The elusive single-engine (or otherwise) "personal" jet doesn't seem to be getting any closer to reality with news that Canada has denied much needed funding to Diamond.
Diamond D-JET Funding Problems
As of Oshkosh AirVenture last year, salespeople were saying don't expect certification in the next year, so even if funding does come through somehow, it looks like the D-JET won't be gracing owner's hangars anytime soon (probably a couple of years on the short side).
Most of you that read this blog already know this, but just in case anybody missed it I figured I'd mention the topic.
So much for my schedule settling down. Beats the alternative, though. ;-) I just ran into an old friend (he does networking) who, while he still has a job (mainly because his department is government related), has watched a large amount of friends and coworkers be laid off recently.
ReplyDeleteI've got some comments to catch up on from the last thread so I'll quote and respond to those here.
Also, I noticed there are some nice options when I post a new thread like "insert link" that I wish were available in the "post a comment" window that I'm using now. Not sure why they don't do that as it would be simple to implement. Most forum software includes that feature.
Gad,
ReplyDeleteLove the submarine stories! I'm amazed at what you guys used to do (and the "grandkids" still do, I'm sure).
I've read some of those accounts of sitting in enemy harbors during the Cold War. One of my favorite stories regards hooking that listening device into a Russian communications line that ran across a bay.
P.S. Can't imagine some of the still classified stuff that happened.
ReplyDeleteFrom CWM:
ReplyDelete"Nice article in the February COPA Magazine comparing the Eclipse and the Meridian Andy.
Given the limitations the Eclipse still faces WRT cruise altitude and resultant fuel flow, were you able to glean any real-world data about actual cruise speeds and fuel flows to compare to the Meridian?
Also curious if used aircraft have entered into your thinking as there are many recent but used platforms that would seem to fall into your price range and desired feature set.
Congratulations to you as well for creating a venture successful enough to fund and possibly justify (wink, wink) your aviation habit - live the dream."
CWM,
Thanks! As you can see, it's a puff piece. Since specs and critical commentary are available elsewhere (including the availability of numerous Eclipse and Meridian owners to answer questions on the COPA forum), I decided to just convey what it felt like to hop in and fly those aircraft when I have over 2,000 hours in Cirruses but minimal turbine time (like less than 10 hours).
My understanding is that the altitude limitation on the Eclipse will be worked out before too long. While the aircraft still has its problems, the new management is doing a far better job of addressing them. I heard that there was a good owners get-together recently.
The demo flights were great but fairly limited (both below 15,000 feet) so I wasn't able to really get a feel for speeds/fuel flows to compare between the aircraft.
I pulled numbers from B/CA just for a really general reference:
Meridian:
Speed.......257 Knots
Altitude....FL280
Fuel Flow...36 GPH
SFC.........1.066
Eclipse:
Speed.......370 Knots
Altitude....FL310 (yes, 31,000)
Fuel Flow...70 GPH
SFC.........0.792
I loved both aircraft for different reasons. With the Meridian, I felt that I could own it without missing a Cirrus for the most part. It's got a low enough fuel flow and good enough visibility (in comparison to the Cirrus which has GREAT visibility) that it would still make a nice occasional sight-seeing aircraft down low. It feels like a big Cherokee. The Eclipse flies well low and slow, but it just feels like it's designed to rocket up into the flight levels (for example, heavier control forces and higher fuel flows down low like any jet).
On the other hand, the Eclipse far outperforms the Meridian in areas that would potentially be most important to me (like speed, altitude and range) depending where my out-of-state contracts end up being. Not to mention the second engine is a really nice feature in the Great Lakes region--nothing like being decended to 4,000 feet over the middle of Lake Michigan approaching Chicago from the east (I started going around after a few times of this).
Thanks also for the well-wishes on the business!!! One nice thing about facilities management is it's so decentralized that it's easier to "justify" a plane sooner (while being a smaller company) than in a lot of industries.
Still really hard to lose the quotes in "justfy," however. ;-)
CWM,
ReplyDeleteI forgot to respond to your question about used aircraft. Like you mention, there are a lot of great platforms out there!
For less than a million, I like the idea of an earlier model King Air with the option to upgrade to -135s and Garmin glass as money permits. Even if the G1000 panel isn't available for a particular airframe, the smaller Garmin or Aspen PFD/MFDs would work great paired with a couple of GTN 750s.
I also like the idea of a Sierra upgradable Citation I. Definitely a huge operating cost commitment, though, until the engines and avionics can be upgraded (after that, it's only a BIG commitment ;-)).
There are some good options in the piston-twin range, as well, but since I won't initially need many seats, it would be hard to beat a FIKI SR22 for all-around value.
One other thing I should mention is that earlier TBM 700s are a great value. That option would be hard to resist against a new/used Meridian.
I feel like I'll end up in a turbine twin after outgrowing a Cirrus for business travel, but we'll see once I take a hard and realistic look at operating costs. :-) I better start working on that justification filter right now. ;-)
Floating Cloud,
ReplyDeletePer your request, I deleted the two posts (I think) you were talking about in the last thread.
Safe travels!
From Gadfly: "Who knew that Benjamin Netanyahu was a flight instructor!"
ReplyDeleteGad,
Since "flight instructor" wasn't in quotes, and knowing your love for quotes ;-), I have to ask whether this is metaphorical?
Andy . . . Yes, I was referring to Benjamin Netanyahu giving a lecture to our “president” (notice the “quotes” in sarcasm), over the stand of Israel . . . and it reminded me of getting a lecture from my flight instructor, in an “all too small cockpit” in a Cessna 150, on a hot and humid day somewhere over Illinois or Wisconsin. I think the old expression is appropriate: “Explaining why the cows eat cabbage!”
ReplyDeleteThere was a simpler time when dreams were within reach . . . back in the 1950's, when an actual newscast lasted fifteen minutes (Richfield Reporter, from 10PM to 10:15PM), and then, “A Joy Forever”, with Howard Culver (reading poetry) with Bob Mitchell (at the Hammond Organ). Today’s generation would mock such things . . . but about that time, I was self educating myself in electronics theory, dreaming of joining the Navy, and entering the Submarine Service (NBC, back then, was actually patriotic, and presented “Victory at Sea” . . . I watched every half-hour episode on a little Philco B&W set, about 9 inch screen, transmitted from Mount Wilson, bouncing off the Hollywood Hills, back into our corner of Burbank. Oh, and back then, I was counting the days while in the “Burbank High School” prison, when I could get on with life.
Life was far too busy then . . . building gliders, chasing girls, working in the church audio/visual team with a bunch of “geeks” (ham operators, that even then, I figured they came from another planet . . .but they taught me electronics, for which I’m still grateful).
Today, kids graduating from high-school haven’t a clue as to what they are going to do. We have a president that declared before elected that he was going to destroy the energy system . . . some of believed his words. And many others stand around, wondering why the economy is in dire straights . . . drooling from their chin.
There is little mystery about what’s causing the massive crash of industry, including general aviation . . . but who wants to listen.
“Memorial Day” . . . whatever! Who knows, and who cares what it means. It’s a day off . . . and at my age, I guess I do need a day off . . . but come Tuesday, I’ve got stuff to do . . . in fact, I’ll be working at home over the week-end. Funny thing, here, my computer here at work has “two chips” (. . . barely keeps up with my work) . . . and the one at home, running at a faster clock rate, needs a second chip, and more memory. You’d think I’d get a clue and slow down.
Life is exciting, provided you submit to the One who is ultimately in charge. (Some very funny, and exciting things happened, today . . . not unusual, actually, but confirming reality.)
For the readers of your blogsite, What’s not to be excited about flying? Think of it! Sometimes I dream about flying . . . Didn’t John Denver have a song or two about that? In my dreams, I can “clear that rise in the landscape”, somehow, by “shear will”. And then, one day, I was the only one behind the controls, and found my wings . . .sure, it wasn’t over hills . . . only over the corn fields of Illinois . . .but I was “flying”, and in control.
And you mentioned submarines. Yes, there is nothing like flying blind through the massive media of the Pacific Ocean . . . and with nothing to indicate your position, except the charts, and all the figures of speed and depth . . .but (in a sense) flying into the unknown. And then, you learn to listen to the sounds of fish, and far off ships . . . and (provided you have a certain ability in such things), you find yourself “flying in the depths of the ocean” . . . all the excitement, maybe even more than flying in a Lear Jet, at 49,000 feet. (At 49,000 feet . . .there are no sharks.)
gadfly
Would that folks would consider the facts, so readily apparent as to what’s taking our aviation industry to the ground. It’s not a big mystery, but requires an honest look/see.
Hi Gadfly,
ReplyDeleteThanks. I thought that's what you meant about Netanyahu, but since so many of those guys come out of the armed forces over there (including air force, of course), I thought maybe I missed that he was a pilot. I do know he spent a lot of time living in the United States (NJ IIRC) and is well versed in American politics.
Being from Madison (and having done my private in Janesville), I've had plenty of time in an 'all too small cockpit' in a Cessna 150, on a hot and humid day somewhere over Illinois or Wisconsin. ;-)
FWIW, I thought Obama deserved what he got in the White House with Netanyahu. I understand some people's viewpoint that it was disrespectful of the office, but I've never been much for protocol.
That said, the Left says that Obama didn't really say anything new and has produced Bush speeches essentially saying the same thing. They also say that Netanyahu pretty much signed on to that view with Hillary Clinton at an earlier time.
The whole thing was bad timing in the very least. Why bring up something that sensitive the day before you're going to host the guy in "your" house.
Regarding submarines; I was fortunate enough to stay with a British sub captain a number of years ago who runs a bed and breakfast outside of Inverness with his wife. Those were some fascinating conversations!
On an unrelated conversational note, my family and I mentioned to him how creepy it felt driving through Glencoe on the way up. He said, 'might be due to the dozens of people massacred there in the 1600s.' Hmm. Did not know that. I think it was probably more due to the terrain, but still...
Anybody still out there? I was sort of surprised I could still sign in.
ReplyDeleteFloating Cloud passing by...