Roger Cain wrote:
If you had the money (I never will) and could by one or the other, it seems that most people go with the T-28 Trojan. Is that because it's more manueverable and faster, or what?
We were thinking that the Grumman TBM would make an excellent bird, as you could take more than one friend with you, and the folding wings would allow for easier storage in a hangar. And for those of us that can only dream about it, you would definitely receive attention at any airport that you flew into. What are your thoughts on this?
If you want to play "Joe formation pilot," a T-28 is your best bet. You can fly around in formation with all your friends, then go into the coffee shop with your freshly starched flight suit unzipped just far enough to show off your chest hairs and thumb your nose at all the lowly spam can drivers.
I've only flown an A-model, but it flew just like a Cessna 172 with retractable gear. I hopped out of a Piper Arrow and into the back seat of that A-model and did half a dozen touch and goes with just verbal instructions. It was that easy.
I've never even flown in a TBM, but I have been told that they are easier to fly than a T-6. It can also carry the entire maintenance crew to the air show, so you are more likely to find volunteers to help work on it. The engine is more reliable than the T-28 I think too. The TBM is rarer and far more interesting at an air show, but obviously are not aerobatic in the sense that the T-28 is.
So I guess that if you want to do formation flying and limited aerobatics, take the T-28. If you want a collectors item that is very stable and has plenty of room, take the TBM.