile cross country trip in a C310, C340, old C-90 King Air, whatever... In bad weather and icing conditions, and howling winds. Neither you nor your passengers will ever want to fly again in anything smaller than a 737.

Slow, down in the worse of the weather, and shooting multiple approaces to minimums for fuel stops doesn't make bosses/passengers happy campers.

Speed and altitude are what make that world work. And, lots of money.

Gump

Chartering it out is a possibility, but the extra 135 costs associated with a turbine airplane may outweigh the potential income. By the time you figure an extra 800 or 1000 hours on the airplane in two years and the associated market depreciation I'm not sure you would really make any money. That class airplane almost has to be a full time charter airplane to be worthwhile.
I can hear the other side of this conversation with the owner: "hey boss, remember that trip back home to Colorado this afternoon? Bad news, the charter we are on is running late so can we make it tomorrow at noon?"

Ye,I've blown this off. Talked to the boss this AM. Todd him he would be better off to fly SW Airlines and use the extra money for a good backcountry plane and go have fun in his spare time.

But it sure was a fun thought for a couple hours.

Gary

There you go, best idea yet.

shortfielder wrote:OK

So maybe this is a better question. What would be the minimum expense for a good plane to do this type of operation, and what would that plane be?

Gary:
Theirs going to be a Aerostar 700 in Montrose ,Colorado soon with lease available for trips.300 knots should close the distance to east coast without going thru TSA bull crap .Cost outright will be in 400K range . Company is going to use it as shuttle from Denver to Southwest Colorado once or twice a week. There also going to a Platius PC-12 moving around .Contact Me and I'll get you hooked up.