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adults, burning 34 gph while cruising 200 KTS at 16,000 feet.”
One of his top recommendations to future and current owners: “Get involved with maintenance. You learn the aircraft, know what to look for, and have confidence things were fixed right in front of your eyes.”
His first foray into twin mainte- nance was during the initial aircraft purchasing phase, where he learned that issues could be hiding behind modern touches. “The landing gear system is probably the greatest telltale sign of good or poor maintenance. This was our number one consider- ation when searching for an aircraft. There were a lot of pretty instrument panels out there, but the landing gear or engine cradles were trash.”
A continual eye and emphasis on maintenance has been extremely ben- eficial in keeping the 44-year-old twin operating safely and reliably. “Com- municate maintenance issues or con- cerns early so you can start sourcing parts early. We keep a spare alternator and starter in the airplane just to keep one step ahead of Murphy. And if in doubt about a maintenance issue, just get it fixed. My wife and kids depend on our aircraft keeping me safe.”
To help continue being an aviator focused on skill proficiency and im- provement, Stephen has his sights set on future training opportunities. In addition to regularly flying, observ- ing and assisting with maintenance, he hopes to pursue additional ratings in the future, including seaplane and tailwheel. When asked what his future aircraft plans may be, Stephen said, “I am currently looking at upgrading to a turbine twin down the road (three to five years) – maybe a Cessna 421. But right now, I just love the 340.”
Dan Moore Aero LLC
http://danmoore.aero
AOPA
Grant Boyd is a private pilot and general aviation professional. He has written more than 170 articles for aviation magazines and en- joys learning about unique aircraft missions. Grant was selected as an NBAA “Top 40 Under 40” recipient in 2020 and holds an MBA from Wichita State University. He can be reached at grantboyd2015@ gmail.com.
June 2022 / TWIN & TURBINE • 29