Turbo Saratoga

Anyone here have some time in one (I'm sure SOMEONE here does!)? I'm getting checked out tomorrow for a flight from Norfolk to Nashville and back on sat. Anything in particular to watch out for with the Saratoga? I know I'll have to plan my descent carefully to avoid shock cooling.

 

How'd it go?

 

Actually, the checkout went really well, thanks! I like that airplane a lot. Good power, very stable, control feel is a little heavy, but I drive a 348 so that's fine I wish the gross weight could be a bit higher because, as you may know, you won't get anywhere close to max range with a pax load. I fact, I determined that I can only carry 40 gallons (5 are unusable!) in order to be within gross and CG, and even that's _right_ on the top line of the very upper limit. So, for this particular flight with one 250 pounder, me at 160 and three other guys at standard weight, I said let's bite the bullet and go commercial.

Overall, it just felt like a heavier version of my Arrow, very docile and easy to read. I can't wait to throw one person out and use this sucker for some X-country!!

 

Didn't see this in time. Flew one years ago. I remember the club seating in the back and cupholders. A big deal back in the 80's. Nice flying plane. Flew the SP (retract). Wasn't all that fast. Stable. In fact most the planes I've flown have been stable with the exception of the BA3100 (Jetstream 31). That thing is an accident waiting to happen.....

Glad you had fun, Lou

 

Thanks, it was fun! First time I have flown something that heavy. This one is a three-blade SP, which they quote as truing out at 177kts. I have my doubts about that...

 

I also flew one a bit back in the 80s, but I really don't remember enough to be useful.

 

Mine was a 3 blade as well. It's been a long time. 170 kts seems to ring a bell. That's actually pretty good. I was thinking 145 for some reason. A relative of mine once rented the older Cherokee 6, removed the last doors, and dumped over 1000 ping pong balls onto a golf course the night before a televised tournament. They had to delay the start! Now that's a versatile airplane!!!!!!!

 

HA! Any airplane that you can feasibly use as a "bomber" is cool with me! Does this person still have a license? I guess care was taken not to injure anyone on the ground, so...technically no FAR violated, yeah?

 

Violated. Lost his license for 6 months. That didn't stop him though. He was flying at a later date and was in the traffic pattern. He was asked to do a 360 for spacing. He proceeded to roll the airplane 360 degrees. That got him another 6 months. He ended up being an air traffic controller. Chicago O'Hare. Retired recently.


He's a great guy. His reasoning for the stunts.....he was young and times were different.

I couldn't imagine doing stuff like that today....

 

HAHAHA!!! THAT is funny!!

I knew an older guy who lived around here and knew flying "as it used to be". He'd fly around in his Bonanza or Stearman and buzz underneath powerlines, do acro wherever he saw fit, buzz his son's house about 75 feet off the deck...somehow, he managed to keep his ticket until he lost his medical.