Am I crazy for Thinking about trading to a TB-20??

[Rotorhead]

Hey all, 

Looking for genuine thoughts about this first world problem. I have a M20J (N913JN | 1981 MOONEY M20J 201 on Aircraft.com) that has been great for the past 3ish years bringing us across the country several times. I now live in Albuquerque NM where the higher DA is a concern and performance is sometimes lackluster in the J. (If I could Rayjay it I would!) I've always been very interested in the Socata Trinidad TB-20 for it's power output, greater payload capacity and roominess. I had originally gone with J because it kind of fell in my lap at the right time and place honestly. 

I've been talking with a couple of TB owners who are interested in trading. They appreciate the TKS (Non-FIKI) on my J over the payload and space of the TB. My engine is at about 1430SMOH while the TB's are near 200SMOH. I understand avionics being a major factor, but one of the trades has nearly identical systems so that's nearly a wash. My family is growing which as well is another reason for wanting some more cargo/ seat space. 

I know a lot of what goes into picking a place is the persons mission, but am I crazy for thinking about this trade?? 

-KC

TB20_N62286_2022-1 clean.pdf

[StevenL757]

3 hours ago, Rotorhead said:

Hey all, 

Looking for genuine thoughts about this first world problem. I have a M20J (N913JN | 1981 MOONEY M20J 201 on Aircraft.com) that has been great for the past 3ish years bringing us across the country several times. I now live in Albuquerque NM where the higher DA is a concern and performance is sometimes lackluster in the J. (If I could Rayjay it I would!) I've always been very interested in the Socata Trinidad TB-20 for it's power output, greater payload capacity and roominess. I had originally gone with J because it kind of fell in my lap at the right time and place honestly. 

I've been talking with a couple of TB owners who are interested in trading. They appreciate the TKS (Non-FIKI) on my J over the payload and space of the TB. My engine is at about 1430SMOH while the TB's are near 200SMOH. I understand avionics being a major factor, but one of the trades has nearly identical systems so that's nearly a wash. My family is growing which as well is another reason for wanting some more cargo/ seat space. 

I know a lot of what goes into picking a place is the persons mission, but am I crazy for thinking about this trade?? 

-KC

TB20_N62286_2022-1 clean.pdf 184.77 kB · 12 downloads

I used to own one...along with a TB-9.  I've owned 2 Ovations since.

Need I say more?  :-)

Seriously, they do require a fair amount of maintenance more than an Ovation in my opinion.  Landing gear MX is particularly challenging.  Finding parts for a French-made airplane isn't as much of a challenge as finding people WELL-QUALIFIED to work on them.  They are few and far-between, and to find one, you may need to travel a fair distance (as I do from NY to TX for my Ovation) to get "that" mechanic who works on Trinidads on a regular basis...and is exceptional at it.  I've known several owners who have just gone with someone convenient, and they've paid a hefty price...in more than one way.

PM me if you want, as I have a contact number for you...probably the person most-directly and heavily-involved with all-things-Socata that I've ever experienced.  He used to work for them for many years, and presently owns a TB-10 after having owned a -20 for years.  Sign up for their forum as well if you haven't already done so.

Steve

[KLRDMD]

4 hours ago, Rotorhead said:

I've been talking with a couple of TB owners who are interested in trading. I know a lot of what goes into picking a place is the persons mission, but am I crazy for thinking about this trade?? 

If it better meets your current mission, I say yes. Go for the trade.

[DCarlton]

If that's the one with the LYC IO-540, I do like the engine.  If I could pick an engine to build an aircraft around, that would likely be my choice.  But I'm no expert, just a guy that's partial to LYC.  BTW, one landed on a street in SOCAL about a week ago; it was "parked" for a while at KCRQ.   Sheared a wing off.  Two people survived.  

https://abc7.com/san-marcos-plane-crash-landing/12058847/

[ArtVandelay]

There’s a TN J on controller you might consider.

[flyboy0681]

1 hour ago, DCarlton said:

If that's the one with the LYC IO-540, I do like the engine.  If I could pick an engine to build an aircraft around, that would likely be my choice.  But I'm no expert, just a guy that's partial to LYC.  BTW, one landed on a street in SOCAL about a week ago; it was "parked" for a while at KCRQ.   Sheared a wing off.  Two people survived.  

https://abc7.com/san-marcos-plane-crash-landing/12058847/

One of those low wing Cessna’s

[carusoam]

Yes, you are are…. 

Did you ask the same question over on CommanderSpace?

Back in the day…

Commander aircraft used to advertise… the TB20…

Comparing the newly manufactured to all the old planes…

There must be 100s in the field… that’s like a handful in every other state…

New planes sure look nicer than old ones…

But, they are more expensive as well…

If looks matter… it’s a nice looking plane…

Their 90s BK panels looked so officially charming… 

The extra cabin width probably matches the speed penalty… 
 

If Al Mooney was a real genius… he would have invented a way to have a wider/taller cabin and speed and efficiency…

If speed and efficiency matter…

Go Mooney!

Best regards,

-a-

[milotron]

I looked very hard at a TB21 before buying my M20K. They are wider, but I found they had less head room due to the trim around the door frames. The fuel burn and relative speed to the M20K was also a mark against it. I really like their styling though, and having two doors would be nice.

[Pinecone]

I sat in one at KFDK when they were a dealer.

The thing that sticks in my mind is that the spar goes through the cabin at the back edge of the front seats.  So while there is a good bit of space, your toes run up against the spar making it feel cramped.

[cwaters]

I might be missing alot her, but if the fuel burn is in the 16gph range and speed is in the 155kts true range why not go with something with much more room like a lance? you can get about the same specs and pick up 2 more seats and more UL/space for that growing family and all the stuff 

[thinwing]

I think he should be looking at a Bravo if he wants more high alitude performance

 

[KLRDMD]

9 minutes ago, thinwing said:

I think he should be looking at a Bravo if he wants more high alitude performance

 

"I've always been very interested in the Socata Trinidad TB-20 for it's power output, greater payload capacity and roominess." He won't get significantly greater payload or roominess with a Bravo.

[Rotorhead]

1 hour ago, KLRDMD said:

"I've always been very interested in the Socata Trinidad TB-20 for it's power output, greater payload capacity and roominess." He won't get significantly greater payload or roominess with a Bravo.

@KLRDMD yup, the Bravo would be cool if it came with more space. Classic dilemma of wanting faster, bigger, leaner gph with no more cost…

I’m truly looking to trade the TKS equipped J for a TB, K model or Bo. I know that’s all a huge can of worm’s to open up.