Finally... after all our cool retrospectives and
prognostications of the past week, it's time to name the best birds
of the year. 'About time we got to the goodies, eh?
One of the most difficult tasks we face each year comes in the
form of our Annual 'Best of Breed' selections. Formerly announced
at Oshkosh, we decided to fold these announcements into our
Year-End Wrap-Up some time ago in order to take advantage of the
rest of the year's events and input, as well as to make such an
announcement truly representative of the full year.
This is a difficult process, both in that there is a limited
sample from which to select (especially in terms of current
certificated aircraft) as well as the outstanding quality
boasted by most of the industry, these days. It got even worse this
year as a number of designs were updated, modified, and tweaked to
make some already worthy planes even better values than before. In
other words, the 2005 list was a BEAR to decide on.
Sit back, check it out and let us know what you think of our
choices for the year.
Cirrus Design SR22-GTS
We've loved the Cirrus line since day one... a (then) thoroughly
new design that is barely a decade old, this bird has it all...
looks, speed, comfort and safety features that were but science
fiction a few years ago. And each year sees new mods and upgrades
to make sure the bird stays at the head of the flock. Best of all,
it is produced by a company that is learning well what it takes to
sell and support one of the most popular GA birds in the world.
Yeah, we like the airplane a lot... almost as much as we like the
company... which has set the GA world on fire for as long as
they've been a player. Where Cirrus leads, most of the industry has
been forced to follow.
The Cirrus SR22-GTS is the latest generation of Alan and Dale
Klapmeier's humma-humma hot-rod. The wonderfully heavy-horsed 310
HP SR22 is a great rowdy ride -- equipped with just about every
option known to God. The lovely kick in the ass you get when you
drop the hammer on all those ponies is certainly worth the price of
admission. It's got it all... speed, style, technological
sophistication and all the equipment needed to be a versatile and
dependable transportation system.
This 310-horsepower brute will scoot upwards with a 1,000 feet
per minute climb rate through 12,000 feet, and get you 1,000
nautical miles down range with little hesitation. It's as solid an
IFR transportation system as any single engine aircraft, it's a
product of (truly) modern technology, and it's backed by a company
that is taking over as the king of the general aviation world.
The Cirrus SR22-GTS is a class act... and a classy
way to get around. But... we really want a version with a turbo,
known ice, and two more seats -- which would make this an
unbeatable bird.
Columbia Aircraft Columbia 400
What a difference a year makes. As impressed as were in 2004
with the 235 kt Columbia 400 hot-rod; we can't help but be REALLY
impressed now. The new seats are a long-awaited answer to one of
the few annoying debits in the previous iteration, the latest panel
offerings - G1000 and all - are magnificently executed, and the
fine-tuning this bird has gotten in 2005 has placed them RIGHT AT
THE HEAD OF THE PACK.
Few aircraft were as breathlessly awaited in 2004 as the Lancair
400... the ONLY new turbocharged hot-rod to come down the pike in a
few years and a bird that has even given the mighty Cirrus SR22 a
solid run for the loose change. As fast as they come, the Lancair
Columbia is a helluva flier... we've flown the beastie five miles
high and were amazed at how 'boring' the whole process was -- no
rude excitement, no control issues -- just easy flying, good
handling and (darn!) some bitchin' cruise speeds. This bird simply
does not know the meaning of the word, "WHOA."
In terms of non-pressurized piston singles, the Columbia 400 is
the bad-boy of the breed... a go-fast with no one around that can
go-faster. Excellent handling, beautiful lines, customer service
that his going from pretty-damned-good to even-better, and great
range made the Columbia a cinch for a section in our Plane of The
Year roster -- and a real threat for the top slot. And yes, as
compared to previous iterations, this is the most improved
airplane (and company) of the year.
Now... if only this thing was either a six-seater... or
pressurized.... or both.
Diamond Aircraft DA42
The GA world hasn't seen a new-piston twin in many moons... much
less one based on as clean a sheet of paper as that which produced
the doubly daring DA42.
Offered by a highly capable company with an uncanny knack for
coming up with solid products, Diamond Aircraft, the DA42 is the
single most innovative aircraft of the year... bar
none. It's not just a lovely composite apparition with a
full-fledged glass panel and known ice-capability. Nope...
this bird also burns (far less expensive) JET A! Via
FADEC-controlled turbo-diesel engines that were actually designed
within the last decade (versus those other piston engines whose
designs date back the better part of a century), the aircraft
offers phenomenal versatility and unparalleled efficiency. All
this, for a price that is equivalent to any one of several
competitive single-engine airplanes... Amazing. Just plain
amazing.
Our flights in the bird have been revealing. The bird handles
exceptionally well, the single-engine properties are not remotely
difficult, and as soon as the known-icing package comes available,
this is going to be the airplane to beat for folks who not only
have to get around, but need to do so dependably.
Finally; the greatest benefit this aircraft brings to the mix is
the company that backs it up... easily one of the best in the
business and one that seems committed to even greater efforts in
the coming year. We have great faith in the dependability of this
company and recommend it without reservation. No doubt about it,
the DA42 qualifies as on of our 2005 "Best of Breed"
selections.
Mooney Ovation2 GX
Talk about being a "Survivor." You'd a thought that the boys and
girls from Texas would have had to learn to wake the dead to bring
Mooney back from the brink... but they've not only reinvigorated
Mooney Aircraft, they're looking to stay a major player in the
GA sweepstakes for the coming 2006 flying year.
Their latest smart move (of several) is the arrival of the G1000
panel for the current generation of Mooney. In addition to one of
the most capable panels in GA, the Ovation2 GX is a 190 knot, 4
seater with a bladder-busting max range of 1800 nm and over
1100 pounds of useful load. The $438K Ovation2 GX is
currently offered in a 60th Anniversary Edition that includes a
refined interior that ratchets up the comfort factor, big-time.
This includes redesigned door latches, handles and armrests and an
optional rear bench seat with seat belts for two adults or three
children.
A new enhanced Hartzell three-blade prop boosted cruise speed by
six knots and also saved off 12 pounds. The bird climbs at as much
as 1365 fpm via a Continental TCM IO-550-G engine, and really
shines when boogying along a mite above 12.5K. The Ovation2 GX
includes six-way adjustable leather seats, and Precise Flight
speedbrakes. Options include the TKS known-ice system, 115.7 cubic
feet oxygen system and an optional 25,000 BTU air-conditioning
system.
Best of all... it's still a Mooney -- with a huge number of
service centers all over the world who know every nook and cranny
of these birds, and supported by a revitalized company that looks
to be sticking around for a long to come. This fire-breather made
itself an easy choice for our 2005 Best of Breed list.
Piper Malibu Meridian
The 2005 Piper Meridian, with over 200 iterations now flying,
has recently been re-introduced with an aggressively updated panel,
featuring THREE Avidyne electronic displays, to produce a
thoroughly comprehensive cockpit that dazzles the eye and soothes
the brain of a traveling flyer. Unlike anything we've seen from
Piper before, this is NOT your Father's Meridian.
ANN got its hands on the new Meridian at the 2005
Oshkosh EAA Fly-In, right after the end of a busy airshow day and
while the skies started to fill to the bursting point with all
manner of sport and general aviation aircraft looking to get the
hell out of dodge. The 1000 HP P&W PT-6A-42A (derated to 500
HP) got us off Wittman Field's 18R with easy grace, out of the way
of the majority of our fellow flyers, and on to 14,500' in very
little time. Initial takeoff acceleration is impressive, and
despite having to keep to the right side of the runway in order to
accommodate closely staged departures, the Meridian boasts
excellent low-speed directional control early enough to keep those
500 ponies pointed EXACTLY where you need to go and away from
Smedley's (comparatively) slow-moving Vari-Eze on the left.
A quick jaunt to 12,500' and then to 14,500' proved that even in
such inefficient realms, the Meridian can still deliver as much as
210-220 kts, true, with little more than 1000 ft-lbs of torque. Up
in the mid-twenties, Meridian owners routinely brag about 250-260
knot cruise speeds. But, they should also be bragging about the low
end of the speed arc... whilst sandwiched into the arrival pattern
at Oshkosh this year, we wound up flying loose formations with RVs,
Tri-Pacers, and what have you at all of 75 knots... with excellent
authority and plenty of safety margin. All in all, a great
experience.... but we really think Piper needs to be
bragging about the low-speed authority of this creature as much as
the high side... it's that nice -- a cinch for inclusion
on our 2005 Best of Breed list.
Symphony Aircraft Symphony 160
There hasn't been a lot of excitement in the two-seat market for
several years. Diamond's been churning out great birds for a long
while... if a bit quietly. The Micco SP20 and SP26 program is DOA
(a shame) and the Liberty continues to be to be another vapor-plane
program that seems headed for major disaster.
But... The Symphony 160 project REALLY ramped up the two seat
biz this year... and in GREAT ways. With 700 pounds of useful load,
the 128 knot Symphony can be a lot of things to a lot of people.
It's an affordable first airplane or trainer to folks who want a
solid basic two seater that has some pizzazz to it. It's a great
IFR training platform and cost-effective traveling machine for
those who can afford to equip it with the necessary radios. It has
a chute (optional) for those who are looking for the utmost in
aviation safety. And finally, you can get a full-blown Avidyne
Entegra flat panel system for this critter that makes this the most
advanced trainer and cross-country bird in its price range.
Best to all, though, is the way this critter flies. What an
absolute sweetie! If Meg Ryan was an airplane, she'd fly like the
Symphony. The handling qualities are quite nicely executed and the
stability profile is top-notch... making this a very pleasant way
to get around... VFR or IFR. Add it all up, add in the fact that
the bird is a real-looker, to boot, and you have to admit that the
Symphony 160 is an easy choice for our "Best of Breed" list for
2005. This is a solid, affordable, stylish, capable little
airplane.
But Which One Is The Best!
Each year, we really
get ourselves into trouble and make a top selection for the best
aircraft in each category (Certified and SportPlane). Worse than
that, next year, we're going to make selections from among the
biz-jet offerings. At no time in the many years we've been deciding
such things has the selection been as difficult as it is this year.
In the next day or so ANN will finally quit stalling (in more ways
than one...) and announce our selection for 2005 Plane of the
Year-Certified and SportPlane.
We're not fully decided as of this writing... but pretty close
to a decision between one of three aircraft -- either the
Cirrus Design SR22-GTS, the Columbia
Aircraft Columbia 400 or the Diamond Aircraft
DA42. Some time this week, we'll let you know what we have
decided... but we welcome your comments and input in the meantime
-- especially from those of you with direct experience with any of
these aircraft. This is your last chance to make your opinions
known before we let the cat out of the bag... tell us what you
think!
ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (04.15.24)
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