Understanding the MU-2
One of the fastest turboprops ever certified, and one of the most misunderstood. What follows is what we tell people who ring up asking whether it is the right aeroplane — including the parts that are not a sales pitch.
Short body and long body
Almost every decision starts here. The rest — avionics, paint, interior — can be changed. The airframe cannot.
MU-2B-25 / B-26 / B-26A
The earlier short-fuselage airframes. Lighter, quicker off the ground, and the most accessible way into the type.
MU-2B-36A / B-40
The short-body designation under the later marketing names. The Solitaire pairs the shorter fuselage with the later systems.
MU-2B-60
The long-body, later-production aircraft. More cabin, more range, and the most commonly sought variant.
Models currently represented in our inventory and sold record: MU-2B-25 · MU-2B-26 · MU-2B-26A · MU-2B-40 · MU-2B-60. Compare them side by side →
The training requirement is not optional.
The MU-2 is governed by SFAR 108 — a mandatory, type-specific training programme, with recurrent requirements. You cannot simply get a high-performance checkout and go.
We raise this first, before anyone talks about price, because it is the single thing most likely to change whether the MU-2 is right for you. Plan the training into the purchase — time and cost — rather than discovering it afterwards.
What actually drives cost of ownership
- 01Engine time since overhaul and since hot section — the largest single variable
- 02Propeller status and AD compliance, including overhaul intervals and extension eligibility
- 03Avionics — an out-of-date panel is an expensive problem, a current one is a real asset
- 04Maintenance history and logbook continuity — gaps cost money and resale value
- 05Corrosion history and how the aircraft has been stored
- 06Paint and interior condition
Year of manufacture matters far less than any of these. A well-kept 1973 airframe can cost less to run than a neglected 1982 one.
The questions we actually get
Do I need special training to fly an MU-2?
Yes. The MU-2 is governed by SFAR 108, which mandates a specific type-training programme before you can act as pilot in command, plus recurrent training. This is not optional and is not a normal high-performance checkout. Any credible seller will raise it before you ask — and if one does not, that tells you something.
Is the MU-2 a difficult aircraft?
It is a demanding aircraft that rewards being flown precisely and by the numbers. It uses spoilers rather than ailerons for roll, and it does not tolerate being flown approximately. Pilots who complete the SFAR 108 training and stay current generally describe it as one of the most capable and satisfying aeroplanes they have flown.
What does it actually cost to own?
That depends more on the specific airframe than on the model — engine and propeller status, avionics, and how well it has been maintained will move operating cost far more than year of manufacture. This is exactly the conversation to have before you buy rather than after, and it is one we are happy to have even if you buy elsewhere.
Short body or long body?
The long-body Marquise offers more cabin and range; the short-body Solitaire and earlier -25/-26 airframes are lighter and typically cost less to acquire. Which suits you comes down to mission — how many people, how far, how often, and off what runways.
What should a pre-purchase inspection cover?
Everything, and by someone who knows the type. Airframe and engine times, AD compliance including propeller ADs, corrosion, spoiler and flight control rigging, pressurisation, and complete logbook continuity. We coordinate pre-purchase inspections through Carolina Turbine Support, our own FAA Part 145 station that works exclusively on MU-2s.
Are parts still available?
Yes. Air 1st holds one of the largest MU-2 parts inventories anywhere and supports individual and fleet operators worldwide through Carolina Turbine Support, which also handles component and accessory overhaul.
Still working out whether it is the right aeroplane?
That is a conversation we are glad to have, and it does not commit you to anything. Sometimes the honest answer is that the MU-2 is not what you need.