A long time ago, I worked for a freight company that operated the Metro III. The Garrett engines are loud as hell but they are friggin' monsters that make the airplane right along. We now live in a world of PW PT-6 engines which are economical and very reliable. But those Garrett axial flow engines are absolutely amazing.
IF you love performing hot sections every 1500 hours...I worked for a Beech/Twin Commander service center. The PT6As on the King Airs we maintained were far more reliable with less service than the TPE331s
Swearing family helped me as a child. Their children welcomed me to aircraft and wonderful pipe organ music in their home. God Bless You, be safe, and have fun!😊
I used to work for an FBO at Westchester county airport .. and I swear I recognize your voice but who knows I'm older now and who can be sure of anything these days ..
Beautiful passenger cabin. I was interested in the pilots cockpit, instrumentation, etc. Is it qualified for single pilot operation? What about turbine TBO? I tried to open the link but it’s broken. Is there a website where I could find more info regarding this airplane? Thanks for sharing
I was part of a crew that flew one of these years ago. I remember it was a turbo Shaft engine. I think it idled at 95 or even 98% N2...The line guys always parked us far from the Front door of because of the obnoxious noise :) Finding an A&P to propperly rig the engine/propeller interface was a problem then. Surely not a problem anymore... given that aircraft maintenance is not farmed-out overseas...
Honeywell Garrett classifies the TPE331 as a turboprop engine( hence the designation of TPE...TurboPropEngine). Rolls Royce 250s are true turboshaft engines, as the output shaft exits the engine. In the TPE331, the output shaft is connected to the propeller gear reduction drive.
I flew many different versions of the merlin and metro For about 8 years and over 5000 hours We rarely had any issues You are right with the truck comment We used to call it a truck with wings
@@barefootbeachrunner9498 Why do they have such a bad reputation amongst some people? Would you suggest to someone that can afford a King Air to get this plane over one and save the money?
@@LESPAUL44mag Really depends on what you want to use it for? Ive have worked for companies that have operated both Metro and Kingair Both types have their pros and cons
@@LESPAUL44mag Merlins and Metros are a handful for inexperienced pilots. Their wing loading is much higher than the wing loading on a King Air, Conquest, Cheyenne or TurboCommander. Higher wing loading leads to an aircraft that performs better, but is less stable. One of my old customers had a Metro III along with five King Air B200s and a Westwind II. The flight crews hated the Metro due to its length and stiff landing gear, but it was the only bird they had that could carry 15 passengers.
It had a tendency to accumulate belly ice when flying in icing conditions. Well that was the Metroliner, this one is the shorter corporate version, it may not have that issue. It's easy to confuse the Metro with the Merlin. One and airliner the other not.
Sadly, the first time I heard of this aircraft type was the one that was involved in the crash in April 1993 that claimed the lives of reigning NASCAR Cup Series champion, Alan Kulwicki, along with Mark Brooks, Dan Duncan and pilot Charlie Campbell of Kulwicki's sponsor, Hooters. It looks like a nice aircraft from the inside and outside and doesn't deserve to be judged for one terrible accident
What aircraft is behind the merlin has 2 turbo props in the back and is white? Showed right in the beginning? Seems like a jet, but I don't know what it is 🤔
11/10/2019Any airplane has "one of the highest" safety records. Tell us where the Merlin ranks among the highest: is it highest? second highest" third? lowest? Tell us which airplane has the highest safety record?
Wow! Beautiful inside & out! Thank you for making this video. I didn't know about this aircraft before thevvideo... what are the costs for a one of these (around about range)?? I'm a HUGE fan of the Pilatus PC-12 NGX & also the Piaggio Avanti Evo, have you ever flown any of those 2 planes, a PC-12 &/or a Piaggio Avanti? & what are your thoughts about them? & thoughts about either of those 2 compared to this..? Thank you
Hold on just a second. I fly these things all the time, and I've never found one yet that can fly at 300 kts IAS. However, we frequently will see groundspeeds of 300MPH.
He's exaggerating a bit on everything, including book numbers. But that's how old coots can get. and if you want good cruise numbers it's gonna burn 84 gph, but it's still better than a King Air and more range than a 441.
Yep, Vne is only 265kias, and you're only going to see 300ktas on a cool day in the mid to upper teens where you're burning loads of fuel. ~270ktas @ ~FL240 is more typical. He's also full of it on baggage claims, too. 350lbs limit on aft baggage per the book and good luck hitting that without exceeding aft CG limits. In reality that spacious internal baggage area is great for skis, snowboards, and pet carriers, but you're always gonna stuff as many suitcases in the nose baggage area as you can, which can also carry up to 300lbs. This guy is the used car salesman of planes.
He says no other turboprop can hold a candle to this in terms of speed, efficiency etc. ? I think the Piper 400LS has this one beat by about 60 knots, same engines. However, this is a nice one.
Not exactly the “same” engines. The PA31T-1000 uses TPE331-14s which are unique to that airframe. It is the first truly “modular” TPE331. Hang the M-T five blade props on a 400LS and it beats the Merlin III by nearly 75 knots.
@@stevehicks8944 the PA 31 uses PW engines, did you mean the PA42, which is the 400LS, which uses the TPE331-14s? It's all in the single shaft design baby.
Gear up landings are common, but in most cases do not “destroy” the aircraft. As long as serviceable or new components, skins, ribs, stringers and other airframe parts are available the aircraft can be returned to service. The worst case I have ever seen was an F90 that hit a deer on landing. It collapsed the nose structure and nose gear, collapsed the right MLG and tore off the outboard right wing. This aircraft was returned to service...
@@kennedyabington9408 It is, not to mention the parts availability problems. Fairchild didn’t build too many of these things. Are a couple thousand more King Airs than there are Merlin IIIs.
@@stevehicks8944 Exactly. There's a reason a 20 year old B200 still fetches $2M+. Many people seem to think that these older planes that are going for relatively low prices are "good deals". Maybe some of them are, but usually there is a reason.
@@kennedyabington9408 One of the worst examples I ever saw was a “deal of a lifetime” A90 a customer of our bought to put on 135. When we finished the preliminary inspection, the bill for parts alone exceeded $300,000 to bring this “deal” into 135 compliance.
1/11/2019 So, when you say the airplane can fly over 2,000 miles without refueling, what do you mean? 3,000 miles, 4,000? Why don’t you just be conservative and state the number of miles the airplane can fly without refueling? Do you really need to sensationalize by saying over 2000 miles?
Becuase range will deppend on winds, altitude and turbulace, wheight and other factors. It really could be from 1000miles to 3000 miles. My record ground speed was 480 miles an hour, airplane can stay in the air up to 7 hours if light. you do the math.
Yes. There is a way. My Merlin's Useful Load is 4,800. 7700# Empty, 12,500 Gross T.O. Let's say Seven People (that's one Pilot and six Pass) at 175# each equals 1,225#. That leaves 3,575# for fuel or 541 gals. (she holds 648 gals.) My fuel burn over time is 80# per hour (most times better but lets be conservative) at 300 KTS (I am usually a few kts faster but lets round down, also headwinds and tailwinds are not being considered) 541 gals at 80 gals per hour is 6.8 hours endurance, which would be 2,040 Nautical miles, but that's to empty, so lets go 5.8 hours endurance (1 hour safety margin) and you can go 1,740 Nautical miles or 2001 Statute miles. These are true numbers documented over 6 years of flying the Merlin IIIA with -10 engines. But as for me, I don't want to go that long in the saddle. I like to stop every 2-3 hours on any trip over 5 hours. But the Merlin can happily do what the man claims in the video. I just don't think I would want to do it.
Hi Mark, any information on his comment about almost 1,500 lbs of baggage capacity in the baggage area? Our Merlin has a max aft baggage of 300 lbs. Is there an STC for increased weight in the back?
Brad Busch His statement is not correct. Ours is 300# aft and 400# nose. Both of which are standard. There are no STCs. It can be 600 nose if batteries are in the wings but most Merlin’s are not in the wings any longer. Most are in the nose. I have had 300 in the aft numerous times and the Merlin looks like its about to tip over backwards. It’s hard to get a Merlin out of CG but it can be done so load the nose first then go to the aft compartment with cold-sensitive items.
Mark Dobbs very detailed. thanks for that great info. I have two questions if you dont mind. Did you fly it single pilot or better yet can the Merlin be flown single pilot. Also, is there another plane that can produce those same numbers. (flight range of 2,000 nm, single pilot, more or less same fuel burn, cabin size, etc) ?????
@@markdobbs3727 Bang on our merlin regularly flew around 1500 nm on our nightly freight run with an extra stop I used to top up the tanks at the stop only for additional wx requiremnents Other wise we didnt need to
Well then William, how about showing us just how fantastic you are, right?! Come on there Mr. Wonderful, step up and be a man instead of a mouse behind a keyboard.......Let's see, you most likely cannot afford a taxi to your local walmart, but you wish to contribute absolutely nothing. You remind me of a device that I use. Yes, that's it, you are a Douche Bag !!!
Great plane, no doubt......but u walk into a SHIT HOLE that dubbs as a SEAT ? Seriously....has a cushion n a pillow and all this in a luxurious aircraft is considered to be an extra seat. LMFAO n then u exit the same way. You will find this conversion in a cheap RV or Van life vehicles but I'm surprised the designers didn't hesitate the grand entry. Whats more surprising is no one in the comments noticed it either, may I d only one fine it weird entering a plane through a TOILET???
A long time ago, I worked for a freight company that operated the Metro III. The Garrett engines are loud as hell but they are friggin' monsters that make the airplane right along. We now live in a world of PW PT-6 engines which are economical and very reliable. But those Garrett axial flow engines are absolutely amazing.
IF you love performing hot sections every 1500 hours...I worked for a Beech/Twin Commander service center. The PT6As on the King Airs we maintained were far more reliable with less service than the TPE331s
Swearing family helped me as a child. Their children welcomed me to aircraft and wonderful pipe organ music in their home. God Bless You, be safe, and have fun!😊
Beautiful tour
I used to work for an FBO at Westchester county airport .. and I swear I recognize your voice but who knows I'm older now and who can be sure of anything these days ..
well now having worked on the production line this one solid air frame
I wish they were reliable and still made.
I have flown on the swearingen Fairchild Metroliner, three in the Metroliner 23
I’ve always loved the Merlin III B models since they were around and they are still a few around but unfortunately it’s hard to find them
Beautiful passenger cabin. I was interested in the pilots cockpit, instrumentation, etc.
Is it qualified for single pilot operation?
What about turbine TBO?
I tried to open the link but it’s broken. Is there a website where I could find more info regarding this airplane?
Thanks for sharing
Worked the Metro III airliner for NWA (Mesaba) was a great plane with a great safety record. It was spun off this airplane.
boeingtrijet aka the San Antonio sewerpipe.
@@flybyairplane3528 The guys I knew who flew Metros called them San Antonio death tubes.
a.k.a. the Death Dart, or the Flying Lawn Dart.
I was part of a crew that flew one of these years ago. I remember it was a turbo Shaft engine. I think it idled at 95 or even 98% N2...The line guys always parked us far from the Front door of because of the obnoxious noise :) Finding an A&P to propperly rig the engine/propeller interface was a problem then. Surely not a problem anymore... given that aircraft maintenance is not farmed-out overseas...
Honeywell Garrett classifies the TPE331 as a turboprop engine( hence the designation of TPE...TurboPropEngine). Rolls Royce 250s are true turboshaft engines, as the output shaft exits the engine. In the TPE331, the output shaft is connected to the propeller gear reduction drive.
I would love to see the cockpit
Me, too!
Me too but unfortunately this plane has been involved in a gear-up landing and probably isn't flying anymore.
Beautiful aircraft that will unfortunately never fly again!!
@@matheusgiovannini571 lol skyscare
Beautiful Aircraft. Unfortunately it seems that it has been involved in a gear up landing in 2016. I wonder if it has been repaired.
This is what I’ve always wanted to flying
I flew many different versions of the merlin and metro
For about 8 years and over 5000 hours
We rarely had any issues
You are right with the truck comment
We used to call it a truck with wings
I was a dispatcher for an all-Metro airline. Very reliable & the pax loved it, though they were pretty much crammed in.
@@KutWrite
I was night freighter and regional airline
Its not a pilots aircraft but they get the job done
@@barefootbeachrunner9498 Why do they have such a bad reputation amongst some people? Would you suggest to someone that can afford a King Air to get this plane over one and save the money?
@@LESPAUL44mag
Really depends on what you want to use it for?
Ive have worked for companies that have operated both Metro and Kingair
Both types have their pros and cons
@@LESPAUL44mag Merlins and Metros are a handful for inexperienced pilots. Their wing loading is much higher than the wing loading on a King Air, Conquest, Cheyenne or TurboCommander. Higher wing loading leads to an aircraft that performs better, but is less stable. One of my old customers had a Metro III along with five King Air B200s and a Westwind II. The flight crews hated the Metro due to its length and stiff landing gear, but it was the only bird they had that could carry 15 passengers.
Oh my gosh good salesman too I'm hooked on the performance economy and style. I'm surprised drigrunners didnt use this baby. The Watchman
Hmm... Their main route is between Key West and NYC.
Maybe they haul fresh Lox? Or... ?
nice plane....which price?
Wish you would have shown the cockpit.
The price ???
Where can I buy one ?
Is it good idea to purchase one and charter it?
Great video. Thanks for sharing. Would you be able to provide the average cost per hour? I would assume less than $750/hr.
goutvols103 it’s about $660 I believe
I think the time has passed for such luxuary, now it's called classic.
Love it
Wonderful aircraft oriented family 👪❤.
Loved The one I Had Jim Adams
It had a tendency to accumulate belly ice when flying in icing conditions. Well that was the Metroliner, this one is the shorter corporate version, it may not have that issue. It's easy to confuse the Metro with the Merlin. One and airliner the other not.
The metro is longer than the merlin
Sadly, the first time I heard of this aircraft type was the one that was involved in the crash in April 1993 that claimed the lives of reigning NASCAR Cup Series champion, Alan Kulwicki, along with Mark Brooks, Dan Duncan and pilot Charlie Campbell of Kulwicki's sponsor, Hooters. It looks like a nice aircraft from the inside and outside and doesn't deserve to be judged for one terrible accident
What aircraft is behind the merlin has 2 turbo props in the back and is white? Showed right in the beginning? Seems like a jet, but I don't know what it is 🤔
Looks like either a Citation550 or Citation560.
Didn’t they repair it and go back to flying.
Really? My answer: " what an eye catcher". Like those kind of aircrafts.
Gear up. Holy hell. I assume that Fairchild offered this plane with a checklist?
manufactured in the early 80's those things disappeared 2 or 3 owners ago.
Is the plane for sale.
11/10/2019Any airplane has "one of the highest" safety records. Tell us where the Merlin ranks among the highest: is it highest? second highest" third? lowest? Tell us which airplane has the highest safety record?
Is this plane still being built.? How much?.
Fairchild no longer exists. Merlin III production ceased in 1984( if I remember correctly).
Wow! Beautiful inside & out! Thank you for making this video. I didn't know about this aircraft before thevvideo... what are the costs for a one of these (around about range)?? I'm a HUGE fan of the Pilatus PC-12 NGX & also the Piaggio Avanti Evo, have you ever flown any of those 2 planes, a PC-12 &/or a Piaggio Avanti? & what are your thoughts about them? & thoughts about either of those 2 compared to this..? Thank you
Unfortunately this aircraft landed gear up in June 2016 during a training flight.
Very sad
Donizete Braganca Paulista sp. Brasil
Whats with tall nose
Ground clearance for the props.
Hold on just a second. I fly these things all the time, and I've never found one yet that can fly at 300 kts IAS. However, we frequently will see groundspeeds of 300MPH.
He's exaggerating a bit on everything, including book numbers. But that's how old coots can get. and if you want good cruise numbers it's gonna burn 84 gph, but it's still better than a King Air and more range than a 441.
Yep, Vne is only 265kias, and you're only going to see 300ktas on a cool day in the mid to upper teens where you're burning loads of fuel. ~270ktas @ ~FL240 is more typical.
He's also full of it on baggage claims, too. 350lbs limit on aft baggage per the book and good luck hitting that without exceeding aft CG limits. In reality that spacious internal baggage area is great for skis, snowboards, and pet carriers, but you're always gonna stuff as many suitcases in the nose baggage area as you can, which can also carry up to 300lbs.
This guy is the used car salesman of planes.
at 6-7 hundred thousand, I'll take 1/2 dozen
He says no other turboprop can hold a candle to this in terms of speed, efficiency etc. ? I think the Piper 400LS has this one beat by about 60 knots, same engines. However, this is a nice one.
Not exactly the “same” engines. The PA31T-1000 uses TPE331-14s which are unique to that airframe. It is the first truly “modular” TPE331. Hang the M-T five blade props on a 400LS and it beats the Merlin III by nearly 75 knots.
Piaggio Avanti EVO 💪
@@stevehicks8944 the PA 31 uses PW engines, did you mean the PA42, which is the 400LS, which uses the TPE331-14s? It's all in the single shaft design baby.
@John Smith the Piaggio cannot go 2000 nautical miles, further off you fly it at top speed of 400 knts you cannot fly more than 1300 NM!
...maybe like "it"......the film ;-)
Spent about maybe 200 to 400 k and update interior/exterior and aviation and you got urself a nice plane ...?????
in 2016 The pilot decided it was a good idea to land without putting the gear down... destroyed the plane
That can't be good... for the paint. o_O
@@ADAPTATION7: Yeah. I'll bet it left a mark.
@@KutWrite On the runway ...
Gear up landings are common, but in most cases do not “destroy” the aircraft. As long as serviceable or new components, skins, ribs, stringers and other airframe parts are available the aircraft can be returned to service. The worst case I have ever seen was an F90 that hit a deer on landing. It collapsed the nose structure and nose gear, collapsed the right MLG and tore off the outboard right wing. This aircraft was returned to service...
@@stevehicks8944 Cool story. I was talking about this plane specifically.
aircraft major damaged in gear up landing June 20, 2016, 17:58 Local
I see these for sale for $200k-$400k. Can't buy a jet with the same or better performance for that little $$$.
I think Maintenance is terrible on these.
@@kennedyabington9408 It is, not to mention the parts availability problems. Fairchild didn’t build too many of these things. Are a couple thousand more King Airs than there are Merlin IIIs.
@@stevehicks8944 Exactly. There's a reason a 20 year old B200 still fetches $2M+. Many people seem to think that these older planes that are going for relatively low prices are "good deals". Maybe some of them are, but usually there is a reason.
@@kennedyabington9408 One of the worst examples I ever saw was a “deal of a lifetime” A90 a customer of our bought to put on 135. When we finished the preliminary inspection, the bill for parts alone exceeded $300,000 to bring this “deal” into 135 compliance.
ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 188283 Sad for a great plane
5:34 Or an Avanti.
nice plane....but the voice of this guy is strange...haha but it´s o.k.
he doesn't come with the plane, don't worry...
Hey, even the titanic sank. Sh..t happens!
1/11/2019
So, when you say the airplane can fly over 2,000 miles without refueling, what do you mean? 3,000 miles, 4,000? Why don’t you just be conservative and state the number of miles the airplane can fly without refueling? Do you really need to sensationalize by saying over 2000 miles?
Becuase range will deppend on winds, altitude and turbulace, wheight and other factors. It really could be from 1000miles to 3000 miles. My record ground speed was 480 miles an hour, airplane can stay in the air up to 7 hours if light. you do the math.
The plane is so amazing it can land with the gear down too! Just google the tail number :(
There's noooo way that airplane can fly 7 -8 people 2000 miles. At that capacity u lucky to get 1000 miles
Yes. There is a way. My Merlin's Useful Load is 4,800. 7700# Empty, 12,500 Gross T.O. Let's say Seven People (that's one Pilot and six Pass) at 175# each equals 1,225#. That leaves 3,575# for fuel or 541 gals. (she holds 648 gals.) My fuel burn over time is 80# per hour (most times better but lets be conservative) at 300 KTS (I am usually a few kts faster but lets round down, also headwinds and tailwinds are not being considered) 541 gals at 80 gals per hour is 6.8 hours endurance, which would be 2,040 Nautical miles, but that's to empty, so lets go 5.8 hours endurance (1 hour safety margin) and you can go 1,740 Nautical miles or 2001 Statute miles. These are true numbers documented over 6 years of flying the Merlin IIIA with -10 engines. But as for me, I don't want to go that long in the saddle. I like to stop every 2-3 hours on any trip over 5 hours. But the Merlin can happily do what the man claims in the video. I just don't think I would want to do it.
Hi Mark, any information on his comment about almost 1,500 lbs of baggage capacity in the baggage area? Our Merlin has a max aft baggage of 300 lbs. Is there an STC for increased weight in the back?
Brad Busch His statement is not correct. Ours is 300# aft and 400# nose. Both of which are standard. There are no STCs. It can be 600 nose if batteries are in the wings but most Merlin’s are not in the wings any longer. Most are in the nose. I have had 300 in the aft numerous times and the Merlin looks like its about to tip over backwards. It’s hard to get a Merlin out of CG but it can be done so load the nose first then go to the aft compartment with cold-sensitive items.
Mark Dobbs very detailed. thanks for that great info. I have two questions if you dont mind. Did you fly it single pilot or better yet can the Merlin be flown single pilot. Also, is there another plane that can produce those same numbers. (flight range of 2,000 nm, single pilot, more or less same fuel burn, cabin size, etc) ?????
@@markdobbs3727
Bang on our merlin regularly flew around 1500 nm on our nightly freight run with an extra stop
I used to top up the tanks at the stop only for additional wx requiremnents
Other wise we didnt need to
If these Merlins were so great they would have sold better against the competitors.
An 80 slide PowerPoint presentation about a pebble would be more exciting than listening to your voice.
Well then William, how about showing us just how fantastic you are, right?! Come on there Mr. Wonderful, step up and be a man instead of a mouse behind a keyboard.......Let's see, you most likely cannot afford a taxi to your local walmart, but you wish to contribute absolutely nothing. You remind me of a device that I use. Yes, that's it, you are a Douche Bag !!!
@@shaunaweisman1119 Thanks for the reply. Always good to hear from fans.
William the Empty, please desist from forcing your particularly ignorant unsolicited assessment on what is an otherwise informative presentation . . .
@@TRPGpilot STFU
I agree. sounds like an old jerk.
Great plane, no doubt......but u walk into a SHIT HOLE that dubbs as a SEAT ? Seriously....has a cushion n a pillow and all this in a luxurious aircraft is considered to be an extra seat. LMFAO n then u exit the same way.
You will find this conversion in a cheap RV or Van life vehicles but I'm surprised the designers didn't hesitate the grand entry.
Whats more surprising is no one in the comments noticed it either, may I d only one fine it weird entering a plane through a TOILET???
Crazy old dog 🥴
😂 Be honest and show the cockpit, dude. We all know it is an old aircraft.