"Why not build a twin?"

[rmartingt]

I'm just gonna leave this here...

[joe gremlin]

Originally Posted by N941WR

My only issue with a twin is it doubles your chance of an engine failure.

This is a common argument against twins and its lack of validity is easily established. The chances of an engine failure don't matter. What matters is the options you have available after a failure.

I always like to present the following scenario to twin nay-sayers. You and your spouse are on an island. Your spouse develops a strange illness and needs medical attention on the mainland ASAP or impending death could result. No ferries available, no boats to rent charter borrow or steal, no scheduled flights or charters planes available.

The airport operator has two planes he'll let you borrow. A single and a twin. But he warns you that both have wonky engines and it wouldn't shock him if either one had an engine failure in the next 40 minutes of flight. The mainland is a 90 minute flight. Assuming you're current and proficient in both singles and twins, which one you gonna take? I defy anyone to pick the single in that scenario.

[BobTurner]

Originally Posted by joe gremlin

This is a common argument against twins and its lack of validity is easily established. The chances of an engine failure don't matter. What matters is the options you have available after a failure.

I always like to present the following scenario to twin nay-sayers. You and your spouse are on an island. Your spouse develops a strange illness and needs medical attention on the mainland ASAP or impending death could result. No ferries available, no boats to rent charter borrow or steal, no scheduled flights or charters planes available.

The airport operator has two planes he'll let you borrow. A single and a twin. But he warns you that both have wonky engines and it wouldn't shock him if either one had an engine failure in the next 40 minutes of flight. The mainland is a 90 minute flight. Assuming you're current and proficient in both singles and twins, which one you gonna take? I defy anyone to pick the single in that scenario.

IMHO the trouble is that the majority of non- professional twin pilots do not maintain true currency. Those pilots are fooling themselves if they choose the twin.

[Ironflight]

Originally Posted by Vlad

There is a twin RV8 under construction north of 38th parallel. I spoke with the builder two years ago very ambitious and impressive project. Insurance was the major roadblock as I understood it.

The one in Virginia, or another one?

[joe gremlin]

Originally Posted by RVbySDI

I gather from your comment you have not seen or heard about this Coast Guard footage released last week of a Cirrus parachute deployment over water near Hawaii:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=gBCUQlF3MMU

It appeared to me to be a fairly benign touch down even in rough seas. The only thing that bothers me is how quickly the chute filled with water and drug the plane down. I would be more concerned with that issue especially if the chute drug the plane over on the open door side.

Nope hadn't heard of it. Glad it worked out for the guy. Makes me wonder if Cirrus altered their design after the first guy got hurt. Seeing how quickly the chute drags the plane under, its really not the kind of situation you'd want to face with a back injury.

[N941WR]

Originally Posted by rmartingt

I'm just gonna leave this here...

I heard a story, don't know if it is true, about a young guy who built one of these so he could get cheap multi time. The story goes that a Major hired him on the spot because he was smart in building his time with the Cri-Cri.

[joe gremlin]

Originally Posted by BobTurner

IMHO the trouble is that the majority of non- professional twin pilots do not maintain true currency. Those pilots are fooling themselves if they choose the twin.

The thing is, a lot of them are fooling themselves when it comes to currency in a single too.

[Vlad]

Originally Posted by Ironflight

The one in Virginia, or another one?

Yes Paul in VA.

[KRviator]

Originally Posted by rmartingt

I'm just gonna leave this here...

IF you're gonna build a Cri Cri to build twin time, might as well strap a pair of jets to it so you can build twin turbine time!

[Charles in SC]

If you are worried about the odds being twice as likely that you will have an engine failure because you have two engines then it would make sense that having zero engines would make it safer yet.

As far as building a homebuilt twin, I would like to see something along the lines of the old Wing Derringer. As I remember it they had two seats and two Continental GTISO 520 engines. Talk about single engine performance, I think that would do it. That would be like an RV 7 with two turboed 375 hp engines.