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Lechartier: In late 2019, we sold N50BZ and acquired N111HT, a 2002 SR22. It did show its age – 2,200 hours and less than stellar maintenance. Priced accordingly, it was the perfect aircraft!
COPA Pilot: Have you upgraded it in any way?
Lechartier: I Installed a Garmin G500 TXi with EIS, a pair of GTN650 navi- gators with Flight Stream 510, and upgraded the transponder to GTX 330 ES for ADS-B Out compliance. I kept the existing Avidyne MFD for passengers to watch the moving map and the STEC 55X autopilot. I installed a factory-rebuilt engine in early 2022 and overhauled the prop and governor when it was already down for the CAPS and rocket repack. I had the propeller, spinner and handles painted black, installed new carpet and gorgeous saddle brown leather seats, the new decals installed and the wheel pants painted.
We’ve managed to squeeze in some flights between those improvements. The engine is approaching 100 hours, so we are close to clearing the infant mortality zone.
COPA Pilot: Have you owned or regu- larly flown any other aircraft?
Lechartier: I lived in Paris for 18 years and being a member of a flying club allowed me to fly many different types of aircraft depending on my mission. Those ranged from flying school workhorses C150 and C172, 1,000 French francs hamburger runs in the Robin DR400, taking a bunch of friends for a weekend to the other side of the country in the Bonanza or the Cherokee Six or enjoying late summertime afternoon flights in the Piper Cub.
When I moved back to Morocco in 2004, the best the local aero club could offer was a C150, so ownership became the solution. Together with an English friend,
we bought a Cessna T210. He lived in Paris, so sharing wasn’t easy. After a year, he bought my half.
COPA Pilot: What made you decide on the Cirrus? Were there other airplanes considered at the time you were looking at the Cirrus?
Lechartier: When I bought my first Cirrus, I also looked at Bonanzas and Cessna 210s, but I always went back to the Cirrus ads. Cockpit ergonomics, performance, ease of maintenance and its sleek design; I just couldn’t miss out. As expected, my wife liked the CAPS feature.
COPA Pilot: What sort of flying do you do – personal, business or both?
Lechartier: I don’t fly much for busi- ness, maybe 20 hours yearly. The Cirrus is mostly our vacation vehicle. We make all of our European trips with it and have flown from Morocco to Portugal, Spain, France, the UK, the Netherlands,
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Topping off N111HT, Lechartier’s 2002 SR22, which he purchased in late 2019. He says the aircraft is mainly used as a vacation vehicle for the family.
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