On Tue, Aug 04, 2009 at 02:12:48PM -0000, Abid Farooqui wrote:
> Given that reality, one has to question why a private pilot who wants to
> do serious IFR flights would not go for a 160 knots cruise more stable and
> well suited to IFR airplane compared to a less stable, slower LSA airplane
> with only 2 seats. One could say its because at 160 knots the Bonanza is
> burning 13 GPH ... sure, true and LSA is burning 5-6 GPH at 112 knots. The
> less you have to stop in a XC, the biggest the time savings there so that
> argument has some pros and some cons but besides that argument there isn't
> a whole lot more affordable by buying LSA-IFR. Again just my opinion.
Fuel burn is just one component of lower operating costs. The Bonanza will
cost much more at annual time, between having half again as many cylinders,
having a retractable landing gear, and just more complex systems overall.
There's also the factor of insurance. An LSA will cost less - sometimes much
less - to insure than a Bonanza-class airplane for a pilot of any given
level of experience.
My Zodiac will cost less than half to operate than will a 4-place Bonanza or
similar. For folks whose mission will fit into an LSA, that argument is hard
to ignore.
> This then brings me to think that a lot of people interested in buying
> LSA-IFR airplanes ... are they current private pilots (with medicals)
> rated for IFR??? I wonder what this breakdown would show us. I have my
> suspesions but I truly may be well off the mark.
I bought my airplane equipped and certified for IFR because, while I don't
have an instrument rating, I can see circumstances in which I would be able
to get it, and didn't want to have to sell it and buy something else to take
advantage of it. The convers is likely true for a lot of folks, who would be
currently rated and have a medical and want an airplane they can keep flying
even after the medical goes away. I find it truly mystifying why some folks
argue so vehemently that both of those philosophies are so terrible.
--
Jay Maynard, K5ZC, PP-ASEL, CFI-SP http://www.conmicro.com
http://jmaynard.livejournal.com http://www.tronguy.net
Fairmont, MN (KFRM) (Yes, that's me!)
AMD Zodiac CH601XLi N55ZC http://www.tronguy.net/N55ZC.shtml
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