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Hi there!

I had been battling myself for the past 4 months on what's going to be my next step up.. All aircrafts have cons and pluses... I need 6 seats for my family to fit for the next 5 or 6 years, before i am able (hope) to make a transition to a jet (cirrus jet maybe)... I am considering the following but i am not limited to them :


Situation:
I have 3 little children :

1) 6 Year Old [60 lbs +/-]
2) 4 Year Old [50 lbs +/-]
3) 1 Baby [22 lbs]
4) Wife [145 lbs]
5) Me [230 lbs]

More Typical Mission is a : 400 nm flight with 4 persons total on the aircraft(friends not family).

Typical Mission is a 300 nm flight once every 2 weeks.
None Typical is a 500 nm flight twice a month with the whole family.

Im looking at the following aircrafts for me to get new or near new (2006 at least).. Any suggestions would be really welcomed!.. Im new to the 6 seat market.

1) Saratoga IITC (I hear it was going to be discontinued soon)
Besides, i am concerned about payload capabilities for my mission + i think they will be worth much less soon due to the used market of matrix aircrafts.

2) Piper Matrix (Im curious to flying characteristics)
And i am also concerned about the payload somewhat, and specially with concerned with the premium you pay to buy new, and that in a few years they will be a no battle for a 1 mill cirrus/dimond jet, and will be worth a lot less. Plus theres not enough history to buy smart with performance and ownership opinions.

3) 6XT (Discontinued + I hear its slower than the Saratoga , Matrix)
This is probably a NO GO, since i would rather have a TOGA.

4) Cessna 206 (Slow too in comparison?).
Great airplane all around, but slow in comparison with the Matrix. Better usefull load, but expensive for not having known icing, etc.

5) Twin Navajo/400 Series
I am concerned with the challenge of flight, safety record of twins overall, and the fact that they are old machines that are critical to flight.. I don't know how safe are this large cabin twins, since i hear all kinds of opinions, but mostly i hear they are tough on safety.

If im going for an old one, i might consider a twin, like the navajo or 400 series.... Offcourse this will have to be a very detailed purchase since i will need to get my twin rating, and fly the aircraft with a mentor for a couple of hundred hours before attending initial training and flying solo with the family.

Budget is around 800k..

Pilot experience is IFR, Single Engine Land (Airplane), Rotorcraft (helicopter), Glider. Around 600 Hours in airplanes, and 500 in helicopters.

Don't mind to take refresher/recurrent courses every year, since im used to them with the Bell 206B refresher i take every year, and i don't only attend, but enjoy recurrent training..

Any other options are welcomed, and encouraged!
Thanks!

Hi,

As you have discovered, there are a lot of options out there. Being that you have a young family and are looking to do a fair amount of flying, I would recommend doing your multi-engine rating. Your options will immediately increase, as well as safety with additional training.
I am flying a 1997 Seneca V, turbocharged, and it is certainly comfortable and a good performer. I manage it so I am not familiar with costs etc, but a twin might be a good option long-term.

Let us know what you discover. There are many possibilities out there..
a

Still Searching for the right answer

Sir,

I believe the Piper option would give you the best cost/benefit balance of your mentioned options.

I am not extensively knowledgeable of all these aircraft, but I have flown the Piper Meridian(the turbo prop vers. of Matrix) and as long as their maintenance is kept up with, they are easy to fly and comfortable too.

Hope that helped a little.