Even years mean big trips and this year Phil Caiger and I are off to India. There is another change as well; last year Phil replaced his Piper Malibu with a TBM 700 C2 aircraft. This is in a different league of aircraft altogether; it is a cabin class turboprop aircraft which can carry six people and cruises at 290 kt at around 30,000 ft with a range of around 1,600 nm. It also burns Jet A1 fuel which sweeps away the need to make prior arrangements to ensure that expensive avgas is available at en route airports. Phil suggested that I train with him for the type rating required to fly this aircraft so we can share the flying on these sort of trips. What an invitation!
Our route mirrors to a large extent the first of our trips together in 2013 to Muscat in Oman and only the last leg breaks new aerial ground. In India, we have a twelve day ground tour organised taking in cities in Rajasthan, as well as the Taj Mahal and ending up in Delhi. We explored the possibility of travelling within India by air but it soon became apparent that it would be easier to leave the aircraft in one place.
The additional payload available means that Miranda can travel with us. On purchase, Phil upgraded the avionics; instrumentation is traditional six pack with dual GTN750, dual transponders – one with extended squitter and ADS-B out – and the aircraft is RVSM approved.
We leave later this month.