Aircraft for the mission
Safety obsessed
The customer: Flying is a passion, but traveling more so. You, your spouse, and your two teenage kids love to get away from the Bay Area every weekend, where you work as a software executive. The trips range from as little as 100 miles away to as much as 500 miles. Money isn’t a great concern, but safety is. You have a family and assets to protect, and when flying together safety is always at the top of your mind. Most of your luggage will be small weekend-type bags, and you won’t have any sports equipment, beyond maybe a tennis racquet.
The budget: $750,000
The options:
Cirrus SR22T
Say what you will about the Cirrus parachute, but it is a lifesaver. Arguing about whether it covers poor performance or is a crutch is all noise. The system saves lives, and hundreds of pilots and their passengers are around today because they pulled the chute. This budget will easily score a late-model turbo version, which would be great for outclimbing mountains.
Piper Meridian
This one will push the budget, but it’s hard to beat the reliability of a turbine engine. You don’t necessarily need the space, and it’s too much airplane for those short trips, but it will open up a world a few hundred miles farther away. Easy to fly, relatively inexpensive to maintain and operate, it’s a great step-up option.
Diamond DA42
Yes, we’ve heard the joke about the second engine of a twin flying you to the scene of an accident, but Diamond has shown how modern technology can overcome certain pilot shortcomings. A quasi autofeather system and full authority digital engine control, combined with long legs that lead to ample fuel reserves, make the twin Diamond a stellar choice.
Let us know which aircraft you would choose!
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