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Backcountry Pilot • What's your Favorite Cross Country Plane??

What's your Favorite Cross Country Plane??

Technical and practical discussion about specific aircraft types such as Cessna 180, Maule M7, et al. Please read and search carefully before posting, as many popular topics have already been discussed.
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49 posts • Page 1 of 3 • 1, 2, 3
Tue Oct 26, 2010 10:27 am

What's your Favorite Cross Country Plane??

If you were fortunate enough to have two airplanes (1 Backcountry and 1 Commuter), what would be your favorite cross country (commuter) plane? I know there's a ton of options out there for every type of budget. But on this thread, it would be very interesting to hear what you have in mind. And anything goes on this thread (single, twin, turbine, jet, low wing or high wing). But, let's be reasonable for the following mission.

Let's use the following mission as an example on a good day.
1. 550nm to 650nm trip
2. Enough fuel and payload (4 large adults + 1 small carry on size luggage per pass.) to make the trip with in 3-4 hours non-stop.

Here's a link to a thread that I had started for what a typical mission for me would be. Lot's of great info and feedback!!
http://www.backcountrypilot.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=6251
58Skylane offline
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Tue Oct 26, 2010 10:49 am

Re: What's your Favorite Cross Country Plane??

G2.
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Tue Oct 26, 2010 12:53 pm

Re: What's your Favorite Cross Country Plane??

Well, if the mine is producing lots of gold nuggets the size of goose eggs, I'd definitely get a Citation X.
http://www.controller.com/list/list.aspx?manu=CESSNA&mdltxt=CITATION+X

If you're instead taking over the old 20 mule team borax mine, then maybe a turbo 210.
http://www.controller.com/list/list.aspx?manu=CESSNA&mdltxt=turbo+210
kevbert offline
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Tue Oct 26, 2010 1:12 pm

Re: What's your Favorite Cross Country Plane??

With no hesitation... I'd pick the PC-12. 8)

Image

Not sure if that's the answer you're looking for though. :mrgreen:
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Tue Oct 26, 2010 1:33 pm

Re: What's your Favorite Cross Country Plane??

mountainmatt wrote:With no hesitation... I'd pick the PC-12. 8)

Not sure if that's the answer you're looking for though. :mrgreen:


Very cool pic and plane.

But yeah, I didn't want this thread to be about me or for my mission. It's about what you would pick for a cross country plane if you had a choice. And hear from others what they own, have owned, or flew for others with a cross country commuter type plane.
58Skylane offline
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Tue Oct 26, 2010 2:08 pm

Re: What's your Favorite Cross Country Plane??

I like planes that are not the "mainstream" aircraft. (probably why I bought a Maule :D ) But here would be my choices.
If money was not an issue then I would go with a Socata TBM 850:
http://tradeaplane.com/detail/986765.html

If all I wanted was a comfortable and econmic x-country plane then it would be the Lancair IV-P w/cont TSIO-550:http://tradeaplane.com/detail/988189.html

BUT, why not have the best of both worlds(backcountry and x-country):
http://tradeaplane.com/detail/988267.html
Actually just found this one. Makes me think.....nope better to stay out of debt.

I have not flown any of these, but all seem to be planes with great performance that people seem to over look.
-Kneel
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Tue Oct 26, 2010 2:21 pm

Re: What's your Favorite Cross Country Plane??

58Skylane, You just had to ask didn't you? :lol:

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Tue Oct 26, 2010 3:03 pm

Re: What's your Favorite Cross Country Plane??

Well, I've been looking at twins as I mentioned in the other thread, if I were in the lower 48 and needed a 500-1000 mile traveler. Older four seater with (hopefully) many of the typical issues already recently addressed by previous owners (ha!) :^o

Four seats to keep the insurance costs down.

Low end would be a Twin Comanche or Beech Travelair, high end would be an older C310 or Piper Seneca. Maybe a Skymaster if I found a cherry.

Like you I would be converting new economic opportunities into avgas and A&P charges before I would ever do the above to myself and my pocketbook.

Otherwise...well 180/182 speed will get you there eventually with a decent sized load. Beware mission creep.
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Tue Oct 26, 2010 4:09 pm

Re: What's your Favorite Cross Country Plane??

well its not a 4 seater but I always thought a harmon rocket would be a fun way to get around. but now that you mention it a PC-12 with big engine and a gravel kit would do in a pinch.
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Tue Oct 26, 2010 5:18 pm

Re: What's your Favorite Cross Country Plane??

CJ3

Gump
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Tue Oct 26, 2010 5:32 pm

Re: What's your Favorite Cross Country Plane??

For just me and a girlfriend I'd go for one of the Nemesis NXT kits. You'd haul ass while looking really, REALLY good. Yowsah!

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Tue Oct 26, 2010 5:55 pm

Re: What's your Favorite Cross Country Plane??

I agree with MtnMatt...a PC-12 for Xcountry and a Porter for back country..that should about do it since money is no object...Oh and by the way I'd have a DC-3 just for fun!
HC :D
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Tue Oct 26, 2010 6:08 pm

Re: What's your Favorite Cross Country Plane??

ccurrie wrote:but now that you mention it a PC-12 with big engine and a gravel kit would do in a pinch.


onceAndFutr_alaskaflyer offline
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Tue Oct 26, 2010 6:12 pm

Re: What's your Favorite Cross Country Plane??

You can get Bonanzas pretty cheap now. Build a moster engine and get there in style.
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Tue Oct 26, 2010 7:30 pm

Re: What's your Favorite Cross Country Plane??

58Skylane wrote:If you were fortunate enough to have two airplanes (1 Backcountry and 1 Commuter), what would be your favorite cross country (commuter) plane? I know there's a ton of options out there for every type of budget. But on this thread, it would be very interesting to hear what you have in mind. And anything goes on this thread (single, twin, turbine, jet, low wing or high wing). But, let's be reasonable for the following mission.

Let's use the following mission as an example on a good day.
1. 550nm to 650nm trip
2. Enough fuel and payload (4 large adults + 1 small carry on size luggage per pass.) to make the trip with in 3-4 hours non-stop.

Here's a link to a thread that I had started for what a typical mission for me would be. Lot's of great info and feedback!!
http://www.backcountrypilot.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=6251


I like T210's for Cross Country airplane . P-210 is more comfortable because of pressurization .A Turbine
P-210 would be out of sight.
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Wed Oct 27, 2010 6:38 am

Re: What's your Favorite Cross Country Plane??

Turbine Beaver, Otter or Twin Otter. Probably not fast but haul a load and the COOL factor is undeniable. :) Plus, it would get in and out of lots of backcountry strips.
WW
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Wed Oct 27, 2010 6:40 am

Re: What's your Favorite Cross Country Plane??

You could get a U206, Tiger turbine conversion, Flint tanks 30gal , Sierra 50gal. Speed, range, comfort, and land on a gravel road. Sorry for using this forum as a plug for my kit.
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Wed Oct 27, 2010 10:32 am

Re: What's your Favorite Cross Country Plane??

Report this postReply with quoteRe: What's your Favorite Cross Country Plane??
by once&futr_alaskaflyer » Tue Oct 26, 2010 5:03 pm

Well, I've been looking at twins as I mentioned in the other thread, if I were in the lower 48 and needed a 500-1000 mile traveler. Older four seater with (hopefully) many of the typical issues already recently addressed by previous owners (ha!)

Four seats to keep the insurance costs down.

Low end would be a Twin Comanche or Beech Travelair, high end would be an older C310 or Piper Seneca. Maybe a Skymaster if I found a cherry.



I got my multiengine rating in a Travelaire and after that I purchased a twin Comanche. I was intersted at the time in a good X country plane. The twin Cmanche was not as good as I hoped it would be. The minimum controllable airspeed is like 89 mph and the plane will often fly at around 75mph. The plane has issues with its design that make it a less than desireable twin for high terrain. The single engine service ceiling is like 5000 ft. If you lose one you better be below that or planned for a hard let down.
maybe a single is better since there is no appreciable added safety by flying a low powered twin with two right turning props.

I think the C 210 for a single or the Diamond Star for a twin would be my go to cross country ride, but there are so many good possibilities.
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Wed Oct 27, 2010 10:55 am

Re: What's your Favorite Cross Country Plane??

I will preface this with stating that I am new here, and only a student pilot. I am an A&P, returning to to aviation after 15 years as a Ducati motorcycle tech and shop owner.

How about an Twin Commander? Like a 500B with some mods? I have read they are good from short strips, and can climb with one engine.
There also seems to be a lot of reasonably priced examples needing a little work. I also like Britain Norman Islanders, but there is not a lot of info to read on them, and well used examples seem to be twice the price as a less used Aero Commander.

Like I stated, I am a student pilot and have no first hand knowledge. As soon as a put my 7AC together (shooting for mid March) I will be able to transition from the 150 I am learning in, to the Champ. After as much tailwheel time as I can get in it, I will be looking to step up to something bigger and more capable. Maybe a Maule, but I have been warned away from them and told they are hard to fly. Sorry, don't mean to hijack your thread.
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Wed Oct 27, 2010 7:28 pm

Re: What's your Favorite Cross Country Plane??

Funny you should bring this up, we just came to a solution this past year. We sold the "do it all Maule " because it didn't quite do it all (for us). Needed to haul 3 kids and luggage on cross country trips. Hence the purchase of a very nice '74 PA 32 300. (a 206 would have been nice but couldn't find as nice of one in the same price range) As for bush plane flying, wanted something cheaper to operate and able to handle shorter strips. So we found a Just Highlander :D lots of fun!
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