Welcome to this episode of Dwayne’s Aviation. When most aviation enthusiasts think of a
piston twin aircraft, the perception is that having two engines means better performance,
and a more capable aircraft; more capable means you can carry more load, so more useful load, and
you can fly higher over the weather, which means in many cases that you have a pressurized cabin.
So, unlike a lot of light piston or just generally piston engine aircraft where you need external
oxygen to be able to fly at a high altitude, in a piston twin, you may have a pressurized cabin,
and then you can also travel farther. This has been the justification why
those that fly twins give anytime any day, but the truth is that numbers don't always
support that argument because, in this day and age, there are countless single engine
aircraft that can match those same performances and, in some cases, outperform a light twin.
But is buying a twin even worth it in this day and age? Unless flying a twin is what you prefer,
preference aside, it doesn’t make a serious financial sense to buy a twin piston plane
because, for starters, a twin-engine aircraft is generally more expensive
to buy. Even if you go for an older model, you'd be paying more upfront to buy them than
you would in a single engine aircraft, and your cost doesn't automatically stop there.
The operating costs for twin engine planes are exponentially higher than those of a single
engine piston airplane. Remember, you now have two engines, which means you have to operate two
engines. So, while one engine may burn, say, 15 to 20 gallons of fuel per hour, so does your second
engine, also burning the same amount of fuel. And yes, you can fly higher and possibly go farther,
but in most cases, you are burning twice as much fuel to get to those destinations.
Speaking of maintenance, an annual on a piston twin can
get really high because you have two engines to worry about instead of one.
Engine aside, mostly every twin out there is a retractable, so you are flying a complex aircraft,
which translates to more parts that can break and more parts to look after. Your
maintenance costs are going to be higher in a twin-engine aircraft, as is your insurance.
Looking at the safety record. It's a common belief that having two engines is safer than having one,
which is why many pilots tend to move towards a light twin with the notion that when something
happens or if something were to happen with one of the engines, they will always have a backup
engine for redundancy. The problem with this argument is that statistics don’t support it; as
a matter of fact, the numbers show the opposite. If you study the accident rates and the fatality
rates of light twins, it shows that compared to a single engine airplane, according to records,
you're five times more likely to have a fatal crash with a twin-engine airplane compared to a
single piston engine airplane. So, in a case of an emergency, when you're flying a twin,
your room for correction is a lot lower than when you're flying a single engine airplane, the reason
being that there are no asymmetrical thrust issues with a single plane, making emergencies much
easier to handle, particularly in the take-off and landing phases (where most engine failures occur).
So, in conclusion, when you're operating a twin-engine aircraft, you have double the
trouble because more things can go wrong. So why would anyone want to fly a twin-engine aircraft?
There are some benefits to flying in a twin, but it will cost you a lot more no matter what plane
you go for. It's going to be more expensive, and for safety reasons, it's not safer.
So, for me, it's okay to fly twins because it’s what you prefer, but the myth that it's
safer and better than singles is just not true. So, what are the best piston singles to buy?
The Sling TSi is the most practical and desirable lightweight four-place experimental aircraft on
the market, and it has been critically acclaimed for its capabilities, effortless handling, and
all-round functionality. It comfortably seats four with luggage and still cruises effortlessly and
efficiently, making it the ultimate in affordable cross-country flying. Using the 141-hp Rotax 915
engine, cruise speed is 148 knots with a 1000 ft/min climb rate, and a range of 900 nautical
miles. If you want a highly efficient modern four-seat design, this airplane is for you.
When it comes to speed, the piston-powered Lancair Evolution is at turboprop level.
This Lycoming-powered plane offers a balance of performance, comfort,
and efficiency that is not offered in any other kit or certified personal aircraft.
Capable of carrying four adults in pressurized comfort for over 1800 nautical miles. Using the
FADEC-controlled 350-hp Lycoming IE2 engine, max cruise speed is 230 knots at 24,000 ft in
pressurized comfort, with a range of 1380 nautical miles. The Lancair Mako is a cheaper alternative
to the Evolution with similar performance. The performance of this airplane is great, and it is
one of the fastest four-place airplanes on the market today. Starting with a sturdy composite
airframe that's built to stringent utility class standards, the Mako is designed for the long haul.
This airplane uses the 350-hp Continental IO 550 turbo-charged engine, which helps it to
seat four people, cruise at 225 knots, climb at 1900 ft/min, with a range of 1100 nautical miles.
If your mission includes more than two people, and you like airplanes that perform and handle well,
the Vans RV 10 is the perfect plane for you. The RV-10 is a true four-person airplane,
which means that it will carry four full-grown adults, full fuel, and sixty pounds of baggage
while remaining at or below maximum gross weight. In this airplane, you can comfortably
cruise at 171 knots, with a range of 717 nautical miles, using the 260-hp Lycoming IO 540 engine.
Performance aside, the Cirrus SR22 is the most beautiful GA plane on the market today,
and all that beauty comes at a cost. For a fixed-gear machine, general aviation’s most
popular airplane offers performance that’s more typically associated with retractables. Perhaps
equally important, the SR22 has a generous-sized cabin that will easily accommodate four adults.
Using the Continental IO-550 engine, the SR22 cruises at 180 knots and climbs at 1200 ft/min,
with a range of 1000 nautical miles. Whether you are a new aviator looking for the perfect
first airplane or an experienced IFR pilot with discerning tastes, this airplane is for you.
The Cessna Corvalis and the Corvalis TTx are great alternatives to the SR-22 and the SR22T,
you get a better performance in these but not with the parachute, so if your engine fails,
you are a glider. Both Corvalis airplanes use the same big 310-hp Continental IO-550 engine.
Both are great and fast airplanes, capable of fast nonstop trips like New York to Atlanta,
New York to Toronto, and Miami to the Bahamas. Or Los Angeles to Las Vegas.
If you need to cover long distances quickly, this airplane is for you.
The Pipistrel Panthera is undoubtedly the most efficient four-seat airplane.
It achieves unprecedented efficiency through careful aerodynamic shaping and a lightweight,
advanced composite structure. The Panthera uses the 260-hp Lycoming IO 540 engine, which helps it
to cruise at 194 knots, climb at 1300ft/min, and have a range of 1000 nautical miles.
If you need a highly efficient speed machine, this airplane is for you.
The Cessna 172 is widely used as a trainer, but it is equally suited to cross-country flying.
Due to its stable design, if its position in the air is disturbed by turbulence or
an accidental touch of the controls, it has a strong tendency to return to its original
position without any input from the pilot. With a useful load of nearly 900 pounds,
you can comfortably fit in 4 persons with little fuel and cruise at 122knots over
696 nautical miles using the 160hp Lycoming IO 260 engine. If you need a great trainer
with forgiving flight characteristics and great visibility, this airplane is for you.
When it comes to speed, the Mooney Acclaim Ultra is in a class of its own. Mooneys are
about more than simply speed, however. The type offers strong climbing performance, typically
1,200 feet per minute. They’re comfortable machines to fly, reasonably easy to maintain,
and offer better range than practically anything else in the class. With nearly 1000
pounds of useful load, the Acclaim cruises at over 200-knots over 1000 nautical miles using
the 280-hp Continental IO 550 engine. If you need a speed machine, this airplane is for you.
The Beechcraft G36 Bonanza is one of the longest-produced airplanes in the U.S., and it is
the aspiration of any pilot who desires unmatched craftsmanship. With first-class technology,
comfort, and world-class quality, the Bonanza is ready for any adventure. Power comes from
the Continental IO550 engine, which produces 300 hp, and in the cockpit, it is equipped with the
Garmin G1000 Nxi avionics suite. This variant was introduced in 2006, and it is the latest
variant since 1947. The cost of a bonanza starts at $777,000. The maximum climb rate is 1,230 fpm,
and the maximum speed limit is 205 knots. It's not a true 200-knot airplane; you will mostly see
a maximum of 176 knots on an economy cruise. The range is 920 nautical miles and has a stall speed
of 59 knots. The Bonanza can carry six people with 70 pounds of baggage and go places fast.
If you want to be above traffic and weather at FL250 in pressurized comfort,
then the Piper M350 is for you. This plane offers some serious performance, some serious capability,
some serious operational efficiency, and some serious value. It is equipped with the Lycoming
TIO-540 engine, which has three-blade propellers in front. It operates at a maximum altitude of
25,000 ft at a cruise speed of 213 knots and has a range of 1,343 nautical miles.
It is equipped with the Garmin G1000 NXI avionics suite, which is one of the most
sophisticated out there. The suite includes a GTX 345R transponder, a Garmin GI-275 standby,
a Garmin Safe Taxi, a Flite chart, etc. It also offers additional equipment like
weather radar enhancement, a traffic advisory system, a surface watch, and
much more. The Piper M350 has some great safety features like electronic stability protection,
automatic level mode, under-speed protection, coupled go-around, emergency descent mode,
and synthetic vision. All these features will help you keep yourself and the plane safe and secure.