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Serbu Firearms, Inc., Tampa, Florida
Get it from the horse's mouth!
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markserbu
Guru
Joined: 10 May 2005
Posts: 687
Location: Tampa, Florida
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 Posted: Sat Jun 23, 2007 12:19 am Post subject: Okay, airplane guys... |
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No, I still don't have the license, though I've got everything done that I need to take the check ride short of studying for the oral exam. Haven't been able to study because I'm working my butt off trying to get the first BFG-50As delivered to our VIP customer. I've decided that I need to buy an airplane (who doesn't?), but can't decide on the best choice. I don't want to get anything too "cool" yet, as I don't want to risk brutalizing a nice airplane with my neophyte touch (even though I am a pretty damn good pilot already...just ask me!)  I'm thinking of an Arrow, being not too exotic and yet a good platform for getting my instrument rating in. It's not too painfully slow (compared to a 172) and shouldn't be too bad for taking trips of up to a few hours duration. Any thoughts? |
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TCPilot
Guru
Joined: 14 May 2005
Posts: 117
Location: PRK
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| Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2007 3:24 am Post subject: |
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Mark,
I'm the wrong guy to ask because I bought my Shrike Aero Commander 3 mos. BEFORE I got my license  but I would give some thought to your mission profile. I got the Commander because I am a large guy with a large family, bicycles, and hopefully a heavy-ass BFG-50A someday (ha, cheap shot!). Average # of passengers, average length of trip, average cargo will generally dictate size, speed and # of engines. Need a good instrument platform? Ability to handle unimproved strips? Short runway capabilities? All will play a part in your decision.
Arrows are great airplanes and very predictable, but I think you'll exceed that airplane's capabilities pretty quickly. Is a Cherokee Six or Saratoga out of reach? They are the next step up and have lots of load carrying ability for a single. Have you considered any twins? Keep in mind that maintenance for two engines is $4x, not $2x....although I consider that cheap life insurance here in the Sierras.
Don't be fooled by the speed thing, i.e. 6 knots of cruise won't make much of a noticeable difference on a 2-hr. trip. For long trips I prefer range over speed; I routinely beat guys with "fast" airplanes on long trips (sometimes by a wide margin) because I've got tons of range, and don't have to kill 45 min. for a refueling stop.
I like the time-proven airframes: 182's, 206's, Cherokee/Saratogas, Bonanzas, Commanders, Barons.
Once your brain is fully tied in knots, post again, or PM me and we can chat on the phone. I'll talk flying any time!!!
Cheers & HTH,
/TCP
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markserbu
Guru
Joined: 10 May 2005
Posts: 687
Location: Tampa, Florida
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| Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2007 2:12 pm Post subject: |
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I was considering a Saratoga with a partner, but he just lost his medical! I can probably still swing it by myself, but I have a feeling this is going to be a temporary airplane on the way to a much cooler one so a Saratoga seems a bit much. Of course it would be really nice to be able to tote the motorcycle around! I had a friend who used to do that with a 206, but I'm not sure the Saratoga has the same ability. I know it can handle the load; just not sure about the door opening. I recently discovered the Turbo Arrow, and that seems like a good choice. The TBO on the engine is 200 hours less, but it's 35 knots faster than the standard Arrow!
Wow...I can't imagine learning on a twin! I've disabled PMs on the board, so please give me a call at the shop. Or post your phone number if you want the world (well, the world of 15 people or so who read this board) to know it.
| TCPilot wrote: | Mark,
I'm the wrong guy to ask because I bought my Shrike Aero Commander 3 mos. BEFORE I got my license but I would give some thought to your mission profile. I got the Commander because I am a large guy with a large family, bicycles, and hopefully a heavy-ass BFG-50A someday (ha, cheap shot!). Average # of passengers, average length of trip, average cargo will generally dictate size, speed and # of engines. Need a good instrument platform? Ability to handle unimproved strips? Short runway capabilities? All will play a part in your decision.
Arrows are great airplanes and very predictable, but I think you'll exceed that airplane's capabilities pretty quickly. Is a Cherokee Six or Saratoga out of reach? They are the next step up and have lots of load carrying ability for a single. Have you considered any twins? Keep in mind that maintenance for two engines is $4x, not $2x....although I consider that cheap life insurance here in the Sierras.
Don't be fooled by the speed thing, i.e. 6 knots of cruise won't make much of a noticeable difference on a 2-hr. trip. For long trips I prefer range over speed; I routinely beat guys with "fast" airplanes on long trips (sometimes by a wide margin) because I've got tons of range, and don't have to kill 45 min. for a refueling stop.
I like the time-proven airframes: 182's, 206's, Cherokee/Saratogas, Bonanzas, Commanders, Barons.
Once your brain is fully tied in knots, post again, or PM me and we can chat on the phone. I'll talk flying any time!!!
Cheers & HTH,
/TCP |
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TCPilot
Guru
Joined: 14 May 2005
Posts: 117
Location: PRK
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| Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2007 4:25 pm Post subject: |
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Mark,
650-938-9500 will get me anytime.
A turbo arrow isn't a bad choice. If you mean a "way cooler" airplane, why not a turbine commander? 310 knots, 31,000 feet, 8 passengers in total comfort or a couple of big motorcycles....
/TCP
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Hawaii five-0
Too much time on my hands
Joined: 03 Dec 2006
Posts: 85
Location: California
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| Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2007 10:57 am Post subject: |
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once the semi hits the market,maybe a F-22 raptor?
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50 Shooter
Guru
Joined: 24 Oct 2005
Posts: 158
Location: People's Republik of Kalifornia
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NYS
Know-it-all
Joined: 10 Jun 2007
Posts: 59
Location: NEW YORK
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| Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2007 11:49 pm Post subject: |
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I like jumping out of planes.It's much easier than flying them.
Please Mark make a couple of the semi 50's for us and than you can fly your face oFF! I think the air force is having a sale on stealth bombers this week.You can carry at least one or two bikes in that jet.   .The Turbine commander is a proven great plane,and has a great safty record.That is once you get a license and some airtime under your belt.Don't pull a JFK(who needs to learn instruments) JR on us!!!!!
STEVE |
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markserbu
Guru
Joined: 10 May 2005
Posts: 687
Location: Tampa, Florida
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| Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2007 11:28 am Post subject: |
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Well, I'll definitely be able to afford an F-22, probably after the first month or so of shipping BFG-50As. And of course with my military connections, I'm getting a fully-armed version. The only problem is that the maintenance and insurance are insane!! Plus, my insurer wants me to have liability coverage for every round of 20mm ammo, every bomb, and every missile I carry. What's the world coming to?
| Hawaii five-0 wrote: | | once the semi hits the market,maybe a F-22 raptor? |
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markserbu
Guru
Joined: 10 May 2005
Posts: 687
Location: Tampa, Florida
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| Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2007 11:30 am Post subject: |
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ALL those VLJs are pretty awesome!!
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layke
Dangerous
Joined: 14 Dec 2005
Posts: 22
Location: Meadville PA
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| Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2007 1:41 pm Post subject: |
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Get your IFR before you buy a high performance (i.e. retract, turbo) so your insurance won't kill you. I went from a Cherokee 180 to a P210 and insurance went to $5k/yr immediately.
Get a nice stable single and talk your local flight instructor into a 14 day IFR program. I did mine in half days....... so I could go to work a half day. He can schedule the check ride on the last day and your done. Best part? Bad weather is a good thing! |
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TCPilot
Guru
Joined: 14 May 2005
Posts: 117
Location: PRK
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| Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2007 3:06 pm Post subject: |
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LOL, I gotta agree with Layke!
I bought my twin engine, high performance, complex airplane 2 months BEFORE I got my private pilot's license. After getting my PPL, I immediately got my multi & instrument, both in MY airplane.
The insurance company still wanted $14k to insure me that first year....
/TCP
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eyemantwo
Newbie
Joined: 19 Sep 2007
Posts: 4
Location: Tampa Bay
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