My landlord just called. He just got a job in N.E. PA. We are in S.W. Colorado. He is wondering about getting a plane to fly back and forth with, and hiring me to fly the plane .

He expects the job to go on for couple years. He would want to make the trip once a week. Needs atleast 6 seats, shuttleing some of the workers every couple weeks. Like to be around $200K or less.

What plane would give him the best bang for the buck for this type of operqation?

Thanks Gary

twin or single?

shortfielder wrote:My landlord just called. He just got a job in N.E. PA. We are in S.W. Colorado. He is wondering about getting a plane to fly back and forth with, and hiring me to fly the plane .

He expects the job tpo go on for couple years. He would want to make the trip once a week. Needs atleast 6 seats, shuttleing some of the workers every couple weeks.

What plane would give him the best bang for the buck for this type of operqation?

Thanks Gary

A 340 cessna will fit the bill, be relatively inexpensive to run and cruise at an acceptable speed......

Or talk him into buying a Quest Kodiak, it will be slower but,,,,,,,,,,, you will be a hit at any back country fly in.

Pilatus??

Or, King Air 100, 200, or 300??

Just noticed on Controller.com, you can pick up a vintage G2 from $500K to just over a million (I'm sure there's a reason for that, though). The residents of Durango probably wouldn't like the rumblings of a G2 taking off at 5 AM Monday mornings, though. And the boss wouldn't like the fuel bill

ccurrie wrote:twin or single?

Piston, Turboprop, Jet??

For that distance you had better be jet fast with stand up potty. Most employees cant handle legs over 1 hour 20 min and dont like pooping in a bag. The bean counters will also make a good argument for the airlines.

shortfielder wrote: Like to be around $200K or less.

I missed that part

But I'd say Skydive206 is right with what he said. Plus, will you need a good performing plane for the summer months to get out of SW CO?

BTW, I'm no pro. So I may not know what the hell I'm talking about sometimes!

Good thought,No b'fast and no coffee I guess

ccurrie

twin or single. I don't think either is a deal breaker at this point, just which pencils out the best. And I m also open to the idea that you may not be able to do it for that money. I don't know anything about this type of flying, but figured that this was a good place to start.

Gary

You will need to consider many factors:

Distance, time, people load with baggage, company and company insurance requirements and a few other things that the bean counters and board members can come up with. I know that a C340 with seats full, baggage and any kind of gas load won't do. Most companies don't like employees flying on GA aircraft unless there is a Professional Crew (not single pilot) handling the controls.

Good Luck!

So yeah Gary.......SW CO to, (I'm guessing) let's say Harrisburg is close to 1500nm. That's a long way in a small plane even if your clipping away at 200 to 300 knots. Come summer time, your going to be dealing with the summer thunderstorms, too. Your going to want something to get high and with some large fuel tanks to go around the weather if you have to.

Before your boss buys, have you thought about finding some charter company's with the type of aircraft your thinking about purchasing to give it a test drive?

Anyway, what do I know??

Buy him a block time of tickets on BIG BIRD take the money you save him and put gas in your tank

It isn't gonna work in anything in that price range there will only be hard feelings

I need to go to KC every month I am looking at something that goes 300 knots and it isn't close to 200K

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?

Only thing that works for real for that distance is a bigger Citation, and the $$$$ to feed it. On a 200K budget, buy tickets on Southwest.

Gump

Your boss would really have to hate playing the TSA shuffle to make a case for a piston banger or even a turboprop. Maybe he wants to travel armed?

Wellllll, we just didn't know. Looks ike it would be smarter to go commercial, and buy your guns when you get there.

I'm far from an expert but if he really wants to do it. A Pressurized Cessna 210 would get the job done and fit into that price range.

Here's a sweet looking twin for $215K: http://www.controller.com/listingsdetail/aircraft-for-sale/CESSNA-T303/1984-CESSNA-T303/1147845.htm


Another listing: http://www.controller.com/listingsdetail/aircraft-for-sale/CESSNA-T303/1983-CESSNA-T303/1162981.htm

Hey Pat
That's a nice looking plane, and probably good for 4, but can only carry about 1700 pounds. 6 people and fuel=over gross, without luggage. I don't know TBO on those engines, but I'm guessin they are about used up, so that's probably another $60-70K.

My conclusion, buy airline tickets, spend the extra money havin fun.

No problem! So I guess this thread is short lived....... Over in a New York minute. Oh well.

I'd still look into a charter or fractional for at least a 1/4 to half the trips (if the boss man has that kind of money). I haven't checked the flights, but it's got to be a pain to move 6 people from SW CO to NE PA by airline. I dunno.