Page 7 - Volume 21 Number 11

Guide
aircraft that but never found its legs in the business aviation. Nevertheless, it a pilot’s airplane. Whether you fly it for your next weekend getaway or simply make it the centerpiece of your aviation collection, this low-time Paris Jet – immaculately restored and with state-of-the-art avionics – is a gem waiting to be scooped up. For our 2017 Gift Guide, Twin and Turbine is proud to announce the availability for sale of this one-of- a-kind aircraft.
If you thought the Learjet was the first business jet, you’d be wrong. That honor belongs to the Morane-Saulnier MS.760 Paris, a four-place, French-built jet designed and built in the early 1950s, and marketed to business travelers in the United States by Beechcraft. This year’s marque gift guide item is a beautifully restored and extremely well-equipped and appointed Paris Jet. Privately owned and maintained, this rare aircraft was once owned by the King of Morocco and pilot/actor John Travolta, who featured this bird in his movie “Look Who’s Talking.”
The Paris Jet was originally built as an ab initio jet trainer to compete for a French government contract. The revolutionary (at the time) side-by-side seating doomed the aircraft from winning the competition, so Morane-Saulnier came up with an idea that was way ahead of its time: Market the MS.760 as a business jet. In 1955, Beech Aircraft Corporation imported and FAA-certified two aircraft, intent on bringing business aviation into the jet age.
November 2017
This 1959 Paris Jet was initially sold in Europe before being purchased by Santa Monica Aviation. In 1987, it was converted to a MS.760B-II, which added more fuel and the two Turbomeca Marbore VI engines producing a combined 2,116 pounds of thrust. In 2012, the panel was updated to feature Garmin G600 with synthetic vision and a touchscreen Garmin GTN 750, which is fully coupled to an STEC 55X autopilot. The beautiful leather interior with sheepskin seats were completed in 2015.
This rare bird is currently owned and offered for sale by “Mr. Paris Jet” Dave Bennett. For more information and pricing, contact Dave at parisjet@me.com.
Best Tugs: The Last Tug You’ll Ever Need
Why move your expensive aircraft with a low-tech tug? Finally, a company has developed a digital tug that is engineered with every feature on an owner-pilot’s wish list: digital speed modulation, prop protection, auto-throttle for changing grade conditions, quiet operation and even an optional air compressor. Plus, the Best Tug can easily configured to move every aircraft in your hangar, from piston to jets.
The Echo is a workhorse with a tow rating of 9,000 pounds, while the Echo XLP can move aircraft up to 12,500 pounds, but also is perfectly suited to move a Cirrus or Bonanza. The Echo features a “Prop Safe” design that guarantees that even the large props found on a TBM or Meridian will never come in contact with the tug. Every tug comes installed with a computer software optimized for the torque limitations specific of your plane to help prevent nose gear damage. The tug measures speed and torque while moving your aircraft, and the Auto Throttle can make up to 30 changes a second to maintain a constant speed, even on slopes. It also has programmed codes that will trip to prevent you from damaging your aircraft. Plus – new for 2017 – the hybrid system allows the tug’s motor to act as a generator and recharge its batteries when the tug is slowing or stopping your plane.
All Best Tugs can be personalized with one of several paint schemes and can be outfitted with several options, including an LED light, underglow lighting, a fire extinguisher, USB charging ports, jump-start GPU and an air compressor.
For more information and pricing, go to besttugs.com or call (800) 914-2003.
The Best Tugs Echo XLP
TWIN & TURBINE • 5
DUSTIN BREAU PHOTO