New 980 owner

[donv]

Still listed on Controller, I see?

980 sold yet?

I expect it to close this time to a fellow member here and knowledgeable Commander operator.  Only extraordinary circumstances kept this one around for the extra months but I’m excited to see it go to a great midwestern 🏠 .

[Bruce Byerly]

Still listed on Controller, I see?

980 sold yet?

I expect it to close this time to a fellow member here and knowledgeable Commander operator.  Only extraordinary circumstances kept this one around for the extra months but I’m excited to see it go to a great midwestern 🏠 .

Until it’s closed and flying at 280 with a new owner, I leave it up.

[JMA]

RVSM Bruce, 32,000 feet you mean.

[donv]

That makes sense. Hopefully it closes!

[Bruce Byerly]

RVSM Bruce, 32,000 feet you mean.

That would be FL310 but I still need to figure out how to work the system like you and Jim!

[JMA]

Back in 80's old man tells me it wasn't unusual to get to 35,000.  Figured its best to stay in the mid/high 20s so you don't get run over by commercial flights .

[Adam Frisch]

What is the story with the 900's? Can they be RSVM'ed?

[donv]

Sure, 900s can be RVSM just like any other Commander, subject to the limitations of the STC(s).

[JimC]

re: Figured its best to stay in the mid/high 20s so you don't get run over by commercial flights .

I've found that no matter what altitude I find as the sweet spot, the 737's are 4,000 ft higher. I'm definitely not flying at FL 350 in July.

I'm often at the same cruising altitude as the regionals but they're not spending much time up high. I'm usually up there first and they get the secondary vectors. I left ABQ the other day and I was climbing MUCH faster than an E190 that left before me. I mitigated wake turbulence by crossing *over* his path.

99%* of the turboprops are not in the way of the Boeings and Airbuses.



*Avantis.

[donv]

I've never found speed to be an issue at altitude. Arrivals to busy areas, on the other hand, can be a real issue. The Palm Springs area, for instance, funnels everyone into a small space and it's a real problem at certain times.

[JMA]

Couple of pics to share.
1.  It dawned on me that my 2 year old son is the same age I was when we purchased the 980.  43 years ago. 
2/3.  Mini fly in at Kissimmee this weekend, parked next to 63DU on the ramp (840 with -10's). - anyone know if owner is a member here?
4..  Bruce- always forget fun Florida storms, constantly diverting "extreme precipitation/lightning strikes"

[Bruce Byerly]

DU is out of Michigan, nice people, not sure but I don’t think Gil is a member here.

The nice thing about FLA storms is that you can usually get around them and they aren’t like those killer 60k’ storm fronts that stretch from NY to the Gulf on some summer days.

[donv]

Also, N63DU is the first production 840. N47TT (which I saw recently at Aero Air) is the prototype 840.

[Badger]

Great photos, JMA!

Thanks for sharing!

[JMA]

Very welcome Sir.  Happy memories.