Page 34 - September21T

On Final
by David Miller
A Horse of the Same Color
Recently, I mentioned that I sold my C90A King Air. I am delighted to announce that I just purchased my third Citation Mustang, likely a record for one individual. Why on earth would a rational human being sell a great King Air? Here are the answers, in order of importance:
1. I am not rational.
Longtime readers probably need no explanation, but for those of you new to Twin & Turbine, I simply love flying jets. They are quieter, smoother, in most cases faster, and simply easier to fly. Sure, they cost more to operate, but I am not rational enough to factor that into my decision- making process. Owning three Mustangs and not just keeping the first or second one is another argument for my irrationality. From a cost perspective, the turboprop does not require monthly maintenance programs like many jets, where you write a significant check based on hourly usage for parts and engine reserve costs. Thus, the monthly outlay is less. But when a part breaks in the King Air, it comes directly out of pocket. And you are roll- ing the dice in terms of unplanned engine maintenance. Overall, the total operating costs of the two aircraft are similar. These comments appear to be rational, and for that, I apologize.
2. Jets are easier to fly.
The Mustang certainly is. Not counting avionics, there are 90 switches and levers that can be manipulated in the C90A. In the Mustang, that number is 50. My C90A with upgraded, more powerful engines galloped down the taxiway even in beta thrust. It simply wanted to fly and it was a challenge to taxi smoothly. The Mustang quietly goes where you point it. The C90A is nose heavy and hard to land well. The Mustang, with its trailing link gear, is a pussycat. Approach speeds in the Mustang are typically almost 10 knots slower. The C90A pressurization system was designed decades prior to the Mustang and has a significantly higher workload. Mustang engine controls are FADEC and much easier to manage.
3. Peer pressure.
I am the director of Safety Education for the Citation “Jet“ Pilots Association. Not the “King Air” Pilots Association. Some of my friends in the jet group have been talking about me flying a King Air behind my back. A few talked in front of my back. The pressure has been building, be- coming more intense. I have not been invited to some of the secret meetings. I had to change that.
4. My wife demanded I buy the Mustang.
Okay, this one is entirely untrue. But it seems like it should be. Patty recently prepared a spreadsheet with the number of airplanes I have purchased and the number of years we have been married. This “spreadsheet” resides totally in her mind but appears to be accurate. The results indicate that I need to buy a different airplane about every three years. I owned the King Air for 19 months. Oops.
So, there you have it. I bought an 11-year-old Mustang. Very well maintained but not the prettiest one ever. I wonder what it would cost to make it the best-looking one in the fleet?
Don’t tell Patty. Fly safe.
David Miller has owned and flown a variety of aircraft from light twins to midsize jets for more than 50 years. With 6,000 plus hours in his logbook, David is the Direc- tor of Programs and Safety Education for the Citation Jet Pilot’s Safety Foundation. You can contact David at davidmiller1@sbcglobal.net.
32 • TWIN & TURBINE / September 2021