I really like the modern looks of the Beechcraft Starship. Although lot's of them are being destroyed in Arizona, I even saw one fly over our RC flying field recently.My question is, why aren't there more simulated models of this plane. I can only find the one by Mike Stone (which is very good but has not VC) and the FS2002 version from Abacus Corporate pilot.Are there any more available?

Mike Stone's is the most recent Starship I know of. There is also an FS98 or FS2000 one that I had a long time ago.I read where there were only about 50 Beechcraft Starships built. Also there was a Beechcraft Starship 2000 model which I think had a little more baggage area but less passenger space. If only about 50 were built, (I'm not sure if that figure is accurate or not), but that could mean there are not too many left.I once saw one flying overhead near KCHT (Chatannooga, Tennesse Lovell Field) but that's been a few years back.Rhett

The Starship is a sad story. After they sort of flopped in sales, Beech discontinued the line, and attempted to purchase them all back. However, there is one guy (I think in Arizona...maybe California) that beat Beech to the punch on many, and bought a lot of'em. Now what he does is uses the majority for parts (since Beech will NOT provide them), and keeps only 1 or 2 flying still. I don't think he has the only Starship(s) flying, but he's one of the few.Seeya, - Paul

Sadly thing, but you are right. Nearly all of the planes are being destroyed. Ratheon found it was cost prohibited to provide parts and service for these unique planes and bought 25 of the 50 that were built and is dismantling and destroying them.Here is a link to a web sight with more info:http://www.bobscherer.com/Pages/Starship.htmhttp://forums.avsim.net/user_files/150886.jpg

>Sadly thing, but you are right. Nearly all of the planes are>being destroyed. Ratheon found it was cost prohibited to>provide parts and service for these unique planes That is really sad.Rhett

Thats too bad cuz it was a great looking plane.Im curious..how comes the Starship flopped while the Avanti (similar configuration; rearward-facing motors, canards etc.) is a success?!

I didn't realize the Avanti was a great success. I always thought Piaggio was just a little more willing to take less profits than Raytheon/Beech was.Rhett

10 years, different target market (Euro/Asian instead of US), military orders.It's sad, the B2000 was a very nice aircraft. Got to see one once at ILA and was immediately impressed. That's the one and only time I ever saw one sadly.

There was a customer that had one when I worked at the airport in Austin 8 years ago. It was a neat but large aircraft. It wasn't very roomy on the inside for its size. It also had some heavy duty components in the landing gear department which equaled to very expensive parts. Although I got onto the aircraft several times sadly I never got a chance to fly on it. We had another customer that had an Avanti, it was a smaller aircraft than the Starship but you could stand up in it and it was easier to get in and out of. Piaggio now has a completion center in the US and is looking for increased sales of the Avanti II. I guess it helps that Ferrari infused some money and management into Piaggio. The company I now work for has the contract to provide sidewall tables for the Avanti.

If im not mistaken the Avanti zips along much faster than the Starship right? I remember seeing one fly over once....it made a howling sound! Must be those rear-facing motors! Cuz other PT6-powered jetprops do not sound like that!

The Avanti is faster, but not all that much faster (at least at normal cruise speed).

One of my professors was on the Starship engineering team. He said they had to massively overbuild the structure, since it was one of (if not _the_) first all-composite civilian production aircraft and the FAA was wary of certifying it without a very wide margin. Since it was so overbuilt, and due to its configuration (having rudders on the wingtips means more weight), it was not actually all that efficient, and (IIRC) slower and heavier than the King Air it was intended to replace.Bob

It was a noble effort but it just fell quite a bit short of expectations in terms of speed, payload and fuel effeciency. Many think Beech should never have gone into production but they had orders that didn't cancel so they built them.Jim

The history of this aircraft is very interesting. I have read numerous articles about the design and death of this plane. However, my question which started this thread was "are there any models for FS9 other than Mike Stone's version".

I'm not aware of any - there just doesn't seem to be much interest now.Also the flight dynamics could use some updating in the realism department. Mike's aircraft is a bit too easy to fly.But it's an amazing aircraft and some day folks will really miss them.I saw one takeoff at KADS recently.Some other differences - the Starship has a pivoting front canard. The Avanti has a non-movable front wing, with flaps.The Starship is all composite. The Avanti is mostly aluminum.