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Dico,
I agree with everything that Berni stated. However, cross country fuel burn in the mid 20's in my plane is around 32-33 gph at about 300 ktas. still not low but mile per mile better than a cherokee 6 or most other ga spam cans. obviously lower altitude will burn more fuel and the short low altitude $100 hamburger flight is more like $250 but it is an amazing cross country machine.
i suspect for the money you would be better off financially selling your plane and buying one of the flying or almost built propjets in this market as i suspect that the conversion cost would be close to the same as a flying propjet unless you just love your plane.
Walter is now owned by GE and my understanding is that they are no longer manufacturing new 601 engines. I believe a 4000 hr factory reman will cost close to 250k whereas when i bought mine brand new in 2003 it was a great deal through lancair for around 155k. when ge bought walter the prices skyrocketted presumably at least partially due to ge being a deep pocket and their liability concerns. The walter engines are available as IRAN's for significantly less money-just make sure you know what you're getting.
David Weinsweig
N750DW propjet 255 hours still for sale
weinsweigd@gmail.com 304-633-5221
bbreen@cableone.net 2/21/2012 11:30:42 AM >>>
Dico:
My normally aspirated non pressurized IV was converted to a turbine about 2
years after I bought it. The conversion took about a year and cost about
250K all in...engine, prop, belly tank, baggage compartment tank and filler
on fuselage, air conditioning, cowl modifications, engine instruments,
throttle quadrant and paint. It would be much more expensive today...I
think. Assuming you use a Walther the engine and Avia prop are reasonably
priced. I believe I paid around 50K.
I flew it for another 2 years after the conversion. It was the most
awesome airplane I have ever flown. They will fly 300 KTAS even in the
teens. My only issue was the fuel consumption. They will use 40 GPH. If
I could afford 40 GPH I would have no other airplane for cross country
travel. Truly awesome! If your mission is more just to fly than to fly
cross country, that 40 GPH might dissuade you from jumping in on a Sunday
afternoon to shoot approaches and do some low level sight seeing unless you
own a fuel farm.
If you do decide to move forward with a conversion I strongly suggest you
contact Lanny Rundell at Southern Air in Winnsboro LA. He has done this
conversion before, is extremely knowledgable and honest as the day is long.
Berni
On Tuesday, February 21, 2012, Dico Reijers wrote:
Hi All,
I'm just wondering what is all involved in retrofitting an IVP to IVPT.
Someday when AVGas gets scarce or I win a lottery, it might be a nice
option to have. I am guessing this is decision most people make when
starting their build but have many people made this change after the fact?
Whats a turbine engine worth now-a-days?
-Dico
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