Twin piston

How to Buy a Twin Piston Airplane

If you’re a pilot who wants to take your game to the next level, a twin piston aircraft presents some new challenges and capabilities.

Twins give the safety of engine redundancy and gain in speed, range and payload. But they are also more complexities and expensive. And if you want to join the club of twin owners, then this article will take you through the whole experience.

What Exactly Is A Twin Piston Airplane?

A twin piston plane has two piston engines rather than one like a single engine aircraft. A two-cylinder is safer since if one engine goes down, you have another source of power. Twins can even carry heavier payloads and take more trips than one-person airplanes.

Piston twins can be from small 4-5 seaters such as the Beechcraft Baron and Piper Seneca, to 10+ seat turboprop replicas like the Piper Navajo and Cessna 421. Maximum takeoff weights are 5,000- 12,500 lbs.

Twins are expensive to buy and run, but twin engines do have some benefits:

• More security - twin powerplants for redundancy
• Greater range and endurance
• Extra functional load and cabin area.
• More intense cruising range of 180-260 mph.
• Better cooling during heat/high.
• Reduced single-engine takeoff distances

Twins also bring the punch to pilots who need to transport heavy payload and passengers further and faster.

The Benefits of Twin Ownership

If your single has been on shit and you’re ready for an upgrade to a twin. A few of the perks that twin piston ownership brings:

• Safety - With two engines you have an alternate engine if one does go out. Redundant systems mitigate against complete power loss effectively.
• Practical Weight - Twins carry larger payloads, because of their two engines. Payloads on a full tank range from 2,000 to 4,000 lbs.
• Range - Bigger fuel tanks and efficiency give you bigger range numbers. Some twins can get more than 1,000 miles IFR reserves.
• Speed - Twins speed 30-60 mph better than similar singles. Trip times shrink noticeably.
• Ceiling - With twins you get an extra 2,000-4,000ft of altitude capacity because they have combined power, you can fly above the weather.
• Performance - Dual engines for a better takeoff and climb out of a hot/high airport.

For owner-pilots who require frequent long haul flights or heavy-weight cargo capability, twins provide features unmatched by singles.

What Is The Cost Of A Twin Piston?

Twin piston airplanes, it turns out, cost more in both money and time. You can get desirable models for a good price anywhere between $100,000 and $1 million used. Meanwhile new twins by Piper and Beechcraft fetch $1-2 million.

Other than the price of the aircraft, you’ll have to budget for:

• Insurance - Uses up 50+hrs multiengine. @ least $10,000/yr more than the same single.
• Schooling - To receive a multiengine rating, 5-10hrs of dual training, $5,000+.
• Hangar - Twins are not often pinned outside. Hangar costs $450+ per month.
• Upkeep - Estimate $150-200/hr repair, parts, engine reserve. At least 2x a single.
• Fuel - Twelve-45 gallons of gas per engine is a lot.

With that said, you’re going to spend $400,000+ more in the first 5 years of owning twins than you paid when you bought them. But for many buyers, the extra power and difficulty of flying a twin is worth it.

Choosing the Right Twin Model

If you find a twin that works for your mission, then picking the right make and model comes down to considerations of the following:

• Goal - Business tool or personal aircraft? Long trips or short hops? How many passengers or how much cargo space do you need?
• Performance - Calculate useful load, cruise speed, range and single-engine climb rate of the cars you’re thinking about. Compare specs with mission profile.
• Complexity - Use the simplest twin which works for you. Triples hydraulics, retracts, turbocharging, pressurizing, etc., never a good idea. if possible.
• Access - Search for popular cars that are heavily used, have a huge fleet, and parts and service is easily accessible.
• Preowned Engine, Prop, Avionics Upgrades - If you can, look into aftermarket engine, prop, and avionics upgrades.
• Reputation - Pick an already existing design that has been proven reliable and long lasting. Stay away from “hotrod” derivatives.
• Pick 3-4 models that look like the right match for your budget and flying style. Do your homework before committing.

Popular Pre-Owned Twin Piston Models

The twin piston has been crowded into a handful of products that have solid performance, big cabins and great aftermarket service. These are the top pre-owned models we offer:

• Beechcraft Baron - More than 6,500 Barons were built between 1961 and 1986. We still want the four seat Baron 55 and six seat 58 for their 200 mph cruise speeds.
• Piper Seneca - Made since 1971, the Seneca can seat 4-6. It’s soft to sail and has a cheap 155 knot cruise.
• Piper Navajo - The Navajo line was made since 1967, and there were more than 1400 made. Later spec’s seat 7-10 people at 190-220 mph.
• Cessna 310 - Production 1953-80, the Cessna 310 has low wing. More than 9000 were produced. Early models cruise 160 knots.
• Cessna 421 - There were almost 3000 421s manufactured between 1967 and 1985. The 421’s cabin accommodates 6-8 people and speeds up to 240 knots.
• Grumman G-73 - Grumman’s "Mallard" amphibian is from the 1940s and got turboprop engines in the 1970s. Slow but brawny.

There are dozens of twins on the market, but sticking with the tried and true ones gives great parts selection and owner/community connections.

Operating Cost Considerations

Before jumping on the twin bandwagon, do your own calculations. Two engines use more fuel, costs more to maintain, and adds to the cost of insurance. The main costs to expect:

• Gasoline - Estimate gallons burned per hour from 18-45 gallons per engine. Costs run you $4-6 per gallon quickly.
• Upkeep - Double the engine and system costs of one. Budget $150-300/hour.
• Insurance - From about $7,500 per year for basic coverage. Add $15,000 or more for added liability protection.
• Training - Multiengine rating requires $5,000-10,000 in tuition. Recurrent training runs $2,500-5,000.
• Hangar - Expect $450-1000 per month in indoor aircraft storage if you live in a cold climate.
• Engine Rebuilds - Every 2,000-hours or so, engine rebuilds are $20,000-40K. Budget reserves accordingly.

The costs to run a twin are going to run you $75-150+ an hour straight. But more power and less risk can be worth it for some buyers.

New or Pre-Owned? How to Shop Wisely

To get your twin, first you’ll need to choose between a new or used one. A few tradeoffs to think about:

New

• Up to date electronics and cabin facilities.
• One-year limited airframe and engine warranty.
• Assured maintenance history
• Customize paint, interior, options
• 2 - 3 year wait for production slot.

Pre-Owned

• 50% to 75% off of the retail price for a used car!
• Larger model/config options.
• Upgrades can already be installed on your machine.
• Maintenance history provides insights
• Same day delivery; no waiting for shipping.

New twins have all the latest features and security. But used is more value and faster.

Don’t buy lightly, review the logs, opt for clean aircraft and make the necessary upgrades. Pre-owned, with a little planning, can save you thousands of dollars compared to new.

How to Pay For Your Twin Purchase

Only a small percentage of twin buyers pay cash so financing is pretty common. Below are ways to lower your cost:

• Bank Loans - The banks will lend you around 75% of the purchase price, however at a higher interest and fees. 10 & 15 year contracts on new planes.
• Captive Financing - Piper, Beechcraft, Cessna - they all have great programs through their contracted lenders to finance new planes.
• Lease - Leasing with an aviation niche lessor saves big upfront costs as payments are spread out over 5-7 years. But monthly rates run higher.
• Partnering - When you partner or partners, your upfront and operating cost are minimized. But it’s a compromise and a very specific partnership agreement.
• Equity shares - A flight school might offer non-voting equity shares in twins they fly to allow you access to train and fly for yourself.
• Seller Financing - On used aircraft, some sellers may finance part of the purchase, and so you can satisfy the gap between the bank loan and asking price.
• Home Equity Loan - If you have a large home equity, a HELOC is the lowest cost long-term financing available, better than an aircraft loan.

The trick is to strike the right financing ratio to pay the bills on time and still have some free cash to go towards the day to day running expenses. It is quite usual to combine two or more.

Consult with aviation lending professionals and see everything you can. Your twin-in-a-dream can be a reality, with the right financing.

Finding Your Ideal Twin on the Market

It takes effort to find the perfect twin. Tips to get you started:

• Show up at used plane shows to check out a wide variety of planes for sale and talk to people who own them.
• Check Controller, Trade-a-Plane and Barnstormers every day for new twins!
• View inventories of new aircraft on manufacturer and dealer websites.
• Get an airplane broker that is a good one to look for clean used options.
• Search everywhere as planes are transponder.
• Follow leads on twins who are supposedly coming soon.
• Get there early if the right plane becomes available.
• Observe vet logbooks and maintenance history to the letter.
• Have a trusted mechanic check any airplane before purchasing it.

If you are persistent and work hard, you can get a perfect twin to adopt. And the hunt is all part of the adventure!

Placing Your Offer and Closing the Deal

Once you find the twin you are interested in buying, get up and go place an offer and try to strike a deal.

• Offer the seller your written offer and closing date.
• Ask about aircraft price, closing date, pre-closing repairs.
• Work out who pays some of the closing expenses such as title fees and sales tax.
• For pre-owned, make a deal with a pre-buy inspection by your mechanic.
• Deposit big once offer conditions are accepted.
• Close on financing so money is in closing.
• Go over all closing documents in detail before signing.
• Conduct a full walkaround at delivery.

Close in 30-60 days. Hire an aviation lawyer to review paperwork and represent you. Then be ready for twin-engine adventure fun!