If you could buy any aircraft what would you buy?

[FlyingKiwi]

Based on the assumption that fuel costs and so forth are also covered, I'd probably buy a Tupolev 154 and have it painted black with silver waves (our national colours, but also my personal favourite combination). (like fuselage-length versions of the waves on Air New Zealand's livery.

[bruckey1]

I'd have to get a Spartan Executive. That is one cool aircraft from the golden age of aviation. The 450 hp Pratt and Whitney radial engine delivers lots of power too. For sheer fun, I think a P-51 Mustang would be a good choice. I'd also like to have one of the biz jets like a Citation 10 or Hawker 400XP.

[FITZY]

Gee, and I was thinking a Bonanza would really be nice!

[navav2004]

I'd get myself an F-18C Hornet...But then I'd need an Aircraft Carrier also...he he

[maddmodder]

Going on the multiple aircraft with no financial limitations premise, here's my picks:

First I'd get a Cessna 172 or 182 for local stuff and taking freinds and family up on slow summer days. Then I'd get something like a CRJ-200 for going around the east coast and stuff. For cross country trips I would get a 787 Dreamliner and have it custom made for private use with all the latest gadgets and tech stuff because I'm a sucker for high tech toys! :D Lastly, for my worldwide trips I would have to say that bigger is always better and go with the A380 and have the same thing done to it that I did to the 787.

Yeah, it's a lot but it never hurt to dream! ;)

[hylander_1]

Well, I'm a bit more of a props guy, especialy since I am not type rated in jets (:P) and my family owns a piston twin (which I am infinitely grateful to have available to me). BUT... and yes there is a but, if I were to choose a better, faster, roomier piston twin I have a list of several models. OK, I LOVE Twin Commanders, and I am just smitten with those sweet airplanes. A very safe and honest twin, and also roomy and comfortable, the Twin Commander would be my ideal piston twin cross-country hauler. By the way, I love our Piper Geronimo, but an O-540 series Lycoming is much more appealing as far as amount of cruise power than an O-360 series Lycoming (both very nice engines, but one is 290 HP as opposed to 180). Which models? For economic purposes, I would get the straight AC500 or AC560. The AC500 has a direct-drive O-540 and two blade props, but would be a great cruiser. The 560 would be excellent, but I believe it has the geared GO-540, which is a bear to maintain. Now if I had money to burn, I would buy the 500S Shrike Commander (Bob Hoover's plane). What an airplane! The hitch is that the Shrike has flat nacelles, as opposed to the thicker ones on the other Commanders, and the gear cannot be stored inside the nacelles by retracting straight back. Instead, the main gear have to rotate 90 degrees to lie flat in the thin nacelle. That gear mechanism is yet another costly maintenance issue.

Here's an AC500:
[img src="http://www.flightsim.com/dc/user_files/105544.jpg"]

Here is an AC560, and probably the nicest one in the world:
[img src="http://www.flightsim.com/dc/user_files/105545.jpg"]
Oh, and this one deserves a link to view the rest of this gorgeous plane. DO NOT skip the pictures and equipment lists, they are awe inspiring: http://www.cyconenterprises.com

And finally, a 500S Shrike Commander in flight:
[img src="http://www.flightsim.com/dc/user_files/105546.jpg"]

Aren't they beautiful?

[i]Regards,
hylander_1

Private Pilot
Single Engine Land
Multi Engine Land
Instrument Airplane

Piper PA-23-160 Apache Geronimo

[Kimber]

I can afford about any GA plane I want!! I would like a Cessna 310!!
But if you crunch the numbers, it is cheaper to rent!! With all the
costs involved, even flying 300 hrs a year it is much cheaper to
rent!! If I had a 310, that is all I would fly!! I rent 172s, 182RGs
and once or twice a year, a Lear 35!!

I spent about $20,000 last year on aircraft rentals!! I damaged one
aircraft and it was covered so it cost me nothing!!
Before you jump to conclusions, it was a bird strike!! The prop was
damaged!! And it made a big mess!!

[Vike]

Yep, Larry, that's a list!!

For me, a Baron for weekends away with friends, and a Chipmunk to tool around in.

Perfect!

Cheers,
Adam

[flyinggriffin]

When I first saw this question my impulse was to say C182 Skylane. I have flown the C182RG and it is fantastic but those mains are going to sometime have an expensive overhaul. The actuators need to be replaced sooner or later and they were running 7,500 apiece before labor a few years ago from cessna.

When Larry mentioned the C180...then I said YEAH. All the great flying qualities of the trike Skylane and you have the advantage of the conventional gear for non-paved operations. If you have never flown into grass strips, you are missing a lot of fun.

If I could afford a twin, it would be the Piper SenecaII.

Forget jets, too expensive and a headache for maintenance. You also limit yourself to where you can fly. Now, I wouldn't mind a KingAir.

[metro752]

747-400

Reliable, Big, Safe


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September 11th, 2001
Never Forget