My old man used to own a 400LS and many other aircraft. And this beast by far was the absolute best to see people reactions on the ground when we flew into fbo's that were not familiar with them. Everyone had questions about the airframe and engines. And when we would depart, there would be crowds to watch its amazing climb rate. Best memories of my life when i flew with my father in this missle. N1515h was tail number, and i believe it is still registered in the us somewhere.
Man! That`s a direct drive! I thought it was a reverse flow turbine like the PT6A. This is cool! Direct driven engine with a mechanical reduction gearbox. I was wondering how the props could spool up this fast. Now I know why. Amazing. Awesome Aircraft with awesome turbines.
BlackFoxFalcon That's the big difference in the Pratt PT6 engines and the Garretts. All Garrett engines are direct drive. Main reason why they're so noisy on the ground, they turn at 97% power in ground idle.
They aren't direct drive, they're geared drive. Direct drive would imply that the propeller is literally connected to the drive shaft of the engine, which it isn't. The drive shaft is connected to the RGB, which is in turn connected to the propeller. Only the earliest TPE-331's idled at 97%. By the time airplanes like the Cessna 441, MU-2, Commander, and 400LS rolled around, the engines were configured to have a low idle speed, which is typically between 72% and 76%. In flight however, maximum continuous RPM is 100%, minimum cruise is typically 97%
+tokillamurderer They do look cool. and no doubt they're ridic expensive. Probably the guy's only option because the Dowty props are hard to find due to the 400LS' low production numbers. Having looked up the plane I see a bunch of them have the 5-blade props.
dieselyeti He actually bought the plane with the 4 bladed props on it, and decided to upgrade them, along with having the plane painted, and a few other things. Very nice plane. I have a video on packing the oxygen masks that shows the interior, if you're interested. It's on my channel.
+tokillamurderer Sure, the props were probably coming up for overhaul and he went the upgrade route to a 5 blade for better climb (not that a 400 was lacking)
The MT propellers don't actually produce much of an observable performance increase. Their biggest value on the 400LS is the elimination of the Dowty propellers, which eliminates the recurring inspections and fixes the delamination issues that frequently occurred with those blades. The only other discernible benefit is the reduced cabin noise and vibration.
Very cool, I'm pricing the available ones now. There's nothing like this airplane for price (both purchase and operating) vs. performance. Also extremely cool to watch the aliasing as the props spin up.
R Diaz I wound up buying a Conquest 2 instead. The production run of the Cheyenne 400LS was so small (45 or so) that I was afraid of parts availability. Even the Conquest 2 is rare, only 350 produced but that’s a little better.
R Diaz Yes, it’s an awesome airplane in looks and performance. As I said in another comment section, the only thing not to like about the Cheyenne 400LS is that Piper stopped making them. I flew in two in my search and they are incomparable.
R Diaz Hopefully your day will come. I got my PPL in 1981 and rented until 2001 when I got a Piper Saratoga that I just sold to buy the Conquest 2. I’m very fortunate and very grateful.
You did the right thing Rob. Still flying with Rich? Too bad I wasn't still around LGB, as it would have been a nice break from FSB-Alteon to safety pilot for you. I also trained in Merlins there at LGB.
@@jamesd.murphy3124 I bought a Cessna 441 / Conquest II. Not as fast or long range but eight times as many were built so parts are more reliably available. Still love the 400LS though.
My old man used to own a 400LS and many other aircraft. And this beast by far was the absolute best to see people reactions on the ground when we flew into fbo's that were not familiar with them. Everyone had questions about the airframe and engines. And when we would depart, there would be crowds to watch its amazing climb rate. Best memories of my life when i flew with my father in this missle. N1515h was tail number, and i believe it is still registered in the us somewhere.
Thats a great story! What a cool airplane.
Loud Garrett's! love it
What a beast .. I want to buy one of these and I don't even know how to fly LOL
Cool! I also like Aerostar parked nearby.
As soon as the engine start...run for the hill!!!
Man! That`s a direct drive! I thought it was a reverse flow turbine like the PT6A. This is cool! Direct driven engine with a mechanical reduction gearbox. I was wondering how the props could spool up this fast. Now I know why. Amazing. Awesome Aircraft with awesome turbines.
BlackFoxFalcon That's the big difference in the Pratt PT6 engines and the Garretts. All Garrett engines are direct drive. Main reason why they're so noisy on the ground, they turn at 97% power in ground idle.
They aren't direct drive, they're geared drive. Direct drive would imply that the propeller is literally connected to the drive shaft of the engine, which it isn't. The drive shaft is connected to the RGB, which is in turn connected to the propeller. Only the earliest TPE-331's idled at 97%. By the time airplanes like the Cessna 441, MU-2, Commander, and 400LS rolled around, the engines were configured to have a low idle speed, which is typically between 72% and 76%. In flight however, maximum continuous RPM is 100%, minimum cruise is typically 97%
Never seen a 400LS with 5-blade props before. They always have those 4-blade Dowty props with the big paddles.
+dieselyeti The 5 bladed props were upgrades. He paid something like $50k each for them, if I remember correctly. Very cool composite props.
+tokillamurderer They do look cool. and no doubt they're ridic expensive. Probably the guy's only option because the Dowty props are hard to find due to the 400LS' low production numbers. Having looked up the plane I see a bunch of them have the 5-blade props.
dieselyeti He actually bought the plane with the 4 bladed props on it, and decided to upgrade them, along with having the plane painted, and a few other things. Very nice plane. I have a video on packing the oxygen masks that shows the interior, if you're interested. It's on my channel.
+tokillamurderer Sure, the props were probably coming up for overhaul and he went the upgrade route to a 5 blade for better climb (not that a 400 was lacking)
The MT propellers don't actually produce much of an observable performance increase. Their biggest value on the 400LS is the elimination of the Dowty propellers, which eliminates the recurring inspections and fixes the delamination issues that frequently occurred with those blades. The only other discernible benefit is the reduced cabin noise and vibration.
Very cool, I'm pricing the available ones now. There's nothing like this airplane for price (both purchase and operating) vs. performance. Also extremely cool to watch the aliasing as the props spin up.
What do you mean? The variable operating costs on this are like $1200 per hour
R Diaz I wound up buying a Conquest 2 instead. The production run of the Cheyenne 400LS was so small (45 or so) that I was afraid of parts availability. Even the Conquest 2 is rare, only 350 produced but that’s a little better.
R Diaz Yes, it’s an awesome airplane in looks and performance. As I said in another comment section, the only thing not to like about the Cheyenne 400LS is that Piper stopped making them. I flew in two in my search and they are incomparable.
R Diaz Hopefully your day will come. I got my PPL in 1981 and rented until 2001 when I got a Piper Saratoga that I just sold to buy the Conquest 2. I’m very fortunate and very grateful.
R Diaz I’m sorry to hear about your physical situation. I guess I’ll have to fly enough for both of us.
Left Engine Start @ 1:54. Why not edit out the first 1:40?
Anyone knows why they were not a commercial sucess for Piper ? Too pricey vs low entry jets like the Citation I from Cessna ?
Jets
1:50
Why does he have his landing/taxi light on for start up?
Couldn't tell you. Maybe for visibility on the ramp, since he was starting large props. Maybe he forgot to turn it off.
I charted one
Looking at one now, having it appraised. I need to understand parts availability.
You did the right thing Rob. Still flying with Rich? Too bad I wasn't still around LGB, as it would have been a nice break from FSB-Alteon to safety pilot for you. I also trained in Merlins there at LGB.
What did you do, and why?
@@jamesd.murphy3124 I bought a Cessna 441 / Conquest II. Not as fast or long range but eight times as many were built so parts are more reliably available. Still love the 400LS though.
The twin turbo prop on steroid
This or a Fairchild Merlin? (Any Merlin III model)
IIIC or -300 with CAWI
Buuuuuu