Advice on model upgrade (from a J)

[EricJ]

2 hours ago, Ragsf15e said:

My flaps have mechanical indicator, the other stuff is all on the g3x.

That's probably why you don't have an annunciator panel any more. 

 

[Jeff Uphoff]

On 10/27/2025 at 9:18 AM, DC_Brasil said:

As for the Acclaim I've seen for sale: they all seem to have a smaller useful load as you pointed out. Most of them under 850lbs. Most Turbo SR22 and Saratogas are in the upper 900 or lower 1000s range.

My Ovation has a useful load of 1030.

I've owned a turbo Mooney, an M20K/231, and when going a distance, I often flew it in the mid teens, typically 15-17k eastbound (higher would require a mask). I can count on one hand the number of times I had a reason to take it higher--up into the flight levels (18k+).

In the Ovation, I typically cruise above the bumps at 9-12k, and then when I want to grab a tailwind or really stay above weather, I'll take it up into the mid-teens as well. I spent a lot of time this past month at 15k in it.

With 310 sea-level horsepower, an Ovation is making MORE power (HP) flying wide-open throttle at 15k' than a turbocharged 210/220HP M20K would be at 75% power at that same altitude.

And that's something to think about!

I fly the Ovation very much like I did my old M20K, but the Ovation is even better for my current mission because those extra 100 sea-level horsepower get me out of the bowl of mountains I'm based in and up to 5-6k' in an instant. (The Ovation is also roomier and holds more gas.)

Here was a recent week in it (pic below). Virginia to San Antonio, TX nonstop, and then later Reno, Nevada (which is WEST of L.A.) to Virginia with a single stop.

--Up.

[MikeOH]

@Jeff Uphoff

310 NA horsepower….YUUUMM!

What power settings/speeds/fuel burns do you have at, say, 15K?

[Jeff Uphoff]

Just now, MikeOH said:

@Jeff Uphoff

310 NA horsepower….YUUUMM!

What power settings/speeds/fuel burns do you have at, say, 15K?

This was taken a couple weeks ago coming out of Reno. I had a monster tailwind, so I dialed the RPMs/power back (2400 RPM) and flew WOT at a touch lean of peak EGT. Pic shows 169 KTAS (it was varying from there up into the mid-170s due to waves) at 15k' on 10.5 GPH.

By fuel flow, that's 50% power.

--Up.

[Jeff Uphoff]

10 minutes ago, MikeOH said:

@Jeff Uphoff

310 NA horsepower….YUUUMM!

What power settings/speeds/fuel burns do you have at, say, 15K?

This was a fun run a couple of years ago, heading to Yankee Stadium for a game: 11k', WOT and LOP getting 182 KTAS on 11.9 GPH. I was probably running 2500 or 2550 RPM. By fuel flow, that's 57% power. I was seeing a bit of wave action again, with TAS varying from high 170s to low 180s.

The Ovation is remarkably efficient LOP. I've done several 1000+nm and/or 6+ hour legs with solid fuel reserves.

--Up.

[MikeOH]

Dang! I may have to sell my F and upgrade

[Raistlin]

On 10/27/2025 at 12:39 AM, dkkim73 said:

@DC_Brasil

I just plugged your home airport (Jundiaí) into Foreflight and tried to get a sense of the geography. There're a couple of SIGMETs sitting right over it right now, I have no idea what your usual hazards are. I'm a big fan of turbos now, weather options and other benefits. Would you need FIKI at all? I've never been to Brasil so I have no idea whether you're going to want that. Even at lower altitudes near the coast in the US West, it's helpful, but all depends on your mission. Brasil conjures up visions of beaches, good food and drinks to us Americans... Do you fly into colder areas and mountains elsewhere also? 

If you don't need FIKI you'll probably have more choices, esp. IIRC some lower-cost Cirruses. I looked hard at the SR22T when shopping a couple years ago (mission/task-driven) and the Acclaim made a lot more sense for me, in part because a FIKI Acclaim Type S was a better cost deal (initial and TCO) than a comparably-capable Cirrus from what I could tell (and I needed to fly high and in the winter, with good climb, for my plans). 

Also finding K's will be easier. An advantage there would be some of them have higher useful loads from what I've read (the main issue IMHO with a Mooney and the only downside of an Acclaim). 

Cirrus has a roomier cabin (more "car-like") and higher useful load I think with newer models (you mention the opposite so maybe older ones), also CAPS. Your mention of your wife is not to be taken lightly; you will almost certainly fly more, more often, and with more moral support if your family like the airplane and feel comfortable in it. "Sure honey, go ahead and get the Stormscope..."

You mention a desire for glass and express openness to the G1000. Getting a G1000 plane restricts you in upgrades *but* solves many problems up-front; it's a very useable system and provides many features all-in-one. I spent a lot of time looking at this and have no regrets going the G1000 route. All Acclaims have G1000, newer Ovations, newer Bravos (?I think?), and all Ultras have the NXi (outside your price range). If you have to add or signifcantly change glass, budget money, time, and management energy. 

Cirrus will be slower than a big-engine Mooney but may not be too much of a decrement from a smaller-engine Mooney (it will burn more fuel to do this though!). I'll defer to those who have flow Cirrus, but all the feedback I got jives with my sense the Mooney will be the sportiest of anything you mention. I looked at Bonanzas but it all seemed more expensive, harder to get real FIKI, likely higher TCO. 

I really, really like my Acclaim. It's done everything I've asked it to, is surprising easy to operate systems-wise, and is very versatile. Drawbacks are useful load and probably short/soft field (I haven't even tried, most of the real backcountry fields near me are more 182/206/taildragger territory). Can't beat it for regional travel, high teens to low FL's (start at FL180 here), can easily beat airlines door-to-door over hundreds of miles while being great fun. 

HTH

D

 

 

Bravos have the original G1000, not NXi - mine is one of tje last bravos ever built and is original G1000.

[dkkim73]

1 hour ago, Raistlin said:

Bravos have the original G1000, not NXi - mine is one of tje last bravos ever built and is original G1000.

Sorry, I phrased that badly. I meant the first part of the list has the G1000 (legacy), specifically all Acclaim non-Ultras, some Bravos, and some Ovations.  And the Ultras the NXi. Too many commas, not enough periods in my original post.

Thank you for clarifying.