AirCompAnalysisAug12_ACAn 23/07/2012 16:18 Page 2
AIRCRAFT COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS CHEYENNE II
PAYLOAD AND RANGE
TABLE A - PAYLOAD & RANGE Max Fuel Range (nm)
Max P/L w/avail fuel Range (nm) VFR
MTOW (lb)
Max Fuel (lb)
Max Payload (lb)
Avail Payload w/Max Fuel (lb)
9,000
2,452
1,500
898
1,160
1,320
Twin Commander 980 10,325
3,176
1,495
-106
1,370
1,052
10,470
2,700
2,300
420
1,220
1,092
Model
Cheyenne II
Mu-2 Solitaire
Data courtesy of Conklin & de Decker, Orleans, MA, USA; JETNET: B&CA May 2012 and Aug. 2011 Operations Planning Guide
CHART A - CABIN VOLUME 165
Cheyenne II
151
Mu-2 Solitaire
120 50
CABIN VOLUME According to Conklin & de Decker, the cabin volume of the Cheyenne II (151 cubic feet) is larger than the Solitaire, but smaller than the Twin Commander 980, as shown in Chart A (left).
POWERPLANT DETAILS
Twin Commander 980
0
The data contained in Table A (left) is published in Business & Commercial Aviation’s May 2012 issue, and is also sourced from Conklin & de Decker. A potential operator should focus on payload capability as a key factor. The Cheyenne II ‘Available payload with Maximum Fuel’ at 898 pounds is more than double that offered by the Solitaire, while the Twin Commander 980 has a negative available payload with maximum fuel.
100
150
200
250
Cubic Feet
TABLE B - FUEL USAGE Fuel Usage (GPH)
Model
Cheyenne II
104
Twin Commander 980
92
Mu-2 Solitaire
92
As noted above, the Cheyenne has two Pratt & Whitney PT6A-28 engines rated at 620 Shaft Horse Power (SHP). By comparison, the Twin Commander 980 and Solitaire both have a pair of Honeywell TPE 331-10 powerplants, rated at 733 SHP and 727 SHP, respectively. Table B (left), sourced from Aircraft Cost Calculator (ACC) shows the hourly fuel usage of each aircraft model in this field of study. The Cheyenne II (104 gallons per hour (GPH)) uses 13% more fuel than either the Twin Commander 980 or the MU-2 Solitaire (both consume 92 gallons of fuel per hour). Using data published in the May 2012 B&CA Planning and Purchasing Handbook and the August 2011 B&CA Operations Planning Guide we will compare our aircraft. The nationwide average Jet A fuel cost used from the August 2011 edition was $6.04 per gallon, so for the sake of comparison we’ll chart the numbers as published. Note: Fuel price used from this source does not represent an average price for the year.
Source ACC - www.aircraftcostcalculator.com
COST PER MILE COMPARISONS Chart B (left) details ‘Cost per Mile’ and compares the Cheyenne II to its competition factoring direct costs and with all aircraft flying a 600nm mission with an 800 pound (four passengers) payload. The Cheyenne II has a higher cost per mile at $3.92 per nautical mile, which is more expensive to operate by 9.4% than the Twin Commander, and 19.1% than the Solitaire.
CHART B - COST PER MILE * Cheyenne II
$3.92
Twin Commander 980
$3.58
$3.29
Mu-2 Solitaire
$0.00
$2.00
$4.00
TOTAL VARIABLE COST COMPARISONS $6.00
US $ per nautical mile *600nm, 800lbs PAYLOAD MISSION COSTS
46
WORLD AIRCRAFT SALES MAGAZINE – August 2012
www.AvBuyer.com
‘Total Variable Cost’ illustrated in Chart C (top right) is defined as the cost of Fuel Expense, Maintenance Labor Expense, Scheduled Parts Expense and Miscellaneous Aircraft Index see Page 4