My dream airplanes have all been at the undemanding of the food chain: early ragwing Pipers, Cessna 140, Piper Warrior, Cessna 180 (early version, ideally a C), Piper Apache (flew an Aztec for some years, but the helicopter view from the pug nose Apache brings on a nice smile), Pitts S2A. While the Aztec is a true workhorse, I saw enough ugly icing during winters that it made you a believer in punching through into the upper FL in turbine equipment. Even SET/MET don’t always punch on up as rate of climb slows above FL200.
The Super Cub is strictly day VFR and any EuroGA trip requires booking a week or more from the diary. A Cessna 205 (doors for passenger and pilot) with simple IFR kit (VOR/ILS, IFR GPS, one axis A/P), options to lighten the empty weight, would make a nice comfortable Buick-like tourer. You could find them quite recently for $45k, but good ones are now north of $100k.
Would like a Mooney 305 Rocket. Nice one for sale in the UK but I couldn’t afford to buy or run it. Would concurrently solve the over water problem as you could cross the Irish Sea and probably BHD-DIN in glide range.
Pilatus PC 12…my dream upgrade.
If I ever were to upgrade from my M20C it would probably be to a Twin Commanche, preferrably one with Rajay Turbos. Or, if the twin would still be out of reach, I’d be looking for a 1st generation (non G1000) Ovation, preferrably with long range tanks.
Primarily both of those have quite a range, north of 1500 NM.
If I were to win that lottery and money would not matter at all, I’d probably go for a Vision Jet G2 or a Williams equipped Citation 501 with LR tanks. In both cases it would have to be the Euromillions to win.
P180 Avanti is a forever dream. I will have one before I die at some point.
Avanti for me too. Love the spacious, beautiful Poltrona Frau interiors and sea level cabin at F250. Not sure about cabin noise as I haven’t flown in one.
Would also upgrade my Extra to an electric version if there was one available. I do 3x 10 minute flights on a typical acro day. Electric makes sense with such usage.
AdamFrisch wrote:
P180 Avanti is a forever dream. I will have one before I die at some point.
I gather the Avanti is better to desire than actually own.
I’d like to upgrade from renting a SR22 to a dirt cheap min. 3 seat all metal highwing that cruises at 130 kts and is fine on 300 meters of grass.
Diesel 140 knot high wing metal tail dragger -basically a rans s20 with the new 141 metal wing and a 170hp diesel would be perfect
Probably a Cessna 170 with an STC for an O-360, if such a beast exists. Or maybe a Maule.