Light Twin Comparision
12-20-2006, 08:06 PM
#2
On Reserve
Joined APC: Oct 2006
Position: Always Training
Posts: 20
I like the view from the Duchess more than the Seminole. In the Seminole I could not see over the nose and I'm 6 foot, I felt like I was sitting in a bucket. The Duchess has a trailing link landing gear so landings are a breeze and the front windsheild is HUGE, its like looking through a dome. It flies like a champ and I love flying it.
12-20-2006, 09:33 PM
#3
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Joined APC: Dec 2005
Position: Flight Instructor
Posts: 623
I like this question. especially since the ONLY two twins I have ever flown are the Seminole and the Duchess. I like them both to be honest with you. Just inor differences. The Duchess has electric flaps. The Semiole has manual flaps. Takes some getting used to. They fly and land the same to me. But if I were to have a choice. I would choose the Seminole
12-20-2006, 09:54 PM
#4
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Joined APC: Jun 2005
Position: Retired
Posts: 2,934
Performance is about the same in both. They're both underpowed dogs. My experience with the dutchess has been that they are typically a little more beat up simply because they aren't still being made. Also, the Dutchess is a little more comfortable inside. It's a bit wider, and the visibility (while good in both) is a little better in the Beech.
Counter rotating props help ease the learning curve a little and then there's the fact that they aren't much faster than a 182. Both good at what they do but neither is really that fun to fly.
Counter rotating props help ease the learning curve a little and then there's the fact that they aren't much faster than a 182. Both good at what they do but neither is really that fun to fly.
12-21-2006, 09:08 AM
#6
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Joined APC: Oct 2005
Position: A320/321 FO
Posts: 1,114
Both are good trainer/time builder machines, but that's about it. The Duchess is easier to land w/ the trail-link main gear. The Seminole, for a lack of better terms, you literally "drive" it into the ground - never found out how to finess a good landing in that thing. Doing maneuvers, not much difference between the two. My .02 cents...
Lax
Lax
12-21-2006, 11:22 AM
#7
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Joined APC: Nov 2006
Position: DHC-6 / PC-12
Posts: 213
they are the same. After you spend 100 hours in either of them you will be bored mindless.
I have much more faith in Piper products than I do Beech products, but that is a personal oppinion.
As far as the landing gear goes, Seminoles are not difficult to land well, they just let you know it when you land poorly. The beech is just a little more forgiving. If you pound one in in either of those A/C you are going to know it.
I have much more faith in Piper products than I do Beech products, but that is a personal oppinion.
As far as the landing gear goes, Seminoles are not difficult to land well, they just let you know it when you land poorly. The beech is just a little more forgiving. If you pound one in in either of those A/C you are going to know it.
12-21-2006, 09:24 PM
#8
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2005
Position: Flight Instructor
Posts: 623
they are the same. After you spend 100 hours in either of them you will be bored mindless.
I have much more faith in Piper products than I do Beech products, but that is a personal oppinion.
As far as the landing gear goes, Seminoles are not difficult to land well, they just let you know it when you land poorly. The beech is just a little more forgiving. If you pound one in in either of those A/C you are going to know it.
I have much more faith in Piper products than I do Beech products, but that is a personal oppinion.
As far as the landing gear goes, Seminoles are not difficult to land well, they just let you know it when you land poorly. The beech is just a little more forgiving. If you pound one in in either of those A/C you are going to know it.
12-22-2006, 08:12 AM
#10
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Joined APC: Nov 2006
Position: DHC-6 / PC-12
Posts: 213
They are the same:
T-Tail
Counter-Rotating Props
180 hp
4 seats
They are different:
Duchess has: 2 doors, electric flaps, and the nose gear comes out forward to aft. Duchess has a little more room, but trues out slower.
Seminole: 1 door (I hate that), manual flaps (I love that), nose gear comes out aft to forward, clips along pretty good, weird CG with 2 front pax and full fuel.
I also found that the Seminole is more docile in Vmc maneuvers, not that either of them are violent or dramatic....
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