Comments on: Note to self: Try not to set airplane on fire http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philg/2005/12/27/note-to-self-try-not-to-set-airplane-on-fire/ A posting every day; an interesting idea every three months... Sat, 05 Dec 2009 20:28:12 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5.2 hourly 1 By: suzanne goode http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philg/2005/12/27/note-to-self-try-not-to-set-airplane-on-fire/comment-page-1/#comment-10699 suzanne goode Mon, 02 Jan 2006 01:48:38 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philgtest/2005/12/27/note-to-self-try-not-to-set-airplan#comment-10699 <a></a> I am in no position to comment on the technical aspects of this post, but I can vouch for the aesthetics of this particular Cirrus -- its most endearing feature is the 75 pound Samoyed strapped into the back seat, looking quite serene. Seeing said Samoyed offering his paws to be placed into his harness (designed for seatbelts in cars, but fits airplane belts just as well) was definitely the favorite part of today's take-off for my three-year-old, Philip's youngest nephew. Still not brave enough to go up for a flight, but am happy to provide transportation back & forth to Montgomery County (MD) Airpark when "Uncle Philip" comes to visit. -- Philip's sister Suzanne

I am in no position to comment on the technical aspects of this post, but I can vouch for the aesthetics of this particular Cirrus — its most endearing feature is the 75 pound Samoyed strapped into the back seat, looking quite serene. Seeing said Samoyed offering his paws to be placed into his harness (designed for seatbelts in cars, but fits airplane belts just as well) was definitely the favorite part of today’s take-off for my three-year-old, Philip’s youngest nephew.
Still not brave enough to go up for a flight, but am happy to provide transportation back & forth to Montgomery County (MD) Airpark when “Uncle Philip” comes to visit.
– Philip’s sister Suzanne

]]> By: patxaran http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philg/2005/12/27/note-to-self-try-not-to-set-airplane-on-fire/comment-page-1/#comment-10696 patxaran Sun, 01 Jan 2006 13:41:33 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philgtest/2005/12/27/note-to-self-try-not-to-set-airplan#comment-10696 <a></a> Caveat: I have never flown either aircraft, and I do not know the exact size of either fleet (Cirrus and Diamond) currently flying in the USA (and nobody, including the FAA and the NTSB, knows the number and type of hours flown by those planes). However, a quick search of the ntsb.gov accident database will suggest that the accident rate of Cirrus is much higher than the one of Diamond. Actually, I have been able to find only one fatal accident of a DA-40 (according to the NTSB the pilot was attempting to land when the airport was below approach minima). That compares with at least ten fatal accidents of Cirrus planes; some of them a bit hard to explain (unrecoverable spin…etc.). There is a good comparison/review of both aircraft in aviationconsumer.com (you need to be a subscriber). My gut feeling is that Diamonds are better designed (brakes included). However, Cirrus planes sell far better than Diamond’s. As the personal computer sales show, not always the better design is the sales leader.

Caveat: I have never flown either aircraft, and I do not know the exact size of either fleet (Cirrus and Diamond) currently flying in the USA (and nobody, including the FAA and the NTSB, knows the number and type of hours flown by those planes). However, a quick search of the ntsb.gov accident database will suggest that the accident rate of Cirrus is much higher than the one of Diamond. Actually, I have been able to find only one fatal accident of a DA-40 (according to the NTSB the pilot was attempting to land when the airport was below approach minima). That compares with at least ten fatal accidents of Cirrus planes; some of them a bit hard to explain (unrecoverable spin…etc.). There is a good comparison/review of both aircraft in aviationconsumer.com (you need to be a subscriber).

My gut feeling is that Diamonds are better designed (brakes included). However, Cirrus planes sell far better than Diamond’s. As the personal computer sales show, not always the better design is the sales leader.

]]> By: Philip Greenspun http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philg/2005/12/27/note-to-self-try-not-to-set-airplane-on-fire/comment-page-1/#comment-10683 Philip Greenspun Wed, 28 Dec 2005 11:24:57 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philgtest/2005/12/27/note-to-self-try-not-to-set-airplan#comment-10683 <a></a> The Cirrus is fine. The blizzard of service bulletins is kind of annoying. I like the Avidyne glass cockpit more than the steam gauges I had in the DA40, though of course the new DA40s come with the G1000 (I'm helping a friend pick up a new DA40 on Jan 12 in London, Ontario). Passengers, including the dog, prefer the Cirrus. The Cirrus does not solve the "I have no idea when I'll be able to get back to Boston" problem that I had with the Diamond. Need to talk my friends into sharing a Malibu or an Eclipse jet...

The Cirrus is fine. The blizzard of service bulletins is kind of annoying. I like the Avidyne glass cockpit more than the steam gauges I had in the DA40, though of course the new DA40s come with the G1000 (I’m helping a friend pick up a new DA40 on Jan 12 in London, Ontario). Passengers, including the dog, prefer the Cirrus.

The Cirrus does not solve the “I have no idea when I’ll be able to get back to Boston” problem that I had with the Diamond. Need to talk my friends into sharing a Malibu or an Eclipse jet…

]]> By: M. Nickle http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philg/2005/12/27/note-to-self-try-not-to-set-airplane-on-fire/comment-page-1/#comment-10682 M. Nickle Wed, 28 Dec 2005 04:51:40 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philgtest/2005/12/27/note-to-self-try-not-to-set-airplan#comment-10682 <a></a> I thought about you and the Cirrus when that article hit my inbox. No worries like that in my PA-28. How are you liking the Cirrus over the Diamond?

I thought about you and the Cirrus when that article hit my inbox. No worries like that in my PA-28. How are you liking the Cirrus over the Diamond?

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