That may be so, Alireza, but radial engines are just about the biggest maintenance nightmare in the history of internal combustion. There's a reason all those Constellations disappeared so fast when jets came on the scene, and a reason prop powered airliners are all turboprops now, and its not just passenger opinion. Evan McElravy on 11/26/03 2:48 AM, Alireza Alivandivafa at DEmocrat2n@xxxxxxx wrote: > In a message dated 11/25/2003 3:39:57 PM Pacific Standard Time, > damiross2@xxxxxxxxxxx writes: > > << The operating costs are not necessarily higher. While an older aircraft > may consume more fuel, it also depreciated so the capital costs are less. Why > do you think so many older aircraft are converted to freighters? >> > > Also, old piston craft use much less gas than jets. If you are using them > for short flights and tours, that wont go much above FL200, they are fine for > economy