(Re)introduction

[Mself]

Greetings, all!

After almost a year of searching, I'm happy to say that I've pulled the trigger and I take delivery of my "new" 114 next week, N5804N. In the process, I learned a HECK of a lot from a lot of people. In particular, I have to give a VERY LOUD shout out to Judi Anderson. She's awesome!!! In the end, I didn't end up getting a Commander through her (although I tried -- but lost my dream ship -- because I was too stupid to scroll down in an email, didn't see the photos and missed making my offer by 2 HOURS on a gorgeous ship) she's a wonderfully knowledgable and helpful person. I can't say enough good about her and I hope that perhaps when that perfect 114B or 115 hits the market, I'll upgrade with her.

Second, all of YOU who were very giving in your advice and suggestions over the past year. I got a lot of great input from you guys and I hope to learn a lot more as a member of the COG and a 114 owner.

I think I'm getting a good ship in good shape with a good engine, but I intend on making it better. She's going to get a lot of nice, new electronics, if I can get an avionics shop to call me back! They all seem to be very busy with ADS-B installs these days that it's harder to get hold of them than the world's finest neurosurgeon.

Any and all suggestions, input and advice you have is ALWAYS welcome!

Cheers all!
Mike

 

[gmascelli]

Congrats, Mike!!

I look forward to pictures of your new ride. What’’s in the panel now and what are you looking to update to?

I’m just getting ready to start my transition training in our recently purchased 112A.

I’ll second that about Judi, awesome lady. She was a big help for us finding a plane.

Good luck! Wishing you many hours of fun flying.

 

[Mself]

Congrats, Mike!!

I look forward to pictures of your new ride. What’’s in the panel now and what are you looking to update to?

I’m just getting ready to start my transition training in our recently purchased 112A.

I’ll second that about Judi, awesome lady. She was a big help for us finding a plane.

Good luck! Wishing you many hours of fun flying.

Here’s a pic of the panel now. I’m want to get:
GNX 375 ADS-B/transponder
Dual G5’s
garmin Nav/Com
garmin audio panel

 

[gmores]

Congratulations Mike!

 

[janderson]

well it's about time, Mike! 'bout wore me out worrying you'd get off-course and buy a Brand X!
thanx for the kind words, and enjoy the ride.. you're gonna love it.

Judi

 

[Jaybird]

Hi Mike, I see in your signature you formally piloted and/or owned a Socata Trinidad TB-20. That has always struck me as the closest competitor to the Commander. It actually has a wide cabin too and is retract, constant speed and IO-540 engine as I recall.. I figured it didn't get much attention here in the US because it's a French plane. I check on some of the sales sites though and see a few for sale and I've watched some videos and I love the large glass windows for view. What did you think of the TB-20/21 and how would you compare it to 114?

 

[mrcshbs]

Congratulations!!! and yes Judi is awesome. She helped me a out a lot during my research.

 

[Mself]

Hi Mike, I see in your signature you formally piloted and/or owned a Socata Trinidad TB-20. That has always struck me as the closest competitor to the Commander. It actually has a wide cabin too and is retract, constant speed and IO-540 engine as I recall.. I figured it didn't get much attention here in the US because it's a French plane. I check on some of the sales sites though and see a few for sale and I've watched some videos and I love the large glass windows for view. What did you think of the TB-20/21 and how would you compare it to 114?

Jay:

I've owned two TB-20's over the years. They, like the Commander, are very pleasing to the eye, which is what first caught my attention in the late 80's. I would say they are the closest thing to a Commander, like you point out. I'm not sure why they weren't more popular in the US -- perhaps a lack of support from Aerospatiale (later Socata and now Daher) is to blame??

I liked flying the TB-20 quite a bit. The interior is nice and the panel is, bar NONE, the best in a single piston I have ever encountered. Absolutely GORGEOUS and highly functional. My particular problem with the TB-20 is my height. I'm 6'5" and my head, with a David Clark headset on, routinely butted up against the top of the gull wing door. When it got bumpy, my head and neck would bear the brunt of the bumps. Reclining the seat helped a little, but then put me in an awkward position to fly comfortable and took up backseat legroom.

I visibility is really good because of the door design, but at the same time, is a bit on the warm side. All that plastic up top tends to act as a greenhouse.

When I set out to get another fixed wing this time, the Commander was my first choice mainly because of headroom. Although, this time around, I did give some consideration to a TB-20GT, which has 3 more inches of headroom. There's a nice one for sale in Tampa, FL, but $225K is a bit much even with the nice avionics.

I did have a very bad maintenance experience with my second TB-20. There was corrosion pitting on the wing spar that was too deep for cleanup, so the engineers at Socata, in France, had to design a spar support that was installed by Socata North America at KHWO. That was a VERY expensive proposition and left a very bad taste in my mouth, which may have been isolated to that one aircraft, but in my mind, spilled over to all the others as well.

I actually haven't flown the Commander yet. I pick it up this Wednesday so, I can better compare after a few hours in my new 114. From everything I've heard, I suspect they both fly pretty similarly, except for the differences caused by the high horizontal stabilizer on the Commander versus the stabilator on the TB-20.

I'll revisit this post in a few days and let you know my findings.

Cheers,
MIke.

 

[Jaybird]

Hey Mike, Anxious to hear your comparison between TB20 and 114 when you get up in it. I just sent you a great CFII contact and phone number that flew with me when I picked up my Commander and works with me over on your post lookin for a Ft Laud CFII.

 

[Mself]

Hey Mike, Anxious to hear your comparison between TB20 and 114 when you get up in it. I just sent you a great CFII contact and phone number that flew with me when I picked up my Commander and works with me over on your post lookin for a Ft Laud CFII.

I just saw the reply for CFII. Thanks!

 

[Jamesdub]

Welcome Mike!
I'm living the dream with my 114! Wish I'd 'pulled that trigger' much sooner than I did (2011).
Nice job on your signature block if I could suggest; add your year and Sn. Really helps later when you have a parts or performance question.
Welcome again, Also, consider the COG fly-in coming up in Sept. They are a lot of fun and great info is passed each year. Something for the ladies as well (LOCO's) . . .
(Danger is No Stranger to the Bell Jet Ranger) . . . Old Army quip . . .
Clear Skies, John

 

[Mself]

Welcome Mike!
I'm living the dream with my 114! Wish I'd 'pulled that trigger' much sooner than I did (2011).
Nice job on your signature block if I could suggest; add your year and Sn. Really helps later when you have a parts or performance question.
Welcome again, Also, consider the COG fly-in coming up in Sept. They are a lot of fun and great info is passed each year. Something for the ladies as well (LOCO's) . . .
(Danger is No Stranger to the Bell Jet Ranger) . . . Old Army quip . . .
Clear Skies, John

Thanks, John. I've changed my signature block per your suggestion, thanks.

Just got back from my orientation flight and, so far, I'm liking it better than the TB-20. Much more "forgiving". That's not to say the TB-20 is a beast to handle, on the contrary, it's fairly tame. But the 114 has it beat. Especially throwing out flaps and gear. MUCH smoother and not much of an attitude change at all. The TB-20, when you go flaps 10, is a noticeable change; at landing flaps, you'll spend a long time trimming nose down. Not so on the 114. It's really a non-event. I was pleasantly surprised.

I think I'm going to be happy with this acquisition.

Cheers,
Mike.

 

[Jaybird]

so far, I'm liking it better than the TB-20. Much more "forgiving". That's not to say the TB-20 is a beast to handle, on the contrary, it's fairly tame. But the 114 has it beat. Cheers,
Mike.

Thanks for the Pirep, that is so good to hear. The Trinidad was almost making me have second thoughts...