Ha! a Beech 18. I always wanted some of those old cool class of birds, but I used to say
"Even if I got it for free, I'd have to sell it as soon as the tanks ran dry."
Lets see, 450 hp a side, probably about 22-23 gph per side.....at $5 or so per gallon,
that is only $230ish fuel flow costs alone. And a friend with one was just making it pay
hauling jumpers until he had a gear malfunction and had to belly it in. Minimal skin damage,
but got the three bladed props, even though he shut down and feathered each to minimize
damage, dead sticked it. Had to sell the bird once it was repaired and new props.
My father had a lot of time in them, actually SNBs, was a fighter pilot but used them for
transportation over the years as he needed to go to DC more often on business. Just
grab the SNB and a RON bag and head out. Had to emergency land one with the
cowls hammer fitted to the heads and leading edges hammered flat, windshield intact but
so shattered as to be impossible to see thru after running into CAVU hailstorm.
Champagne taste, beer budget is what my Mom always called it.
Yeah, that.
So what is the real diff between M-11 and A5? I thought they were pretty much
identical? Or is it like the guy on the old site, forget who, that "a 1911 has to have
a horse on the side or it isn't a 1911" kinda thing? If it doesn't say Browning and wasn't
made in Liege, it won't scratch the itch?
Bill