337 - Aztec Comparison

[O2-A Kiwi]

Thanks Jim,

This is the sort of thing we are after.
If you refer to how good at check and feather I assume the Skymaster is a little more 'forgiving' for lack of a better description?

Although we all know what assume stands for shall I assume they are very similar in most aspects except when you have an engine failure?

I have read several differing accounts of the Skymaster climb rates with engine failure and most state neg rate when fully laden. I have been told, but not read that the Aztec has pos rate even when fully laden during engine failure?

Please help to convince my purchasing partner that a 337 is for us!

Regards
Hamish

[O2-A Kiwi]

I Also just noted you stated one engine? Aztec here in NZ Has twins.... Is this different to US Spec?

[O2-A Kiwi]

Thanks Skyking, Stackj and Frank.
This is helping for sure. I would be keen to look into the gear door upgrades as this sounds pretty good. Does it cut economy ?

[O2-A Kiwi]

So the gear doors sounds like a good mod then!
Thanks guys.

[O2-A Kiwi]

Hi Nick,
Thanks for that most invaluable 2 cents worth!
The short answer is that yes, we here in Kiwi land will be logging IFR. Other wise we might not get to fly with the weather the way it has been! More like England.
Very good point on the water landings as we had not taken that into account to be honest. We fly over a lot of liquid and plan to "Jump the Ditch" over the Tasman sea on regular occasions to Australia.

Thanks again.

Hamish

[O2-A Kiwi]

Hi Nick, It's 2.29 PM here lovely afternoon at 28 Deg C and Blue Skies. I’m working in front of a computer.... Go figure.
Hey all great points there. I hope I don’t have to worry about the belly box floating us in the ditch situation! My father in-law has had one of his 337s ditched coming across to here (NZ) from the US and was not a nice story. Pilot did survive though to ditch another aircraft last year on the same run!! He should retire!

We also learned later he was running a little pocket money run on top of the delivery and trying to carry some Mustang P51 parts in with him! Bad maths.

Cheers

Hamish

[O2-A Kiwi]

WOW,
Thanks Jerry. Who did these mods or were they an option?

[KyleTownsend]

Among ALLl common pressurized twins (including the p-baron, duke, 340, 414, 421), the P-Skymaster has the best published single engine rate of climb, and comes in at 2nd place on single engine service ceiling.

I recently did some engine out work in the skymaster. Instructor pulled the rear engine just after takeoff. Climbed at about 200 FPM with the gear hanging out, and improved after I cleaned things up. A little scary to be climbing so slowly that close to the trees, but I can only imagine what it would have been like if I had been sinking instead of climbing!

Also, did a single engine-go around while practicing. No problem.

My p-model is stock. I am tempted by the gear-door mod, but haven't done it yet.

[Jerry De Santis]

Hi Kyle, I have the gear door removal mod on my P337G. Lots of good reasons to have it but one big reason not to have it. Depends on what's important to you. The only thing I don't like about it is that every single drop of oil that comes off the front engine seems to find it's way into the wheel well. Real pain at times. Great thing about them, I no long fuss with door adjustments and less work for the hydraulic unit.


Jerry
N34EC