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Factory Direct Models
10 percent annually in any reasonable investment, which is $80,000 to $100,000 per year I would be in theory losing. That thought leads to yet another calculation (which you are frankly best off not even doing if really intent on buying the airplane). With a capital cost of $100,000 per year and 100 hours flown, the capital cost alone is $1,000 per hour plus around $600 to $800 in operational cost per hour. Now, do I really want to spend that kind of money just to fly a bit faster in an airplane with newer engineering for just recreational purposes? Difficult question...best not thought about for too long.
After going through all of this contemplation, I go to the hangar and look over the C340. Yes, I just spent $25,000 to have the annual done and the pressurization problem fixed. Undoubtedly, there are other age-related problems lurking in the fuselage or under the cowling somewhere. But hey, that $25,000 was less than a quarter of the yearly capital cost if I traded up to a TBM...I am saving money here.
I then preflight and fly the airplane just for the fun of it. I land at a 2,500-foot grass runway and get turned off about 1,800 feet down, not in the least worried about a turbine intake sucking in a bunch of the recently mowed grass with occasional clods of dirt. Departing from there, I climb up to 17,500 feet, circle Mount Baker a couple of times with an 8,000-foot cabin while burning all of 36 gph and doing over 200 knots.
The airplane, perhaps knowing I am contemplating a “formal separation,” behaves exceptionally well. And with the ANR headset on and the props well balanced, the noise and vibration level is way down there with the turboprops. The Garmin avionics work just as well in the C340 as they would in a turbine, so there is not much to be gained in that respect by changing airplanes.
I fly back to my home airport and taxi to the FBO’s hangar where a couple of young non-pilot airplane enthusiasts are hanging out. The first thing they say as I exit the airplane is, “Is that a new airplane? It sure looks fast.” With that feedback in hand I drive home where, reluctant to leave the matter alone, I consult with a higher authority. My wife cannot imagine why I would switch to a different airplane. She says, “Why would you do that? We have flown that one all over the place and I like it.” Decision made, case closed.
For the time being, the 40-year-old C340 will stay where it is and Controller will get thrown away next time I go by the living room coffee table.
Preferred Airparts, LLC
Kevin Ware is an ATP who also holds CFI, MEII and helicopter ratings, has more than 10,000 hours and is typed in several different business jets. He has been flying for a living on and off since he was 20, and currently works as a contract pilot for various corporations in the Seattle area.
When not working as a pilot he is employed part time as an emergency and urgent care physician. He can be reached at kevin.ware2@aol.com.
22 • TWIN & TURBINE / September 2020