Nice People Thread No. 14, all Nice and Proper

HAMISH_MCTAVISH

CKhalvashi wrote: »

Holy cow.... Is that a Beechcraft Musketeer/Sierra?

Haven't seen one of those for donkey's years.

What are the avionics specs?

zagubov

Nikkster wrote: »

I switched broadband last month (BT to sky, significant improvement) and am in the process of switching energy suppliers (first utility to ovo, still don't think npower have properly closed my doomed account down). Also moved car and house insurance providers in the last 6 weeks. And opened a new current account (HSBC). The thing I need to switch is my mobile (been with O2 for over 10 years, on this tariff for about 5 ). It's a PITA, but I work hard for my money (sometimes it feels particularly hard), so might as well. Every penny is a penny that can be spent elsewhere. And it's only me bringing any of them in anyway

Good work!

When I lived in Nikksterville many moons ago, I got to know someone whose parents had moved far far north to HAMISHtown and when he went to visit them he used to buy cheap cars there and drive them south, and did this many times a year and made a tidy sum.

I haven't walked 500 miles and then walked 500 more, but have after yesterday have just driven that distance to sell our old car & get our next car, which is tiny but great.

For a good second-hand car, managed to save £1k which is not to be sneezed at. :beer:

GDB2222 wrote: »

There are some economic differences between the US and Switzerland. For example, there is much less income inequality- the Gini Coefficient is much lower. However, it's possible that social differences are more important. Switzerland strikes me as a socially cohesive society, where all citizens feel their voices are heard.

It has many fine aspects. It always strikes me as an outlier in Europe, seeing as how we can never name its president, its politicians are clearly public servants and if they have a sovereign, it's the people themselves.

But a certain Herr Blatter is undermining its reputation for corruption.:(

CKhalvashi

HAMISH_MCTAVISH wrote: »

Holy cow.... Is that a Beechcraft Musketeer/Sierra?

Haven't seen one of those for donkey's years.

What are the avionics specs?

It's a Beech A24R, the one with retractable gear

I don't want to say too much online, as it's the only one registered in the country it's registered, but it's in the 4+2 config rather than the 4 seat, with an uprated engine.

Oh, and it's older than I am, so not seeing one in years isn't so surprising

zagubov

HAMISH_MCTAVISH wrote: »

Holy cow.... Is that a Beechcraft Musketeer/Sierra?

Haven't seen one of those for donkey's years.

What are the avionics specs?

Speaking of things I haven't seen for donkey's years, today saw a motorcycle with an actual side car.

(thinks : they may be common all over Britain but I haven't seen so many recently in SW London/Surrey)

HAMISH_MCTAVISH

CKhalvashi wrote: »

It's a Beech A24R, the one with retractable gear

I don't want to say too much online, as it's the only one registered in the country it's registered, but it's in the 4+2 config rather than the 4 seat, with an uprated engine.

Oh, and it's older than I am, so not seeing one in years isn't so surprising

Beech Sierra with the optional factory ordered 'kiddy seats' in the back then.

Came standard with a 200hp Lycoming 360 and the only retractible single with outwards folding gear. Last made in 1983 but most are older.

Surprised to see one as although they are a bit roomier inside than the Piper Arrow they're a pig to fly by comparison and significantly slower than the Mooney M20, while being markedly more expensive to operate than the Warrior 180 but only about 5kts faster.

Also not a lot cheaper than an early Beech Bonanza which gives you proper 6 seat capacity and is much quicker and nicer to fly.

Hence my question about avionics.... If you've a full IR ticket and some previous owner has overspent on the Avionics suite they do make a reasonable IFR platform. But other than that can't think why someone would buy one versus the competition.

HAMISH_MCTAVISH

zagubov wrote: »

Speaking of things I haven't seen for donkey's years, today saw a motorcycle with an actual side car.

Was it a Ural? They seem to be coming back in popularity.

CKhalvashi

HAMISH_MCTAVISH wrote: »

Beech Sierra with the optional factory ordered 'kiddy seats' in the back then.

Came standard with a 200hp Lycoming 360 and the only retractible single with outwards folding gear.

Last made in 1983 but most are older. Surprised to see one as although they are a bit roomier inside than the Piper Arrow they're a pig to fly by comparison to the Piper Arrow and significantly slower than the Mooney M20.

Also not a lot cheaper than an early Beech Bonanza which gives you proper 6 seat capacity and is much quicker and nicer to fly.

Hence my question about avionics.... If you've a full IR ticket and some previous owner has overspent on the Avionics suite they do make a reasonable IFR platform. But other than that can't think why someone would buy one versus the competition.

I'm impressed.

It's leased to a flight school (for IR training amongst other things) for 10 months a year (which predates our partial ownership) and yes, the avionics have been upgraded. I will get some specs, however I've only taken it out 3 times and can't tell you off hand, all I know is that it was done whilst on an N-number, not the one it's on now.

It was bought to cover its own bills, whilst being free for use (within reason), and I have no idea why they picked it in the first place, but there must have been a reason for it

Engine overhaul done just after we bought it (at a cost of about €22k), so should see it running for the next 18 months at least without needing serious expense. It's currently averaging about 90h/m in the summer, and 40-50 in the winter.

vivatifosi

Generali wrote: »

All hope is gone, dashed against the Green and Gold shores. Thank goodness I'm not in work for a few days.

Could you say that you're not a rugby fan and the only sports you are into are cricket and football?

It was an embarrassment though. I can't see any of the team being shortlisted for BBC Sportsperson of the Year.

HAMISH_MCTAVISH

CKhalvashi wrote: »

It's leased to a flight school (for IR training amongst other things) for 10 months a year (which predates our partial ownership) and yes, the avionics have been upgraded.

That makes sense then, I can see the appeal for training IR/Comm ratings, especially if someone else upgraded it recently. It's an interesting plane, not a lot of them still around, and don't think I've seen one in Europe.

Do you guys use it for family trips as well or more just for training?

silvercar

zagubov wrote: »

Speaking of things I haven't seen for donkey's years, today saw a motorcycle with an actual side car.

(thinks : they may be common all over Britain but I haven't seen so many recently in SW London/Surrey)

Didn't know they were still legal on the roads. Wasn't there a danger of the side car detaching and travelling off in a different direction with no brake? Or was that a comedy sketch?