Fastest Piston Twin - Aerostar 600
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- čas přidán 21. 06. 2019
- at one time the Aerostar 600 was the fastest production twin piston aircraft. It's still a really cool airplane!
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I really enjoyed watching this video. I was the ORIGINAL owner of this Aerostar, and HK (from the tail number) are my initials. I took delivery from Piper in 1980 and had about 1850 hours on it before selling it. So nice to see the plane is in such great shape!
@Harvey Klein I have always loved the Ted Smith Aerostar since reading about it in Flying Mag. about 1969 or 1970.
In 1978-1983 I worked @ International Business Aircraft, Tulsa OK.
I remember how solid the wings were. Not soft like Piper or Cessna twins.
Solid like the MU2s and jets.
Side note, it is a sexy plane too.
Harvey Klein Thank You for the comment, icing on the cake for an excellent video, on a beautiful aircraft!
What plane was next?
Cool as. Thanks for commissioning such a cool aircraft.
It's a very nice plane. A real speed demon.
I flew This Plane when I was about 30 years old as a up-and-coming commercial pilot. It was the first heavy iron I flew. When you rotated it accelerated once it broke ground it was like a little jet.
My old flight instructor used to fly canceled checks at night out of Buffalo NY in an Aerostar. I flew with him a few times and that a/c is incredible!!! We were going into Utica right b4 the sun went down, we were at 9000' with thunderstorms all around, we were headed out to shoot the approach when a break in the clouds appeared, he called the tower saying airport in sight (barely), he dropped the gear and flaps and we dropped like a rock!!! What an outstanding a/c that was way ahead of it's time!!! Thanks for taking us along :-)
Let me guess, the company's call sign was Star Check. I flew for them back in the day too.
Pilot: Are you a low wing or high wing aircraft?
Aerostar 600: *yes*
Bobby Elliott 🤣
Technically, that wasn't a bad question since the wing is really mid-body; but I think the wing would have to be overhead before calling it a high wing. Also, I clearly remember the reviews for this airplane as far back as 1966 -- and they were only average reviews ...some good, some bad aspects. I can't remember the name of the most popular aviation mag back then. It wasn't "Plane and Pilot" or "Aviation Digest" ...can't recall.
@@TheAvenstar Private Pilot or the most widely circulated...... Flying.
Always loved reading Flying.
@@wms1650 You're right -- it was "Flying." -- Thank you.
Mid-wing!
For lovers of the Aerostar, don't miss the movie "American Made", where the Aerostar is stealing the show to Tom Cruise. It's even on the cover.
I didnt remember that..... however I was thinking "this would be a good aircraft to fly cocaine" INSTANTLY when watching this.
I want you to take it for a spin!
@@TheKnightda8 same shit im bitch buddy
They also crashed one during filming
Thanks for bringing me back when we were hauling canceled checks in the 600A. We were practically flying the wings off our planes. They were a handful to handle when we were in our early 20´s, but what a beautiful and nice flying machine. Still in love with this “electrical” plane. Even the fuel selectors were electrically. During the early take-off you put the right hand on the electrical (off cause) nose wheel steering and your left hand on the throttles until your rudder started working. Got myself around a 1000 hours in the left seat in this noisy lovely machine. Thanks again for bringing me back.
My Dad probably built this airplane. He worked for Ted Smith Aerostar in Santa Maria Califonia from 1977 1981. I would love to have one!
Cool :)
your dad ideas very extremely genius..that why barry seal, CIA n Custom US user this airplane for any fucking missions..
My dad also worked for Ted Smith but at the design shop at Van Nuys CA Airport. It definitely was a trend setting aircraft design!
I also worked in the Santa Maria plant in the late seventies. Control pushtubes and air conditioning ductwork. Spent the next 37 years in commercial HVAC.
I must say..... Carol is like the pilot I've always wanted to fly with and have as an instructor.... This entire video just brought a big ole smile to my face, this is why i live in Texas..👍✈
This guy relaxed me before he even got flying, makes you feel like it's all gunna be alright.
Goes along with being a Texan.
Love the sound of those twin pistons in harmony, so sweet. As a passenger it would sing you to sleep :-) Great clip!
Nice to see a pilot with a sense of humor.
His “sense of humor” is *AWFUL!*
@@heavyizthacrown-5842 found the person with no sense of humor
@@heavyizthacrown-5842 Why, that's just offal! 💩
Good to see you flying, Bobby !!! Thanks for this, another great video !!!
This guy is a crack up!! Thanks for sharing. “Somewhere over the blue line” haha!
Haha
How cool! Great video. I love this channel because I am new to GA and I don't even have a pilot's license. It's fantastic to be able to learn more about these planes and their pilots
That is one relaxed gentleman! And a slick ride to go, pity he had to let it go. Nice vid! Keep 'em coming!
I have exactly 1,500 hours in one 601P, plus having flown other 601Ps, the Machen 650, 680, and 700. Great airplane(s). I flew the company 601P to St. Thomas with a fuel stop in South Caicos down and on the return.
One thing I noticed, he never did sync the props.
What a wonderful airplane, I didn´t know about it, looks roomy , fast and the engine sound is like music, perfect!!!!. Carol is a truly caracter, so nice. Congrats on other excellent pice of art man!!!!. Getting better in every vid.
Nice surprise seeing you flying around, Carroll, especially in such a great, fun airplane. Hope to fly with you again sometime. Sure enjoyed the King Air 350 trip to Nashville and Savannah!
What a beautiful Aerostar! Thanks for the ride. Also enjoyed the glimpse of the SpaceX test stands.
Wow. Neither of these guys knows what blue line is. Yikes.
What a Great Dude..... a Joy to Fly with him and his Aerostar!
Had a chance to hop on the right seat of one and I loved it! At the time I owned an RV-10, short of about 25 knots cruise and half the fuel consumption per hour, the cabin space and useful load blew me away. Beautiful aircraft.
Love your videos especially when you're sailing out and about in different countries.
Nice to see you are doing Flying videos too. Thanks for Sharing.
If you didn’t tell anyone, this aircraft looks like it’s brand new. The refurb in and out really makes for a very nice GA unit.
Yeah, that plane sold itself. It's really nice quality work. Great video guys. Thanks a bunch.
Bobby, I was in love with the Turbo Commander until I saw the Aerostar 600. Beautiful airplane in mint condition. It has great performance for a piston with plenty of acceleration on takeoff. I can see why it sold so quickly. An absolutely fantastic airplane. Love your videos and commentary. Take care my friend!
Beautiful plane! My old flight surgeon who did my physicals had one at Meacham Field. Always wanted to fly that thing.
My dad used to have a turbo pressurized Aerostar. It is a beautiful plane!! He doesn’t have it any more. He bought a Golden Eagle 421 and hangers it at Spinks. Nice airport!! Your plane is sharp looking!! Love it!!
I’ve got the Aerostar 601 N77XC it’s a really solid machine but the controls are very sensitive so it takes a lot of experience.
What a cool beauty of a plane, thanks for sharing Bobby!
Love Your Channel! ~ I fell in love with this model in 1988.
I love watching landing gear move. Thank you. Great video.
I think Bobby had more fun than us watching...... he really seemed to be enjoying himself. I have always loved the Aerostars
Mr. Lewis ... I get the feeling you have all the professional skill sets to make flying safe and no-nonsense. I would like to do a video with you on your next high performance airplane!
I flew 2nd seat in the 600, carrying fliters from klga to Mt. Washington NH. Our home airport was kpvd. and i remember the vectors they gave us, atc knows real tight turns with Knife wings.
Have always loved the Aerostar. Great vid! thnx!
Great video. Logged 1 hour in a friend's. Nice plane and a great ride. Take care.
Love the video, Carol is a character. I thought I knew him when the video first started, I want to say we were at Spartan together.
Love this Plane 601P would be my plane for sure. Keep them coming
Rode in a Smith Aerostar with my instructor back in 1988. He rolled it, as it is a strong design. It was a very fun airplane to fly, not to mention one of the coolest on the ramp. I like this owner, as he seems really cool, and he also seems like a guy you could get into a little trouble with. Fun trouble that is! Great video Bobby.
is it actually aerobatics qualified or everything "prohibited" like most planes?
@@seeingeyegod No, It is not approved for aerobatics, but it is a strong, well designed and built airframe. The same man that designed this airplane also designed the Aero Commander aircraft, and we have all seen what Bob Hoover did with that aircraft. It to was not designed for aerobatics, but is a solid well designed aircraft.
@@scotabot7826 nice! yeah I'm familiar with Bob Hoovers antics in the AC!
I had a friend in Alabama who worked for Ted Smith. He actually delivered the first Aerostar ever made.
One day, he was flying an Aerostar at an airshow/fly-in (not sure where). He rolled it in front of the crowd. After he landed, Ted Smith said, "I appreciate what you were trying to do. But that's not the image we want for this company. It's ok for Bob Hoover, but please don't do it again."
I have another friend in Alabama who built a turboprop powered Aerostar when he flew for the Allison NASCAR racing team. It's on display at the Talladega Speedway.
@@faithlifeworshipcenter460 Wow, Really cool story. This is the kind of stuff I enjoy reading. There is some great footage of Jimmy Franklin flying his black Aerostar 600 at airshows, calling himself "Zar". Look for it on CZcams. He does a great performance!
Wow, memories ! The FBO I was working for in the 80’s, while building time, had a 600 in the company fleet. I flew their Baron more, but went up in the 600 and their Commander several times. It may have seemed “less sporty” than a Baron to some, but I disagree. Plus, it was classy and a LOT more comfortable. It was a treat to get to fly that airplane for me then. Funny, I “think” I remember there was no manual trim on these, which was different at the time. I remember some were converted to “Superstars” too, whatever that entailed. What a beautiful classic airplane and great owner. Thanks Bobby and Carrol for the ride ! 🇺🇸🛫
... and electric nose steering....!!
Oh yeah, you’re right Kimi ! There was a toggle switch on the center console I think, and that WAS strange to me then ! I remember some seat pins too, that we checked and I think the gear was held in the retracted position by pressure alone, no locks at all. So, if you lost hydraulic pressure, the gear dropped (I guess). I wasn’t typed in the 600, but tried to get time in it every chance that was offered.
@@randyporter3491 While doing my technical a senior tech told me that the ailerons and rudder were interchangeable - never got to check this out but if you look at them they certainly look the same..??
Kimi Collier Really ?? That’s interesting. What’s really ironic is after watching this and reminiscing about this airplane, a movie came on tonight with Tom Cruise, called American Made”. He is a pilot and flys this plane. I read that it actually crashed during filming. After watching a few scenes, I’m not surprised it crashed. Had three on board.
@@kimicollier9846 I don't know if the ailerons and rudder are interchangeable.
The vertical stabilizer, left horizontal and right horizontal stabilizers are interchangeable.
It lowered the cost to manufacture.
I have read Jim Bede used interchangeability on the Tiger and Cheetah.
I loved how you could visually confirm the front nose gear was 'down' by looking at the prop spinner reflection of lt.
This would be a big upgrade over a Twin Comanche. We had every gap seal and speed mod available and the best we saw was 206 knots with a tailwind.
Nice aircraft. Love the room in the back. Beats most of the opposition in that respect n looks great. Would be very comfortable to fly in
Really like the aircraft and the way it flies! very nice video. 253 mph wow.
Hahaha I love this guy! Ah throttle back to 1500 rpm and put the numbers in the windscreen. Couldn’t have said it any better. This guy is like Barry Seal! 😁
Christian Cormier *1500 inches..😂
Israel Kozlik you would never have 1500 in hg of manifold pressure. It ranges from 0 up to 30 or more.
Christian Cormier @ 16:00 watch it again...
Israel, wow! That's a lot of MP!
Israel, he misspoke, obviously
Really enjoyed the video. Seems like yall enjoyed a nice flight.
One of these peeled out before me in Tampa and I was curious about what it was. Never seen one before. Great video!!
I have always loved the Ted Smith Aerostar a very under rated twin,so nicely flown he knows that airplane so well,do not be fooled by his fun blase answers because he has become part of that Aerostar it shows.
There is still a chance that a twin fan jet version could be built in the future with the right investor,that will be some aircraft and it would find a ready market even with the competition today.
Great content Flying Doodles.
Dear Bobby and Laura, it makes absolute sense that you make flight Vlogs as well. My two of five passions you meet. I love aviation and wanted to get my Private's Licence a long time ago -well never did it but I did afford a great privilege of installing Nav equipment; namely, SIMRAD on Commercial Vessels here in Australia. Haven't done either for a while but that's ok 👌 because I love ❤️ your VLOGS. thanks so much. Pete
As usual, a great video Bobby! You can wipe off your smile now!
Love watching these videos,
I always wanted to learn how to fly , and always put it off ,
I had a real justification for putting it off as I always wanted to fly a small either a single jet, or duel jet ,
But saw and looked at the training as too long and too expensive. Too many steps to go through.
What a mistake....
As I never really appreciated the beauty of just enjoying the ride.
Now thanks to these videos I would not want to fly a jet as I would miss all this beauty and love for the machine,
I wasted all this time with such a misconception, as these are beautiful enjoyable air craft , thank you so much ,,,
guys what a great service to your community and done such a wonderful job for people watching and leaning. Through these videos.
GR8 Video Bobby...Love the Aerostar and when I get multiengine rated that what I shooting For, for sure!!! thanks Again Bobby!!
Loved flying the Aerostar! Great airplane. Very fast.
Hey man! I’ve got an Aero Commander 100…one of only a handful left in the USA still flying. It’s a beauty and I think you’d find it interesting to fly and do a video on. Love your videos!
Great! I've always wanted to fly in a Ted Smith Aerostar! Thanks.
Great video very cool plane and nothing like a pilot from Texas🤠👍
Two times the fun!
Great lookin' twin!
Last night I was thinking that Bobby needed an Aerostar on his channel, and boom this morning this popped up.
Wow first viewing that type craft nice twin great job as usual
I can remember when I accepted a short test flight in a Piper Aerostar in Roswell, New Mexico, in 1982. The engines on that plane sounded just like the ones in this video. The flight lasted about the same amount of time. I can only wish I could have pursued it further, but there just wasn't enough money.
Great video, great guys and a lovely aircraft.
Wow. What a great plane. Thanks for the video.
I was driving the fuel truck at Tulsa Pilots Club about the time you were at Spartan. I actually went to Tulsa to attend Spartan but changed my mind once I got there. Got all my tickets there. Calvin G Bass was my examiner and aerobatics instructor. I have lots of good memories from TUL. When flying charter I had the opportunity to fly Aerostar N300AM. A 601P model that held the fastest global circumnavigation record in a piston twin. I just retired off of the 777 at brand X airline. Seems like I was just in Tulsa a decade ago. Wow.
Good to see it flying at it's best condition 😀
Okay, "You need your zeal tempered with experience" is getting added to my peer-review rota. Love it!
McGregor, TX! I lived in Temple for 40 years, and instructed out of Temple, Killeen, and McGregor. At McGregor, they had a gorgeous Twin Comanche with STEC 60 and Stormscope, with tip tanks. I loved that plane. A pilot ran out of gas between DFW and McGregor, and rolled it up in a ball. Fortunately, he survived. I flew an Aerostar, and they are awesome handling planes. Definitely the best-handling twin I've ever flown. And that goes from G18 to King Air. BTW, if you can fly a Cessna 172, you'll feel right at home in a King Air. A real pussycat. Merlins handle well, for a turbo twin. Somebody make me fly their Piaggio Avanti, please! I was doing a tailwheel transition for the new owner of an old Cessna 120 out of McGregor, and the fuel cap vent was clogged, which sucked a vacuum, killed our engine, and I deadsticked into a grass strip north of McGregor. He had been doing stalls, and after one recovery the engine didn't respond. We bummed a ride into town and called his wife. Talk about a beautiful plane to spin, that 120 was a gem. That and a Stearman (another plane with ball-bearing ailerons like the Aerostar, only a bit ponderous in comparison - just a bit. If you can wangle a ride in a Beech 95, go out of your way to do that. For their day, the 95 and Twin Comanche were and still are unbeatable. That Space-X plant with the little bunkers used to belong to a military munitions manufacturer, which explains the "little bunker" he refers to.
Awesome video! I'm going to Spartan next year when I'm out of the Navy.
Nice vídeo... maravilhoso, principalmente a visão da câmera under the plane.
I had a 1981 vintage 600A. Of the 81 different planes I have in my log books, it was the best flying airplane of all of them. Ted Smith was a genius. Pilots used to come up to me all the time and say things like, “Aerostar huh ? I hear you don’t want to get too slow in that pilot killer.” And I’d say, “What airplane do you want to get too slow in ?” Flew it by the book and she was a sweetheart. Even had an engine out in her and it was a non-event.
What a beauty. My fav twin. Thanks FD. Nice beard BTW.
Loved this one. Love aerostar !!!
I’d ride with that guy anyday ! Lol good sense of humor and the right mix of slightly crazy and great flight knowledge Love it. Thanks to both of you .
Lovely airplane.I felt flying with you...what a beautiful airplane...blessed you are...happy flying...
Wow, such a nice airplane.
This might just be my dream plane.
What a great old aircraft
I flew the 601p for about 18 months,in the nth of Australia about 25 years ago
Lovely aircraft to fly when things were going well
A real handfull max weight in high density on one engine
I had 2 separate engine failures in my time flying it and both at max weight
She looked after to me on both occasions but not much margin for error
Most attractive paint scheme have seen on an AeroStar!
That is a very nice and also quiet plane. I like it.
I wonder when he was at Spartan. I attended Sparten and recall a dude in the early 90's from Texas that had a business and was talking about twin cheorkees , twin cessna's, et al.
Hey, my home airport KPWG! I see that plane all the time, it's a looker!
Epic!
Saw one of these coming over the threshold in Melbourne Fla when I was a Lineboy back in 1970. My gawd.. hauling butt! I eventually got my S.E.L. but my Glider Rating was the best. 21,200 ft over Minden Nevada and sucking on the 02.
seems like a really smooth aircraft .. very cool
Loved the low pass!
I just recently found this channel. Wish I would have seen this years ago!
Nice twin, great aircraft!!
Spartan grad nice, class of 85 AMT here. I must said, thorough i was in love with the dukes. but now i will have to give the Aerostars another look. This is my kind of piloting.
In 1980 I work at Piper In Santa Maria Ca. In the sheet metal fabrication ,including the stainless steel fire walls.
Good video, I like the paint scheme.
Hey Carrol, Hello from another Texas male pilot named Carrol. Enjoyed the video. And, Mr. Doodles, maybe before long I can take you up in my SR22, still working on my Cirrus factory training and want to have a few hours experience with it before taking passengers. That Aerostar looks like a fantastic aircraft.
I had a job flying an Aerostar right after I got out of the Marine Corps. I had a chance to fly other light twins but the Aerostar was by far my favorite.
I spent quite a few fire seasons in Canada riding in the right seat of an Aerostar as an Air Attack Officer. They were used by Conair as a bird dog airplane in conjunction with the DC6.
The pilot certainly had to keep the speed up at all times even when we were making lead in runs at 100 feet over the trees or doing sharp turns in tight areas. I was lucky enough never to have a serious incident in one but they did lose a couple over the years. It was a tight airplane to work in for long missions especially with the Alberta airplanes which were modified to have an early generation FLIR installed in it with a ball the size of a basketball hanging off the front and a big screen under the dash. Many happy hours in them I will say, although every once in a while in a spare moment I'd look back at the wings and get a bit apprehensive to see a wing that small apparently holding us up!
We have switched over the the Turbo Commander as a Bird dog but Conair still has a couple of the old Aerostars in service as parts chasers. Great to see them again every once in a while!
Thanks Flying Doodles
The Aerostar is one aircraft I never had the pleasure to fly. Looks nice.
I work at an airport in Colorado and we are doing some maintenance on an aerostar 601 so it is pressurized and turbocharged it is a pretty sweet airplane
he said the maint. costs are high and that it is heavier so your payload is poor.
Love your channel and enjoy the vids very much. I will say though this guys "selling doodles" comment speaks a bit for me. I enjoy the videos with owners who are passionate about their planes and want to keep flying them much more than the videos with a salesman looking to unload one. Takes a bit of the shine off for me. I will say though that this one was better than most of the "for sale" videos because this guy is neat to listen to! Good stick too!
I enjoyed watching this smart video, Thanks.
Wow, that’s one wicked twin!
Mr. Lewis is a natural. What a great video.
What a cool dude who seems to love what he does. Great video.
This guy is a great pilot for many reasons, and his style
For most pilots, the reason you don't lower the gear in a turn in an Aerostar is that if the turn is un-coordinated, you will get side gusts that can damage/remove the main gear doors! If you fly nice coordinated turns, feel free to drop the gear in the turn.