Patrick wrote:
my emotional attachment to the Saratoga
This is interesting as usually pilots seem emotionally driven more towards other planes and choose the Saratoga if they need the loading capability and cabin space.
Is it overcautious to wait for the FAA’s conclusion on the September 2024 NPRM (FAA-2024-2143) for the PA28R and PA32 on AD 2020-16-26?
Well you could do the logical thing and buy a TB20GT 
Then you could do a trip or two here and there.
An interesting aside is that – apart from possibly Italy – you cannot get busted for unpaid EU VAT if it provably never left the EU 
Patrick wrote:
I’m not looking for my “last airplane”
Come and get you a Comanche B or C model. This is one plane that does so many things right that it keeps telling you that she’ll be your last one!
Comanches die because they tend to get loved to death and are kept as hangar queens.
FWIW I have a 2000 model Saratoga II HP – 10+ years and 500 hours. I love this airplane as a family airplane and super stable IFR platform.
Reasonably fast and efficient – I have a Surefly mag with auto timing advance and I plan on 145 knots @ 10.5 USG @ FL90.
The biggest weakness is useful load. Later model Saratogas have plush leather interiors (mine also has factory air conditioning) so only 1150 lbs of stuff you can put in it (~2480 empty weight and 3615 ramp weight). If you upgraded to modern avionics (the II HP has a backup battery powered vacuum pump and other heavy things), had one without air, and didn’t load the panel (Stormscope is 10 lbs) with things you didnt really need you would get back 100 lbs+.
Patrick wrote:
I need a solid improvement over the current situation
Which makes it hard for us to suggest anything without:
I’m more of a follow your dreams kind of guy. Dreams can seldom be satisfied by excel sheets and consensus on the internet. Deep down you know you will never be satisfied unless getting that Saratoga Just do it (if you have the means and time etc).
hammer wrote:
I plan on 145 knots @ 10.5 USG @ FL90
That’s a huge lot better than what a friend is telling me. We have our IR checkrides on a similar date and the instructor said more than once to me that the Saratoga never shows less than 14 USG in cruise at less speed than my Comanche. Where we go at 8 Gal. That’s what I had in mind. But your numbers are very reasonable. If that’s doable then I could also be tempted….however, the useful load is 70 lbs less than mine.
LeSving wrote:
I’m more of a follow your dreams kind of guy
That’s what I’m saying. One day it’ll be a twin…for me
hammer wrote:
only 1150 lbs of stuff you can put in it (~2480 empty weight and 3615 ramp weight).
What is the fuel capacity of that airplane? 94 USG? So with full fuel this 6 seater carries a measly 265 kg, which means 2 people plus baggage or 3 without.
This does surprise me as people call the Saratogas and Cherokee 6’s family trucks. Also that is a whopping 500 lb above the “advertized” empty weight according to what I could find which is around 1980 lb… now 100lb above is perfectly normal but 500lb? Woha. A healthy reminder to check the actual figures of a plane you’d like to buy vs the figures in the files.
hammer wrote:
Reasonably fast and efficient – I have a Surefly mag with auto timing advance and I plan on 145 knots @ 10.5 USG @ FL90.
Wow. That is a huge improvement over the stock airplane claimed performance which gives 13.8 GPH at 142 kt in 7500 ft. Big endorsement of surefly I guess.
Funny thing is: If you look at the figures of the fixed gear Cherokee 6 or Saratoga, it is not a lot slower (about 5-6 kt) and has similar weights. One has to wonder if the retracable gear is worth it.
That’s a huge lot better than what a friend is telling me. We have our IR checkrides on a similar date and the instructor said more than once to me that the Saratoga never shows less than 14 USG in cruise at less speed than my Comanche. Where we go at 8 Gal. That’s what I had in mind. But your numbers are very reasonable. If that’s doable then I could also be tempted….however, the useful load is 70 lbs less than mine.
There is no magic, you just have to understand how to lean the engine. I use 22"MP and 2200 rpm. The Surefly doesn’t make a huge difference – maybe 0.5 gph. This power setting is about 55% so you can run as lean as you want without stressing the engine. Works down low as well, but the airplane is about 10%-15% slower in the thicker air. I also have a 6 channel GEM monitor so I can see that all cylinders are happy.
What is the fuel capacity of that airplane? 94 USG? So with full fuel this 6 seater carries a measly 265 kg, which means 2 people plus baggage or 3 without. This does surprise me as people call the Saratogas and Cherokee 6’s family trucks. Also that is a whopping 500 lb above the “advertized” empty weight according to what I could find which is around 1980 lb… now 100lb above is perfectly normal but 500lb? Woha. A healthy reminder to check the actual figures of a plane you’d like to buy vs the figures in the files.
There is little reason to fill it up. With 50 USG you can go over 500nm with IFR reserves. This leaves 850 lbs for people, and this is for a plane with aircon, full copilots panel, etc.
All recent Saratogas (2000 or newer) are going to be 2400+ empty when new.
hammer wrote:
I use 22"MP and 2200 rpm
How do you know if the engine has the effective amount of vacuum for that RPM regime?
