Should I buy one of these? 

As a Skymaster owner I wanted to clear up a few points that were mentioned in this comments section. 1) Interior noise--Yes, it is slightly noisier than a conventional twin because of both engines attached to the fuselage, however, ANR headsets completely eliminate this concern. 2) Rear engine cooling--paying attention to rear engine baffling easily solves this problem. 3) Rear engine maintenance--Sometime in the mid 70's Cessna installed a service door to the rear engine that is accessed from the baggage compartment. There is an STC to install this in the earlier models. This substantially improves access to items such as the rear alternator. 4) No light twin flies well on one engine, especially during takeoff. In a conventional twin, unless the engine seizes, just looking at the propeller will not tell you which engine is failing. 5) The 336 model, produced for only about 12 months, lacks many of the improvements of the 337. 6) It’s easier on the battery to start the front engine first because of the long battery cable run to the rear engine. You can easily tell when the rear engine starts. One should always lead the takeoff run with the rear engine, as Kevin did in this video. 7) Wingspan is 38.5 feet, so it can fit in a 40 foot t-hanger (barely). 8) The single engine service ceiling on the normally aspirated model is about 6,500 feet, and it is 18,000 ft for the turbocharged version. That is hardly “limping a few extra miles” to the scene of an accident. 8) I have heard wives tales of people caging one of the engines in cruise flight to save money, but I don’t know a single 337 owner that would do that. 9) With long range fuel tanks at 148 gal usable, at 20 gal/hr and 150 kts, the range is over 1000 miles. There are lots of great airplanes available-Bonanzas, Mooneys, Cirrus, Pipers, Barons to name a few. Each has its pluses and minuses. Thank you Josh (and Kevin) for sharing this video on RU-vid.

" I baby these engines, because I paid for them"! I loved that. Very true for many of us.

Josh, I am a retired A&P and was a USAF Crew Chief. I also have some 172 time. I put a lot of hours in working on the O-2A during my time in during Vietnam Era. It's a really tough little bird considering it started life as a civilian aircraft. We really pushed them to the limit during the rocket runs and they held up really well. The IO-360 really held up well also. Having flown the 172, the transition time is almost nothing. I got to fly it when I was riding along as Crew Chief (had some really cool pilots in my squadron). It would be a super stable platform for your photography. I don't see how you can get more bang for the buck than the Skymaster. Great aircraft and as you know, really roomy. Easy for Chelsey to work on also.😊

The thing about twins is: twice as many engines, three times the maintenance cost. For your mission profile, that may be a worthwhile price to pay. Assuming your next plane will be used for videography, a high wing makes a lot of sense. Perhaps see if you can mooch a ride in a 210 to compare it to the 337. A 210 gives you single engine maintenance costs, albeit without the redundancy of the second fan. Having a third Cessna in the family keeps you with one manufacturer. The controls, the feel, the quirks are all very similar. It’s less cognitive load than jumping between manufacturers. Good luck with your decision. I can tell you this: many of us here would love to have this problem. 😊

Matt G. will tell you Bonanza over Cirrus. He railed me one time on a comment that I had about the BOs. I have had partners in owning both planes. We owned a 1968 BE-35ATC, one of the few turbo charged V35As and a 2006 Cirrus SR22-T G3. I know that Cirrus has come a long way since 2006 but there was no comparison in hand flying those two planes. They were also close in performance, payload, etc. The V-Tail flies on a wire and holds altitude (minus a little waggle on landing). The 2006 SR22 is a constant porpoising plane. Obviously with AP on, the Cirrus was no workload but shooting approches without AP on was sometimes tricky. In addition, the V-Tail is very easy to land in comparison to the Cirrus. I know people will blast me on this but I cannot stand the free castoring nose wheel on the CIrrus. I think Diamond does the same with their aircraft. It causes more brake usage than necessary. If you're still considering a single over a twin then the straigt tails or v-tail bonanzas are a great bang for the buck. Even an 80's A36 is probably half or 1/3 of the price of a mid 2000's Cirrus. Good luck. Love to watch your videos. Thanks

Josh and Chels don't hesitate, what a fantastic underrated airplane and what value for money. A great friend had one, we all thought he was crazy and used to mock him until we all realized what he had, he loved it and flew it for almost 20 years before he passed away recently.

My 100% agree about the checklist usage. I'm a retired airline pilot with a little over 22,000 flight hours. I was used to doing Flows In Jets and then going through the checklist to confirm everything. That's how I do it now in GA airplanes since that's what I'm comfortable with. I checked everything I did in my flow

You met an aviation ambassador, thanks for bringing us along.

The Cessna Skymaster is a fabulous plane to have. Spent 4 years helping maintain one that flew daily, being used for traffic reports over the city. Very reliable, and very safe with the centerline thrust. It’s one bird I wish could come back into production (modernized) because of all its amazing attributes.

The sky master has been a favorite of mine since I was a little kid. I am 50 now and it’s still a favorite.

Yes! Buy one! It's probably the best twin for your mission, and a more interesting RU-vid subject than normal twins.

I flew a long cross country this past summer with 12 other planes and two of them were Skymasters. Once they were airborn they left me (172B) in the dust, but the takeoff roll seemed to go on forever. Capable and safe - you'll notice a bit of a higher fuel burn than 991, but you'll get there faster so it's a wash? They also have a wing spar AD, no clue what the failure rate on that is.

The 337 is my favorite GA airframe. It's kind of like an undercover twin. The sound of those engines is unmistakable.

YES! BUY THE SKYMASTER!!! I love them! So versatile, unique, and just all around amazing! Not mention it fits you and Chels mission perfectly!Thank you Kevin, a fantastic job! Great, safe flying! Thanks, Chels, for the great takeoff/ landing shots! So cool!

The Pressurized Skymaster is at the top of my list for next airplane. Love them and their history.

IF I could afford one I would be in a Skymaster right now. Such an underrated aircraft!

C177 RG was the perfect plane for me! It has a stabilator so you have TONS of vertical authority similar to a Cherokee. The wing is set back - so you can actually see into your turns. 4ft wide doors No Struts blocking a view Look into a later model C210 if this is your cup of tea - they are definitely cult planes!

I absolutely love the Skymaster! It was one of Cessna’s best designs imo, and it checks an awful lot of the boxes in my book too! Twin engines, no adverse yaw, retractable gear, easy ingress/egress, roomy, high useful load, good range, excellent visibility. I grew up in the 70’s and 80’s and the local Air National Guard operated a fleet of Cessna O2’s out of the local airport. They have a very distinct recognizable sound when they fly by overhead. The visibility for aerial photography is excellent. The only negative is that they are a bit noisy, since they have 2 engines droning at both ends of the fuselage. For your mission, I don’t think that you could find a more suitable airframe. Also, it’s certainly a much more cost effective solution compared to other more modern options.

I myself have also looked at the Cessna 337 and thought it was one of the coolest airplanes I've ever seen. Many people I've spoken to say they're not very good airplanes, mainly on the maintenance side. But I don't really care. I love the way they're shaped. I love their configuration for the airframe. And as a major plus, the 337 is a plane that my dad and I wanted to get. Unfortunately my father passed last February, but that's not going to stop me from going after the airplane that we wanted as a father son airplane. And with my checkride scheduled for January 9th, after I pass, which I'm super confident I will, I'm gonna start saving for many things, and one of those items is the amazing Cessna 337.

I’ve always admired the C337 too. I suspect that many of the oft-repeated stories of their relatively high Mx costs relate more to a reference point than to the actual reliability of the plane. Many 172/182 pilots have upgraded directly to the 337 and were introduced to the double-whammy of maintenance costs for two engines and retractable gear in one big bite. Mort Brown, Cessna’s Chief Production Test Pilot from the 1930s - 1970s told me that his favorite Cessna was the 195 (my type, by the way). I asked him what was in 2nd place - he quickly replied “the 337”. Roomy cabin, solid, safe handling and system redundancy were the factors he mentioned.

Exciting to see the Sling on the list of potential aircraft! If you’re ever in the Denver area, I’d be happy to take you up in my Sling TSi.

Josh, I can see you as an ambassador for Diamond Aircraft flying one of their twins, and their safety records speak volumes. Another great episode!

Aero Commander! Although, I do personally love a 337, and I appreciate this video on it with your experience. It's uniquely cool. And a Velocity V-Twin would be awesome too, but I don't feel the visibility would be as great (and likely cost prohibitive to get into one).

Planning to become a student pilot soon and it's so useful to see/hear all of the safety precautions Josh and Kevin put into use on every single flight. I also see this a ton on aviation101 videos in general. Thanks for being such a good role model and I'll be referencing your videos a lot during my aviation journey. Also, I'm definitely in support of the Skymaster being added to the aviation101 fleet!

I've always loved the 337. You should seriously consider it. Anyone that flies them always seems to be in love with theirs. I think it fits your mission great.

I agree the Sky master would make a great addition to the channel. Would be cool to see some collaboration videos with Mike Patey to modify and get some extra performance out of it too!

The Cessna Skymaster 337 is the most slept on aircraft of general aviation. I had a lot of seat time in one from 14-17 years old and it was a big part of my life. My father used to do Angel flights with the ower of the Skymaster as well. I will watch every episode you make with it so please add it to your fleet!!!

I have a 1978 P337H and love it. It's very stable for IFR, has good range, and is very nice over the mountains with the extra engine. Just give it the respect you would give any other twin around engine failures. Speaking of that, I cringe when I see pilots retracting the gear right after takeoff. The gear doors produce a lot of drag when they're open, and you might not be able to maintain altitude, much less climb, if an engine fails. I was taught to wait until I'm clear of obstacles and have enough altitude before I retract the gear. Never close to the ground.

I loved my Piper PA-28-235 with full IFR King Avionics is my favorite of all time. Had extended tanks on wings giving me Seven full hours of fuel and boots on the feet and a speed kit which gave me an additional 10 knots cruise. Lycoming engine with dual oil filters and oil changes and filter every 25 hours and always hangared. Mine was a 1973 and a fantastic aircraft in and out of Albuerque or anyplace. Short fields or those 10,000 foot runways. I also loved this Cessna SkyMaster that you are presenting. Flew it for Uncle Sam and was extremely impressed with its abilities. I always run the checklist and pre flights ! Old pilots and bold pilots and no old bold pilots. Always.

What fun! Thanks for your rant on "ignoring the stall horn". I think that was a change from PTS/ACS about not doing slow flight with the horn blaring for the same reason.

Have always had a crush on the Skymaster. Great perspective and video. Well done!

My father flew the Air Force version of the Skymaster, the O-2, in Vietnam as a Forward Air Controller. Got shot a bit but the Skymaster always brought him back to the base safely. He’s 85 now and still talks fondly of the O-2. It’s a great plane and on my bucket list to own one.

Always loved the mixmaster when I was a younger pilot. They are a unique and fun aircraft

Josh, the mixmaster is an excellent aircraft, very underrated. Built like a brick outhouse they are solid and as the military used them as the O-2 bird dog proved they are reliable with good maintenance. They have spectacular range, very good takeoff and landing performance and not bad load capability especially if you are just using it two up or with smaller pax in the back. It fits in well at the big airports but can do backcountry grass airports as well. A friend had one and he used it most places you could take a C206 too. Excellent for the North Atlantic crossing or South America or even the Pacific. However they are just a little maintenance intensive so if you can find a good A & P in the family then it would be an awesome machine.

The Skymaster looks like a good buy. Certainly a fascinating airplane! Kevin is an example of a good pilot! I really enjoyed watching this content! Many thanks Josh!

Awesome video! Always have loved the Skymaster! We so appreciate your cautious and safe approach to flying and great tips! And we are super glad that you only fly with safe, proficient pilots in well maintained airplanes. The McSpadden accident is a stark reminder of what can happen in someone else’s airplane with someone else flying.

Definitely worth getting one, it's an amazing aircraft to fly and own. I had one for 2 years when I lived in the US. Nothing but love for the skymaster.

I loved my time flying a 337 on fire patrol around Revelstoke BC. Solid airplane, a little fussy on the rear engine operation but not a deal breaker. Can’t mistake the growl of a huffnpuff overhead

The Cessna Skymaster has been a favorite of mine since I was a kid back in 60s and 70s. We used to see one at least once a month as a local company used one to inspect high-voltage powerlines. I thought the plane was awesome then and I still do. Thanks for sharing your experience, Josh!

The 337 has always been one of my favorite GA airplanes. Having said that, I've heard they are very high maintenance. I also loved since I was a kid, and I assume it began when I was the movie "Bat 21" featuring the Cessna O-2.

Thank you Josh for your postings. I find your posts to be informative and easy to listen to… love your easy background music!

When Kevin started with a checklist I said this is a GUMPS man... and sure enough @15:42 right on cue. Love to see a safe pilot enjoying such a nice aircraft.

Nice 337 Kevin...well cared for...Josh you will know when you find that wish plane. Great flight.

Hey Josh -- I absolutely love the Mix-Master -- flew one quite a bit when I was building time. Only drawback is parts availability and cost -- they do "eat" a lot. Thanks for the flight. It brought back so many great memories. Happy Holidays to you and your family my friend.

Love this aircraft! I was fascinated by them as a kid and never even realized the role they played in Vietnam as a FAC. Remarkable and Awesome

Awesome job Kevin flying and maintaining a beautiful aircraft !!

I like the Skymaster! Go for it! I am partial to the Mooney, though, as an M20C owner😁

I humbly recommend a turbo Arrow III. I stepped up to it after being a prisoner of density altitude with my Warrior II while traversing southern Wyoming on a cross country trek. The turbo maintains much of your performance at various DAs. It provides flight capability above the weather or turbulence at 145-155 knots TAS whilst burning 9-11 GPH depending on LOP settings. Yet, at low altitudes and slow speeds it’s as stable and docile as any Cherokee.

Be hard to pick a better twin for your missions. Roomy. Great visibility. Easy to fly (no VMC rollovers to worry about). Good payloads. Very adequate speed. Fuel burn not to bad. Proven design. Wish it was me having to make that choice.

A great plane, back in the mid 1960's while training for my PPL, I had a chance to log time with my Ground School Instructor in his 337. What an airplane! Never had the chance to get one, but it was always on top of my bucket list. The fact that struck me was the (if you will) was the built in safety with the inline engines. Lose one and it will still fly in a straight line, although slower, thus allowing one to get to the nearest airport. One fantastic design, and great to fly. Good luck with your choice.

Several years ago we flew a 337 half way down Baja from Victorville Ca to fish for a week. We landed off airport for a week and I loved it. November1 Tango Uniform remains a favorite.

Do it! This was my dream twin for a long time. Ended up flying the 402, but never got to fly this. I've never heard anything bad about it except problems due to pilot error. Right now my dream twin is the Piper Aerostar, but it's not a high wing, so the Skymaster would be perfect for your photography adventures and it's a good 30 knots faster than the 172.

I flew a Cessna 150 once, but most of my training was in the 152. I flew *IN* an _O-2,_ the military variant of the C-337 (as a _passenger)_ *ONCE.* It was also one of the rare times I was in an aircraft *BELOW* sea level - at the Thermal Airport in the California desert. It was back when I was in the _Civil Air Patrol (USAF Auxillary)._

Love all of your videos and because of your love for both flying and photography this plane is a perfect fit. Keep up the good work. Buy one. Can hardly wait to see your first video in one.

Man! I miss flying and I'm so pleased to see this bird get the attention it deserves! Don't think about it - buy it! I'm in SoCal all the time and would love to see this awesome craft in person. If I had the means, THIS would be the aircraft I would ever own. Good luck with your purchase.

Hi Josh! I was wondering if you could (or maybe you have) make a video about the process you go through in making these videos. From planning, to staging, to setting up cameras, to editing. Maybe talk about the challenges you face filming in a 172, some of the advances you've made with the recent mods to hard mounts and such. I think people would love a behind the scenes look at the way you do things. Thanks for all the hard work and for sharing so much with us. Can't wait to see you again at Sun n' Fun!

A new friend of mine that I met through a control line model airplane club has a 337A that I saw for the first time last Friday. Helped him with a quick repair! 😁I guess he got bored with his 182 and traded for it. Then another new friend in the same club that served as a chief mechanic in Vietnam told me how hated 337s because they were maintenance hogs and the #3 cylinder in the rear engine always seemed to have issues along with overheating. The "Chief", in the end, said they fly great but you have to tinker with them a lot which my other friend likes to do. I love Skymasters. I'm looking forward to going up in the 337a in the near future. I say go for it! I know I would love to own one.

Ive always loved the Cessna 337, since i was young 13 yrs old. One of my first flights was in my mom’s boss’s 337 and it was probably partially responsible for my love of aviation. Now I’m recently retired from AA with a career as an aircraft mechanic with them. I have used my private pilot on and off through the years and had lots of fun in single engine land and gliders! It’s been a bit too expensive to keep it up these days but as long as we are dreaming, I’ve always dreamed of a turbo Skymaster as my choice ride!

I flew in one of those with the Civil Air Patrol. It was LOUD compared to our 172’s but it was prettiest plane on the ramp.

The cockpit is that of a twin but the external view is that of a single engine. It really does look quite nice, and it's pretty unique. I don't think I've ever seen one in person, yet

My grandpa and dad both had Navion’s but grandpa’s specialty had a RangeMaster. With tip tanks they hold about 110 gallons and about 1100NM range and cruise about 160 or so. Very smooth and comfortable flying planes

I absolutely love the Cessna Skymaster. I was lucky to have flown in one regularly when I was a child accompanying my dad to different remote sites.

Great content Josh. Used a Skyhawk, Skymaster and a Beaver in West Africa in the 70’s. All of them on a 900’ dirt airstrip that went up a hill. These planes are workhorses.

Good look at a nice old Skymater. My father was a Cessna dealer in the 60's and 70's. And I'm an independent aircraft dealer who's owned 16 337s and all variants and if you are considering a 337 I'd be delighted to share my experience and love for them and possibly some ownership and buying tips/pitfalls. Quite frankly, the normally asipriated G models while a bit more refined from older A models, lost a bit of performance over the early lighter models. I much prefered the turbo G and P models with the P337 being my favorite. With the upgraded 225hp engines, the P offers much improved single and twin-engine performance over even a T-337, is quieter and more comfy at higher altitudes with typically only modest increased to operational cost. When it comes to a normally aspirated 337 G model, I'd be more inclined towards a B, D or E55 Baron unless the superior visibility, range and center-line thrust is something you must have, as operational costs are about the same, but the Baron offers more speed and baggage room. 310s are fun but seem to be more challenging when it comes to maintenance and the later normally aspirated 310's like the Q models don't compare to the B55 when it comes to performance.

Back in 1974 I was at KBMG getting my check ride for my commercial and they had a brand new pressurized Skymaster. I have loved the looks of it ever since. I have never been in one but love seeing videos of them. There is a guy in Canada "TomAir" that has one and he loves it. You didn't mention the noise level. Noise is one of the complants I have heard. The rear engine is a little of a problem servicing. I hope you get one. Love your videos.

I owned a 336 Skymaster and flew a 337 for work. Love the simplicity of the 336 and performance was awesome since it weighs less plus no gear doors in the breeze during takeoff. If I were to pick a twin it would be the Aztec. Shares a lot of systems with the Navajo. You can actually find full deiced normally aspirated Aztecs. I’m not fond of turbo chargers. The Aztec 540’s are a great engine. There is lot of support for them. Not much support for the Skymaster as fewer were made.

Always loved the skymaster. I can recall the first time I saw one as a kid and always spend time around them when they are at the local airshow in Vietnam livery. Super cool.

Josh, as always the content is great! I'm currently transitioning into a Bonanza from a Cherokee PA28. My vote is the Bonanza, not because it is what I am doing, but all the advantages this airframe gives it's owner. The quality of the build is superior, the cruse speed is excellent, and the availability of parts to keep them going is really good. Because this is a large investment for most of us, the parts support, and the technical knowledge that is out there on this airframe is far superior to most planes in the fleet today (OK to be fair, the 172, 182, and the PA28 support is excellent...). If you are wanting a true cross country platform you can't go wrong with the Bonanza.

Please consider a twin Velocity XL. I would love to see you do a video flying the twin XL.

Thanks for the deadhead. Great vid and I really liked the PIC using checklists. Just don't see that on RU-vid GA vids (however, they may but off camera). The Army would on larger operations supply O-2As (their version of the Skymaster) as spotter planes. As the Gunner's Mate I operated the twin 50 Cal. BMG -M2 of the Swift and being the highest point of the lead boat I'd act as the forward air controller relaying info about the troops we had in the field position as the O-2As made their way on station. (Actually directed air strikes from fast movers, F4 Phantoms -- once Danger Close.) The fuselage configuration, save the inline power plants, also reminds me of the Army OV-10 Black Ponies that infrequently flew cover for our Swift Boat patrols on the rivers and canals of the southern tip of South Vietnam in '69. (yep, I'm older than dirt).

Had to be one of the nicest 337's I've seen in awhile. Cudo's to the owner for taking such good care of it. Baron would be my choice for two engines but they are why out of my price range not to mention I really don't have the mission for a twin requirement. So will keep enjoying our Comanche 260B. Great video.

My brother had a P337 that i logged quite a few hours in.. i loved every bit of the time i had in it.. like you mentioned.. visibility.. range.. safety.. it has it all.. when my brother said he was selling it, i wanted to buy it, but i had just traded into a really nice Duke.. he replaced her with a Turbo Commander 1000.. quickly becoming my new favorite.. which led to my replacing the Duke with a c90.. i have been in several 337's over the years.. the P337 being my fave.. fly high, fast, and efficient..

Josh love watching your videos. So excited to see that you’re going to take another step in purchasing another plane to fulfill your dreams. This seems like a great plane to do that with. I’m sure you’ll know when you find the right one.

I fly a Cherokee 140, tricked out with loads of Garmin as well. But I am also building a Vans RV9A. I'm some ways into the build and I'm already putting some serious thought into the 10, just because of the baggage capacity you mentioned. I do like the in-line twin you were flying. Very interesting.

We have a saying in the motorcycle community: Ride what makes you giggle. You've got reasonable short-field/soft-field performance, the big barn-door flaps, and the IO-360 is basically bulletproof. You *can* get a turbo if you intend to do much time in the Rockies, and radar if summertime IFR is a thing... The gear is fussy from a maintenance standpoint but will take you anywhere 991 will once down and locked... And it'll definitely look unique on the ramp. :) One thing I would look into is how to mount cameras on it, because you're of course going to want those. I don't remember if the Skymaster has the fixed tie-down rings like a Skyhawk does, or whether they retract... if they're fixed you're in like Flynn. I know there's a guy who has a couple of cameras mounted on his Bonanza; I'd be interested to know how he mounts to the top of the wing... that may be an adaptable solution if you don't have fixed rings. But if it makes you giggle and there are places to put cameras on that suit you? Go for it. "San Marcos Ground, Skymaster one-zero-one alfa, instruments to Oshkosh..." (not that you'd do that *for the show*, but for a pre-show scouting mission on a clear day? 954nm is just doable... :)

As a 71 year old A&P and pilot with a bunch of ratings, the 337 is in my top 10 list to own. Keep in mind, engines will need a lot more attention than what you are used to. If you can afford the cost of a twin, you have my blessing for getting a Skymaster. Spend the money to get the very best prebuy insp possible. Cessna Skymaster club is good source for info. But then, you know that.

Hey Josh! Fellow Texan here. I've always loved the Skymaster....Most of my GA flight sim time is spent in a 337 G Skymaster. Love this airframe. If you can find one scoop it up. I think you'd really enjoy it.

Back in the 90’s as an instructor I did my share of insurance checkouts for new owners. They are definitely one of my favorite aircraft! They are very stable and are very comfortable for cross country trips. The only downside is the high engine maintenance costs!

This is one of my dream aircraft. Such a good looking and safe bird to fly. It looks awesome and is far more unique than anything else out there.

Josh, I faced a similar decision a few years ago. I travel from the Sugar Land area to Payson Arizona and back every month. That’s right at 980nm. Five years ago I settled on a Bonanza A36. I make the trip in about 6:30 with a restroom / fuel stop in Pecos. I leave the two most rear seats out and with the double rear doors, can carry a lot of stuff easily. TAS is 167 knots so it makes a good XC traveler. I’ve taken all over the US, except the east coast, and almost all of those trips were single day trips and rarely needed more than a single fuel stop. Good Luck! Mike N228DM

Twins are neat, but first look at your mission profile vs costs. Example: a C310 or Baron will cost you between $300-$400 per flight hour including reserves, insurance and hangar plus debt service with almost half of that in gas. A Seneca would be less. Mechanical issues on the engines is X2. I’d look at a C210 or Piper Saratoga. If your priority is air-ground photos then get the 210. If ease of loading and unloading equipment plus wide cabin comfort is important then get the Saratoga. Both will carry a heavy load with reasonable speed. Both are very good IFR platforms. For me - a turbonormalized Saratoga would be my preferred long XC single. Most of my long XC time is in Comanches, Saratogas, and Arrows. Only a couple hundred hours in Cessnas but I never liked dipping my head or raising a wing to look for traffic. Unless you plan on spending a lot of time over mountains, open water, or night IFR. I think twins are a waste of money even if they’re neat to fly.

Very nice video, and Kevin has a peach of an airplane! The Skymaster is a wonderful aircraft. I looked at it as a serious option when I “graduated” from my 172, but in the end decided the increased maintenance costs of a twin were too high for my budget. I transitioned to a Mooney M20K (turbo IO360) and 800+ hours later I still think it was and is the perfect aircraft for my mission. You can’t beat the speed, range, and economy of the 231. Whether it will fit your mission is another thing altogether, but it’s worth serious consideration.

The Skymaster is my absolute favorite plane ever! If I was a pilot, and could have any plane, this would be it....All glass, but a Skymaster.

Big fan of your aviation videos, Mr. Aviation 101! Been following since day one, and your content is always a great decision-making guide. I apply your approach to my flying decisions, checking personal minimums, aircraft conditions, and company SOP. If risk factors are high, I wait for a better day in general aviation. Your quote, "You can always get there another day," rings true. Keep up the excellent work! Love your videos, eagerly awaiting the next one. Thanks for the flight lesson notepads-especially helpful for IFR flights, making clearances smoother.

Hey Josh awesome video. I recommend piper seneca because they are very good twin platform to fly and very safe.

Unless you need serious load capability and require twin redundancy, a P 210, Saratoga, or a Bonanza or even a 182 R would meet mission requirements but at a much lower fuel burn & maintenance costs

I've always been a fan of the Mooney Acclaim. With four power settings you can either outperform just about anything or pull back for a thousand mile plus trip.

Great video Josh. I have owned a Mooney Ovation and also a Mooney Ovation 3 with the G1000 and flew over 750 hours in both combined. I really enjoyed the performance, solid construction and avionics of the Ovation 3.

I’ve always found these to be awesome looking and sounding.

Get you some of that Josh!!! That would be way cool but just remember, that fuel bill is doubled..

Since you are in SoCal and window shopping, I feel a colab with Flying with Rich is a natural.

12:55 KNS80!!! One of the most underrated pieces of outdated equipment out there!

Bonanza's or Mooneys are my top two for sure. Good luck finding a new airplane! Love your videos Josh.

I love the 337. Always have. I like the 210 and T182. I hope all is well for you and yours. Happy belated Thanksgiving.

Very cool video, Josh! I readily admit ignorance about the Skymaster, but it does seem pretty cool after your presentation. I personally LOVE Slings (I think they are one of the best GA aircraft around) but they can be a bit spendy to buy. A Vans RV of the RV-10 or RV-15 flavor tend to be a little cheaper for what you get (and parts are more readily available in the US, too).

This had me remembering the one mission I flew on a contractor-operated ISR C337 in Iraq. I was one of two sensor operators. It was very cramped due to all the mission equipment, which also impacted sortie duration, but it was still a very unique and cool experience. As far as suggestions for an “addition to the fleet,” I hear G650ER’s are good for cross country flight, though it doesn’t have a parachute, so maybe that takes it off the list. 🤷🏻‍♂️

Piper PA-24-260 Comanche C seems like a good cross country platform. Strong and sturdy and it can haul almost anything that comes to mind.

1st off, love the channel! I'm a pilot currently working on my instrument, then on to commercial and multi ratings! I have always been a fan of the 337! Not only is it unique looking aircraft, it also has a very distinct sound in the air. It looks like it be a great x-country plane. The upside is you can get a pressurized version to allow you fly higher and faster than most small twins and single engine aircraft! It looks to have a relatively low stall speed and pretty decent cruise speed, plus a service ceiling of 20k+ feet, and 920 nm range! Ot would be my choice for sure!

As a GA pilot with 11,800+ hours of flying, I have five favorite fun to fly airplanes (in alphabetical order). They are Aeronca Champ, BE-1900 (5K hours), CE-150 (2K hours), CE-337 and the Lake Amphibian. The 1900 was fast and easy to fly and a great all weather machine including ice but not budget friendly. I'm now a very senior citizen whose reactions are slower. The only twin that I would consider flying now would be the Skymaster. I hated flying the SF-340 (1K hours).The best thing about it was refreshments and cold drinks were available.

I’ve always loved the look of the 337. Having six seats and tons of room is nice though so I love the 310 I fly