Page 11 - April22T

PISTON TO TURBINE
WHEN IS IT THE RIGHT MOVE?
Part I
by Joe Casey
There’s definitely an allure to a turbine. Do they exude status? Are they really safer and smoother? Is the performance that much better? Or is it just another hill to conquer?
I’m a flight instructor in the PA46 world, and I get to talk to a lot of people who are ready to make their dream of burning jet fuel a reality. I love the PA46 market for many reasons, the biggest being the type of person who ends up gravitating to this special niche of aviation. It attracts those who would rather fly themselves and who also demand the best in avionics, performance and style. About 50 percent of the airplanes in the PA46 market are piston versions and 50 percent are turbine versions. So, I help a lot of people make the move from piston to turbine and hear all the reasons why they make the move. I also provide initial training to many turbine wannabes and often see what makes the move from piston to turbine a huge success or a dismal failure.
April 2022 / TWIN & TURBINE • 9