The Official "Airplanes I owned before my Skymaster" Thread

mshac · #1 07-23-21, 07:37 PM

I'll start:

Tomahawk (105 knots for 6 gph)
C-150J - (95 knots for 5 gph)
Geronimo (1958 Apache with lipstick) 135 knots for 16 gph
Twin Bonanza J50: 1961 Supercharged - (34 GPH for 165 knots), unless very high (low flight levels), which you could see close to 200 knots - but you better have O2!
E55 Baron (great airplane, 180 knots at 8k, 28 GPH)
C172P (can't beat it for ease of flight - 110 knots for 8.5 gph) Had it on lease-back at a flight school and it was flown constantly.
58 Baron (Wife liked the club seating, had 310 RAM engines, still 185 knot airplane @ 32 gph)
C310F (175 Knot airplane, but would do it on 22 gph)
F35 Bonanza (140 knots for 12.5 gph) Sweet flying airplane.

You don't have to do the fuel thing, but I thought it was interesting.

Rick Erwin · #2 07-23-21, 08:38 PM

My FT337GP is the first airplane I've owned.

bjornfb · #3 07-24-21, 03:16 AM

Cessna 177B.

mshac · #4 07-24-21, 08:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bjornfb

Cessna 177B.

Ah, the Cardinal, another misunderstood bird with a cult-like following...

edasmus · #5 07-24-21, 11:45 AM

PA24-180 Comanche early 1990’s for a year. My intro to airplane ownership. Rather eye opening.

PA28-140 for about 10 years through early 2000’s.

PA32-260 with club seating, best cabin ever!

C337G early 2000’s to current.

PA24-250 for 4 years in mid 2010’s. Owned simultaneously as my SkyMaster. I was trying to decide which one to keep for my “forever” plane. I chose the SkyMaster.

All these planes are fantastic in their own right.

😁✈️

mshac · #6 07-25-21, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edasmus

PA24-250 for 4 years in mid 2010’s. Owned simultaneously as my SkyMaster. I was trying to decide which one to keep for my “forever” plane. I chose the SkyMaster. 😁✈️

If it had been a PA24-400, I may have kept it! Nothing like 8 cylinders and 400hp!!!

mshac · #7 07-24-21, 08:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick Erwin

My FT337GP is the first airplane I've owned.

Nice first plane!

Learjetter · #8 07-24-21, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick Erwin

My FT337GP is the first airplane I've owned.

Same here.

mshac · #9 07-26-21, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Learjetter

Same here.

So both of your first planes were French-built 337's?

mikes · #10 09-14-21, 04:21 PM

C-172
Bellanca Viking
Bellanca Viking
Geronimo Apache
C-210
C-210D
P210
C337A
B-55 Baron
C45H Twin Beech
DC3
C337C
C421B
C414
C310R
C337D

Just Love Airplanes

JAG · #11 09-14-21, 04:25 PM

mikes - you have the best list ever!!!!!

Curious to know about the Twin Beech (C45) and the 414...Two aircraft I lust to own, and may just have one day. Thoughts, advice, feedback? Perhaps I need to buy you a few beers to discuss...

Jeff

mikes · #12 09-14-21, 04:29 PM

The C45H was a Tradewind conversion to a single tail, with Volpar nose gear, it was an excellent load carrier and very easy the fly and land.

The 414 was a speed demon and was an excellent IFR platform.

I would recommend them both. Although the C421B was my favorite

mshac · #13 09-14-21, 04:29 PM

Wow, that is one impressive list! I like how you basically went step by step to the top of the piston twin class, then decided to "come home" again to another Skymaster!

What did you prefer about the 421B over the 414?

After putting gas in a 421, I bet a flying a Skymaster makes it seem like a Prius!

mikes · #14 09-14-21, 04:34 PM

The C421B was my favorite and am sorry I sold it. Fast, comfortable, quiet and my wife loved the belted potty. We've have absolutely no problems with the geared engines. I forgot to list the 2 P-Navajos we owned, the C421 was superior

JimC · #15 09-15-21, 06:30 PM

421s are absolutely fantastic, until overhaul. Those engines are much more reliable than you hear, but they're just not cheap to overhaul. If you can overlook that, they're the top of the traveling piston twin class - period.

Tell us about owning a DC-3!