Flying airplanes is a rather captivating activity, filled with diverse options. One of those options is choosing the kinds of aircraft to use. The article Living Large depicts the features of turbine planes in great detail, explaining such issues as training, engine, systems and the necessary considerations. Moreover, it draws some comparisons between the piston aircraft and turbine ones, accentuating some of the advantages the latter has over the former.
The article starts with a rather attractive introduction, briefly introducing the reader to some of the aspects of turbine airplanes. Its vocabulary does feature multiple terms, such as overpressurization and TAWS, however, the text attempts to maintain a rather simple depiction in all of its sections. It is supplemented with photographs of various aircraft, for example, King Air and Pilatus. They are used to provide the reader with visual information to give extra detail to the subject matter, so that they knew what these airplanes look like (Hayes, 2016). It is important to mention that while it does represent turbine aircraft in a positive manner, it is aware of some of the underlying complications that may occur. Such complications include the need to have insurance, type rating and vertical separation minimums.
As mentioned earlier, the article reviews some of the differences between piston and turbine aircraft as well. The first section of the text starts with these aspects, for example, turbine engines, unlike piston ones, are strong, smooth and easy to operate. However, it is not recommended to begin with a weak battery, as a significant amount of energy is required for the process, along with assessing the temperatures. Meanwhile, turbine engine aircraft does not require one to be concerned about such aspects as vibration and shock cooling. Many airplanes with such engines are easy to operate, with most light jets being automatic. Such aircraft may need just the field elevation to be activated.
Another valuable contrast is the amount of time needed in one’s logbook to change to either piston or turbine aircraft. The former requires no more than 500 hours in total, however, there are multiple restrictions in training, policy limitations and mentor time. Turbine transitions, on the other hand, need approximately 800-1000 hours and a sufficient amount of instrument experience. The means that could facilitate this process would be verified training and a trustworthy agent who could mentor one in the process of the transition.
Finally, another difference includes the financial cost required for piston aircraft and turbine ones. Turbine ownership is more expensive than the former, which is why it is recommended for future pilots to educate themselves on the costs. This can be done with the help of the information gathered from jet-owner and turboprop organizations. While turbine aircraft is undeniably notable for its promising capabilities and performance, being aware of the amount of money required for possessing such aircraft helps make the expectations more realistic.
In conclusion, the article Living Large depicts the features of turbine aircraft and underlying issues, such as training and insurance. Simultaneously, it provides a comparison between the former and piston airplanes. Turbine aircraft is easier to operate, and many jets tend to be automatic. However, owning them is more expensive than possessing piston airplanes. Finally, the transition to turbine aircraft requires 300-500 hours more than the time needed in the logbook for the latter. Being aware of those differences will make the shift easier and help the future user’s expectations become more realistic.
Reference
Hayes, J. (2016). Living large. Plane & Pilot Magazine. Web.