New 1974 Pressurized Skymaster T337G Owner

[hharney]

Congratulations Dan, you have joined a very passionate group and blue skies for you as you transition into this exciting time in your life.

What is the primary mission for the aircraft? With the Horton STOL kit installed, initially, I would fly the airplane by the book. Book numbers will develop good habits and that's important. Forget the STOL is even on the airplane for now. Then if the mission presents the need for short/slow performance you can configure the airplane for slow flight and short field based on the book again. Then practice some maneuvers at a safe altitude and test the STOL performance. I like to configure the airplane for landing and just judge the characteristics the STOL might provide vs the book. Then you know the limits of the aircraft. For most situations you will find that the Skymaster does well by the book numbers in slow / short events. The STOL is there to provide a cushion.

If you decide you are ready to tackle some adventure we are putting together a Flying Adventure to Yellowstone Park this year in September. Great time with a bunch of pilots doing what we all love, flying and bragging about airplanes.

[dan1000]

Originally Posted by hharney

What is the primary mission for the aircraft?

Thanks Herb. You ask about the mission:

I fly between KSNA (John Wayne airport in Southern California) and a few other places that are each 300 - 350 nm away:
Phoenix, AZ
Carson City, NV
Palo Alto, CA
Usually alone or +1, occasionally +3

I wanted to be able to do those trips in 2h or less, and land with an hour's reserves. I assumed payload of either 400lbs (me +1) or 700lbs (me +1 + 2 teens). I prefer pressurization, and turbocharging is a must, since my trips are most often over the rockies, where putting several thousand feet of altitude between the mountains and the aircraft helps significantly with turbulence.

I looked at Mooneys and Malibus and various 210's, and many of them would do the job. Then I remembered the comfort of having the extra engine. My last airplane was a Cessna 414, which was a wonderful - if somewhat demanding - platform. But that was way back then when I flew more regularly than I do now. Most twins are very demanding, and significant recurrent training is required to maintain proficiency. The Pressurized Skymaster seemed to give me the performance I wanted while providing the extra safety of the second engine, without the drawbacks of asymmetric thrust twins.

But ... oh, the old wives' tales about this aircraft! Wading through each of those, trying to find the truth of the matter, that took some doing. But having done that, I'm very glad to have ended up with my P337 platform, and look forward to all the living and learning she will provide.

Dan

[kilr4d]

Dan, hope you don't mind I grabbed a pic off the internet. That's a REALLY incredible looking Skymaster.

Congrats again.

Edit: BTW...that ship used to be owned by Ken Reed and by all accounts he was METICULOUS with maintenance.

[dan1000]

Originally Posted by kilr4d

Dan, hope you don't mind I grabbed a pic off the internet. That's a REALLY incredible looking Skymaster.

Congrats again.

Edit: BTW...that ship used to be owned by Ken Reed and by all accounts he was METICULOUS with maintenance.

Thanks

BTW, I posted photos in another thread, and the site won't let me repost them in this thread. The thumbnails look upside down for some reason, but if you click on the photos, they are the right way up (at least, for me).

Dan