Recent content by Chris Dickens

I don't own an airplane of my own...yet. But that day is coming in the near future. Unfortunately, every airport within an hour's drive of my home has a waiting list for hangar space years-long...even the community hangars are full. One of the closer airports (KFQD) has offered a ground lease...

I had the choice to go on a deployment to Afghanistan that required I attend the advanced beatings class...I turned it down and went on a normal squadron deployment to Kuwait. While there, the guy who accepted that deployment let me know they changed the deployment location last...

All that makes sense. I'll be buying a Baron in the near future. I like the roominess of the Seneca but they are a little slower and I'm just sold on the build quality of Beech airplanes. Twin Commanches, Twin Bonanzas, Aztecs...all are older airframes and they are getting harder to maintain...

This is why I want a Baron. I did survival school in northern Washington state in November. It sucked.

The Cirrus is likely a more economical airplane. But I disagree about the worn-out "second engine is there only to take you to the scene of the crash." I've had about 7 engine failures over my career in ME aircraft and every time we've landed on a runway safe and sound. There are a few...

To be fair this was about 4-5 years ago! I'd imagine he'd charge more these days. But his annual was about $10k (fixed a bunch of squawks), and he paid about $250 a month for a hangar. Not a ton of unscheduled maintenance that I was aware of. I have no idea what he paid for insurance, but I...

I've heard the 58P cost less to operate than a 340...or that they are about the same. I like the Twin Cessnas...but seems they run about $700/800 per hour. I could probably get away with that but I'd rather spend less on an airplane!

Bottom line, if you use the chute the airplane is likely done and it's going to be an insurance claim to find a new airplane. Aside from an onboard fire or a structural failure, the Baron will continue on and successfully land and the airplane is likely repairable. A chute won't really work...

The Cirrus is certainly fast. But the chute doesn't work in every case, and putting one into the drink around the Bahamas might keep people alive but the airplane is done. Versus flying a Baron to a runway somewhere and getting it fixed.

Not really true. Lots of posts on here about heavy metal like MU-2s and SA-227s, etc. But many twins like the Barons are about the same size as their single-engine counterparts. And many twins have plenty of one-engine power to fly safely to a runway. I don't currently own an airplane (about...

Given the wait for a hangar at most airports, I may see about building my own.

At 300’, Army Aviators would get a nose bleed. That’s AF helicopter altitudes.

They do look roomy. I’m guessing it wouldn’t fit in a normal sized t-hangar.

Having thousands of hours in turboprops, I'd love to fly a MU-2 (not a good option for an inexperienced MEL pilot). Entry level pricing, however, belies the long-term costs...I have a feeling a MU-2 would eat me alive in maintenance costs over the years.

Yeah, it's ironic how that works...give them a good brief on how the safety stuff works and suddenly they get nervous. I'd brief passengers on how to open the rear windows in the Debonair and B55 and I'd get looks of "why, do you know something we don't?" I'd have to counter with "we'll be...