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but it’s a lot more expensive. Then, it was the same thing with the Eclipse. We go to Vail quite a bit, especially during the summer. The Eclipse won’t make it consistently without stop- ping. So that was an issue. I felt that the Piper pipeline was still improv- ing, and we thought about the PC-12 a lot. At the time, we had four kids at home and really debated about get- ting a Pilatus instead. We talked to a lot of people, and they said that we really weren’t going to need the extra seats very often – which is true. The upfront cost of the plane was higher, too, compared to the TBM we got.”
All of their research helped level expectations for their aircraft pur- chase. With more than 2,000 hours of TBM operations, the couple agrees it’s the best plane for their mission.
“What I like most about the air- craft is that even on warm days, in the mountains, with a full load, you check [the loading] and can fly – no problem. The TBM 850 is overpow- ered, and it does exactly what we need it to do. Six people can each have a bag, and we can get to where we need to go without usually ever having to stop for fuel,” Rachel stated.
Bob agreed, adding, “I would say [what I like the most] is the TBM’s speed and efficiency. What would we want out of another plane? Faster, more seats and the ability to go higher would be great. But it’s hard to find that combination. And I’m not inter- ested in getting a jet rating, where the costs would increase dramatically.”
Insurance and maintenance re- quirements, of course, are two of the key cost drivers in turboprop owner- ship. As a TBMOPA member, Bob said that the organization is a great resource for those considering the aircraft, including estimated operat- ing costs for the various models in the TBM family. It is also an all-inclusive source for current owners.
“I think one negative about the plane, though, is, I would say, insur- ance cost. There are a lot of prop strikes within the TBM family be- cause the propeller is only eight inches off the ground. And in some years, the maintenance costs have
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