Decision Time

[Mike Sullivan]

The Sales Order is in my top desk drawer. All I have to do is sign and fax the order form, send a deposit check and the July Production Mellinium will be mine in early August.

Does anyone have any regrets about owning a 260se? Please be honest.

Mike

[n2099x]

Mike I am almost in your boat, the insurance company would pay me and take 99X leaving me without wings. This could be a real good time for me to switch planes. So I got out my trade-a-plane and looked at all the P210's, P337's, Mallards, Beavers, and helicopters, but rhe reality is I fly mostly by myself. I live in mountains I fly in them and I like flying at night. If the inusrance company gets unreasonable I will demand a payoff and go shopping for a late 69 thru 71 airframe and start over. I still want spring gear but I want the extra 150 gross weight otherwise I would buy another 65-69.

Glen

[kwmoore]

Reasons not to buy a 260se:

It's too much fun so I neglect my work.

Tina calls the 260se my "second wife."

I often get home from work an hour later than usual because I ride my bike out to the airport to look at & hang out around the plane for a few minutes.

I can never keep to my trip schedule because there are too many questions to answer from curious folks on the ramp.

It rarely needs tinkering so I barely know my mechanic's first name and still haven't been forced to learn enough about the inner workings under the cowl.

I'm too tempted to land on grass and short private strips just for fun.

I spend so much time talking airplanes with Todd on the phone that he can't get any work done either.

Knowing I can set the 260se down in 300-400 feet at less than 40 kt takes most of the risk-seeking glamor out of being a pilot.

It's a distraction deciding which quarter of PAO's 2500-foot runway I want to use for landing.

I spend way too much time on this forum.


**There are certainly a number of fine aircraft choices available, but you won't regret buying a 260se.** :p

[N86338]

Glen, have you looked into the WingX STC? You get the extra 150 with it. Only caveat is to go for permanent installation and avoid the outfit that did mine.
Bill

Originally posted by n2099x
I still want spring gear but I want the extra 150 gross weight otherwise I would buy another 65-69.

Glen

[Steve]

Go for it, if you like to fly and have fun, nothing beats this aeroplane. It does it all.. Steve

[LEVON HOPKINS]

If Todd & Jo 's production schedule has room for you, better take it because if my topped 230 sneezes, we will be begging for "the" slot. In fact, other than the dollars, I can hardly wait to finish N5384N with a new SE260 Engine. On purchase date, our 1980Q had only about 741 hrs and had only been flown 3 hrs from 1991 to 2004 or in reality, mostly run-up and replace batteries andpark for 13 years of annual inspection. The engine needed topping. Done. There are probably dozens of Peterson Canard owners waiting to upgrade to the 260. Buy it and be real happy "now."

[breaktime]

I will admit that occassionally peruse the P210, and Skymaster ads. But when I add it up, nothing beats my 260se for the flying I do. The slow speed handling lends a sense of security that can't be matched. Most of my flying is Xcountry 200-500 miles. The extra speed of the 260 means I can make all my flights whithin bladder distance. I don't really do a lot of short field work, but the aircraft is ready and able ALL the time. I have put 250 hours on N97453 and would buy it again in a heartbeat. Take a deep breath and go for it!

Good Luck,
George

[kwmoore]

Mike Sullivan started this thread in May 2002. He has been the proud owner of a 260se/stol for about 2 years now! :)

[breaktime]

Hah, didn't notice the date. I just focused on Levon's message and assumed it was current. I hope Mike likes his 260se as much as I do. Thanks Kevin.

[Mike Sullivan]

After a two year hiatus, almost 600 hours in "661", 250 under the hood,
an IFR rating, partially through my Commercial and lots and lots of fun, :D ,
I wouldn't give "661" back for anything. The car is parked EVERY weekend and we're off in our little plane. Jessica, my wife, has finally become a believer and is ready to take off at a moments notice. Heck, she's even making noises about wanting to learn to fly.

We made two trips back to Florida, several to Oregon , Wash. and Idaho to take mountain lessons from Miss Lori and many around the South West. Last summers' trip to Shelter Cove and Little River was one of my favorites. Really didn't want to leave those lovely places to come back to 115 degree heat in the Imperial Valley.

Have had a few maintenance problems. The spinner backing plate fatigued and flew apart in flight. Fortunately the pieces didn't hit the plane. I've sent the Garmin 530 back to Garmin to have the Comms fixed. It was out of warranty and they were happy to charge me $900. The vacuum pump failed but I was lucky enough to be VFR in severe clear. Everything else has been fairly minor and routine. Not a single burp out of my engine!

The long and short of it is, "I'm ready to fly", and I'm thinking about Baja. Anyone interested?

Mike

[kwmoore]

...and happy to hear how much you're enjoying the plane. Let some of us NorCal folks know next time you're up here; a mini-fly-in could be worked out rather quickly.

Once your wife gets her ticket, she'll want her own 260se for sure. Just ask Todd... ;)