Pleasant insurance surprise

[kwmoore]

It's rare to use the words "insurance" and "pleasant surprise" in the same sentence, but I learned today that my premium for 2008 is $3600 for $330K hull and $2M smooth liability. :cool: I had been anticipating something like $5500 or more. It's not too often that one can reduce operating expenses by $10/hr by a mere stroke of the pen! It may be that my ~700 hr time in type was helpful.

My broker is the same as for my previous 260se's: Hardy Aviation Insurance. (http://www.hardyaviationins.com/index.htm) They know Todd's planes well and seem particularly persuasive about hull values when they deal with underwriters.

[nworth]

My broker is the same as for my previous 260se's: Hardy Aviation Insurance. (http://www.hardyaviationins.com/index.htm) They know Todd's planes well and seem particularly persuasive about hull values when they deal with underwriters.
I also had a pleasant surprise in my second year of insurance with Hardy. I increased to 2mm smooth (from 1mm/100k) and actually saw a significant reduction. I have found Hardy easy to deal with and responsive.

[kwmoore]

...my premium for 2008 is $3600 for $330K hull and $2M smooth liability. :cool: I had been anticipating something like $5500 or more.
This favorable development occasioned my revisiting total cost of ownership. Now, to be truthful, one should never do this, it's too depressing no matter what aircraft one owns. :rolleyes: However, my anal side often gets the better of me, always to my chagrin. :p

As some of you know the other aircraft I was considering buying was a 2003-2005 SR22; hull values are also in the low $300K range for the 2004-2005 planes now. Insurance would have been considerably higher for the '22.

The hourly cost difference is striking, the SR22 would be nearly $100 more per hour. The big deltas between the Katmai and SR22 turn out to be insurance and estimated depreciation. I gave up ~25 kt cruise speed but gained a whole different dimension of slow flight/shortfield/unimproved field capability and fun. I likely also gained because in my experience my 260se's had far fewer maintenance headaches, but time will tell. Moreover the extra time I have to spend managing my own plane vs. renting is (at least so far) more than compensated by the intangible value of pride-of-ownership and ability to go out and fly whenever I want without scheduling hassles. :)

[jjbely]

Kevin,

I think you are very much correct in your views. My Cirrus is an antique 2002 and I am starting to get issues that maybe more common in the future on the fleet, like corrosion on some alloy parts like flaps brackets (replacement was a major job) , electrical/avionics issues with the MCU and alternators, BRS maintenance.. I had my worst annual/maintenance bill this year ever, over 25K, and I am very much decided to sell the A/C as soon I pickup my Katmai. The Cirrus is a great A/C when everything is right but so many things can go wrong and do go wrong. The Cessna design has been truly debugged over the years and it shows. I value versatility, simplicity and reliability more than 20 knots of extra speed. After all, like many of us, I fly for fun and an extra 20 minutes in the air is fine with me. Another 6/8 weeks to go and N95803 is ready. I can't wait to try these short landings..

Cheers

JJ

[kwmoore]

Great news that it's almost ready! Let me know your plans, hope you can stop by this area or perhaps I might use the excuse to visit Kansas again. ;)

To take full advantage of the slow flight and short field capabilities will take some practice but it's well worth the time invested and the learning process is fun. You'll find that you'll need to develop a completely different mindset in the pattern compared to flying the Cirrus, the plane is such a high lift/low drag platform that you'll have a markedly expanded envelope of capabilities and options. After a while that 700 meter runway that was borderline for landing the SR22 will look like Interstate 5 in the San Joaquin Valley from the left seat of the Katmai! :cool:

[nworth]

To take full advantage of the slow flight and short field capabilities will take some practice but it's well worth the time invested and the learning process is fun.
When I picked up my plane, I asked Todd how much time to allocate. He said two days. That surprised me but I recommend you take the advice if you can. Todd is very generous with his time and will really work with you to get the performance landings tuned up. It's great fun.