Alex, one thing that I did not fully appreciate before buying a turboprop is how well they work down low. I knew everyone tried to get high as soon as possible. Certainly speed and efficiency is better at altitude, but other than burning a lot of fuel, they are just beautiful engines down low. They always start right away, cold warm or hot, it is automatic. They run incredibly cool down low, you just can’t overheat them down low, and the torque is intoxicating. Single lever management, and you can go from 100% power to flight idle with never a concern of shock cooling. I don’t fly low too often, even for a 200 nm flight, I am usually going into the flight levels, but on this trip from Greenville SC to Atlanta GA, ATC would not let me above 12,000 ft. I remember initially being annoyed that I could not climb, but then thinking it was pretty cool, to be scooting along at 220 KTAS at 12,000 feet watching the cars go by. I burned a little more fuel, but in the grand scheme of things, Jet A is under $3 a gallon in a lot of markets.
I like to fly some VFR around my home, I actually enjoy it a little more than I used to. Take the statistical concern of an engine failure out of the equation, and flying down low takes on a new level of enjoyment. With the DA50, 200+ knots down low, and 2500 fpm climb rates, it will probably draw the attention of some. Still can’t beat the combination of efficiency and power of a Conti 550 lean of peak, but I would not discount a turbine in an unpressurized bird.
