Is there anything Hotter than a Cessna Corvalis 400TT?
Indeed not!
Last week I had the great fortune of completing the Factory Training for the sizzling hot Cessna Corvalis 400TT. This airplane (formerly known as the Columbia 400) is one amazing machine. It is the fastest and best equipped single-engine fixed-gear aircraft in the world. The ones I flew were at Aviation Adventures and they are both very well maintained as usual. My master CFI, Raymond de Haan, proved the ultimate professional again, making sure every aspect of safely flying, operating and optimizing this complex machine was honed in over a three day period which included 8 hours of ground training and over 12 hours of flight training in various weather, VFR/IFR conditions and configurations.
This is a fully WAAS enabled G1000 equipped aircraft with a GFC700 autopilot and everything under the sun in the cockpit, including SmartTaxi, JeppView Charts, Synthetic Vision, Nexrad Weather, etc. etc. etc.
Under the hood is the twin turbo, 350hp engine which roars to the skies with the gentlest of power adjustments and achieves true airspeed in excess of 215 knots in the flight levels (max ceiling 25,000 ft).
After completing the comprehensive Cessna factory training on the ground, we climbed into the machine and took 5 flights of varying lengths, including long distance x-country from DC to NYC [HEF-HPN]. We shot many ILS, GPS and visual approaches and worked the magic of the GFC700 to its limits.
The aircraft is a delight to work with and in altitudes, leaning it "Lean of Peak", it can yield 15-16 gph at speeds well in excess of 200 knots. In addition, you only pay when you are airborne as the TAC only gets activated when in the air. How is that for your money's worth? Best deal ever. This is what we will be flying across the NE this summer with Aria for university hunting.
With Sky Venture 65 in KHPN W/ Raymond & Sean at a Persian Restaurant!
Last week I had the great fortune of completing the Factory Training for the sizzling hot Cessna Corvalis 400TT. This airplane (formerly known as the Columbia 400) is one amazing machine. It is the fastest and best equipped single-engine fixed-gear aircraft in the world. The ones I flew were at Aviation Adventures and they are both very well maintained as usual. My master CFI, Raymond de Haan, proved the ultimate professional again, making sure every aspect of safely flying, operating and optimizing this complex machine was honed in over a three day period which included 8 hours of ground training and over 12 hours of flight training in various weather, VFR/IFR conditions and configurations.
This is a fully WAAS enabled G1000 equipped aircraft with a GFC700 autopilot and everything under the sun in the cockpit, including SmartTaxi, JeppView Charts, Synthetic Vision, Nexrad Weather, etc. etc. etc.
Under the hood is the twin turbo, 350hp engine which roars to the skies with the gentlest of power adjustments and achieves true airspeed in excess of 215 knots in the flight levels (max ceiling 25,000 ft).
After completing the comprehensive Cessna factory training on the ground, we climbed into the machine and took 5 flights of varying lengths, including long distance x-country from DC to NYC [HEF-HPN]. We shot many ILS, GPS and visual approaches and worked the magic of the GFC700 to its limits.
The aircraft is a delight to work with and in altitudes, leaning it "Lean of Peak", it can yield 15-16 gph at speeds well in excess of 200 knots. In addition, you only pay when you are airborne as the TAC only gets activated when in the air. How is that for your money's worth? Best deal ever. This is what we will be flying across the NE this summer with Aria for university hunting.
With Sky Venture 65 in KHPN W/ Raymond & Sean at a Persian Restaurant!
A Spin Around Downtown Toronto
Enjoy these close up pictures by our own KK on a beautiful clear day in July. It was a bit windy and extremely busy at the Buttonville airport with a dozen 150's and 172's in the pattern including a whole squadron of Chinese trainees who made for a very amusing radio conversation in rapid fire Chingilish. When returning to Buttonville, we were asked to join the circuit behind 2 150's, 1 172 and another aircraft on long final to runway 21. Strong winds at 10 knots gusting to 20 made landings interesting.
Five miles out, here is what happened:
Tower: N400BA you are number 4 for runway 21. Report 2 miles out. Not below 2000'.
Me: No 4. Will report 2 miles out. Not below 2000'. N400BA
Me: N400BA is 2 miles south of the field at 2000.
Tower: N400BA turn right for the cross-wind and follow the Cessna 150 for left hand circuit. You are number 4.
Me: Unable. The aircraft in the circuit are slow and too close. We are much faster. Can we take a right hand circuit? N400BA
Tower: N400BA, roger, turn left and overfly the field at 2000' and join right hand circuit.
Me: Left turn overhead the field at 2000' for right hand circuit. N400BA
30 seconds later ... (had slowed down to a mere 90 knots!)
Me: N400BA is on right-hand downwind for runway 21.
Tower: ahhhh. Roger. N400BA report turning base.
10 seconds later....
Me: N400BA turning right-hand base for runway 21.
Tower: ahhh. N400BA, aaahhh, you're number two following the Cessna on short final!
Tower (to other aircraft): C-XXXX, C-YYYYY, C-ZZZZ, extend your downwind legs. There is fast Columbia on right-hand base ahead of all of you. C-XXXX you are number three behind the Columbia.
Me: N400BA is on final for runway 21.
Tower: N400BA roger. Number two still. Cessna 150 still on final. Wait for my clearance.
Me: We are number 2. Awaiting clearance. N400BA
The slow 150 touches down and then takes off in a slow touch and go. By this time, we are 1/4 mile out at 300' ready to go around.
Tower: N400BA, Cessna is airborne. Cleared to land runway 21.
Me: Cleared to land, N400BA.
And that's how a hot bird like N400BA is squeezed and sequenced between a half dozen slower sisters....
Five miles out, here is what happened:
Tower: N400BA you are number 4 for runway 21. Report 2 miles out. Not below 2000'.
Me: No 4. Will report 2 miles out. Not below 2000'. N400BA
Me: N400BA is 2 miles south of the field at 2000.
Tower: N400BA turn right for the cross-wind and follow the Cessna 150 for left hand circuit. You are number 4.
Me: Unable. The aircraft in the circuit are slow and too close. We are much faster. Can we take a right hand circuit? N400BA
Tower: N400BA, roger, turn left and overfly the field at 2000' and join right hand circuit.
Me: Left turn overhead the field at 2000' for right hand circuit. N400BA
30 seconds later ... (had slowed down to a mere 90 knots!)
Me: N400BA is on right-hand downwind for runway 21.
Tower: ahhhh. Roger. N400BA report turning base.
10 seconds later....
Me: N400BA turning right-hand base for runway 21.
Tower: ahhh. N400BA, aaahhh, you're number two following the Cessna on short final!
Tower (to other aircraft): C-XXXX, C-YYYYY, C-ZZZZ, extend your downwind legs. There is fast Columbia on right-hand base ahead of all of you. C-XXXX you are number three behind the Columbia.
Me: N400BA is on final for runway 21.
Tower: N400BA roger. Number two still. Cessna 150 still on final. Wait for my clearance.
Me: We are number 2. Awaiting clearance. N400BA
The slow 150 touches down and then takes off in a slow touch and go. By this time, we are 1/4 mile out at 300' ready to go around.
Tower: N400BA, Cessna is airborne. Cleared to land runway 21.
Me: Cleared to land, N400BA.
And that's how a hot bird like N400BA is squeezed and sequenced between a half dozen slower sisters....
Taking off in the Corvalis 400TT from Buttonville's Runway 21
After nearly 25 minutes wait on this hot July day, KK and I finally took to the skies over Toronto. Here is the take off video in this impressive machine.