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 Post subject: Beech Newbie
PostPosted: 21 May 2017, 15:20 
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Joined: 06/05/15
Posts: 3
Aircraft: debonair
I've always admired v-tails from a distance - kind of like I've always admired volcanoes and dangerous animals from a distance! I've regarded them as beautiful, dangerous, and beyond my capability, and always figured that the pilots that flew them were super-human.

I've been flying since I was 20 (I'm 47 now). I got my instrument rating early on, and then my commercial, cfi, and cfII. I flight instructed for a couple years and then moved to Key West and bought a scuba business. My flying trickled off to a mix of owned and rented airplanes. I've owned a cherokee 140, an arrow, a Cirrus sr-20, and I currently have a Warrior with a 180 h.p. upgrade. I fly a little each month - around 4-5 hours. My Instrument skills are extremely rusty, and I figure my competence level, even with 1500 hours and some advanced ratings, puts me back at the skill level of a competent 200 hour pilot (yes, that is sad - I should be way better, but at least I'm honest!).

A friend of mine is selling his 1964 s35. It's in good shape, has reasonable times, and he is willing to give me a really good deal on it (at least from what I can surmise). I am very tempted, but I keep having doubts as to whether my skill level and minimal monthly flying will make this a safe airplane for me. I benefit from being a very cautious pilot. That has kept me safe, but has also limited my choice in aircraft to ones that I feel are within my self-imposed limits. Problem is, I can't stop thinking about his S35!

So that's my introduction, and I know this is not the place for questions, but I would love thoughts and feedback as to the true difficulty of flying a vtail bo. Is flying one a couple or few times per month enough to stay competent/safe? Some say they are easy to fly and totally safe, and the other camp says you need to be an ex-blue angel pilot to have any hope of not entering a spiral and having the tail depart. There doesn't seem to be much middle ground.

I love this forum, by the way!


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 Post subject: Re: Beech Newbie
PostPosted: 21 May 2017, 15:41 
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Joined: 02/25/13
Posts: 7136
Post Likes: +2928
Location: Jacksonville, FL (KCRG)
Aircraft: 1991 Baron 58
Welcome. If you fly once a week vs. 5 hours once a month, you could operate the plane safely. There are several good sources of type specific training.

As for whether it is a good deal, have a Beech expert advise you on that. May be the deal of a century or you may be buying a bunch of deferred maintenance.


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 Post subject: Re: Beech Newbie
PostPosted: 21 May 2017, 16:02 
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Joined: 08/05/10
Posts: 2965
Post Likes: +890
Location: Chatham, Canada (N7M5J7)
Aircraft: 1966 Bonanza V35
Nate, welcome to BT,
Bonanzas are not hard to fly at all, I transitioned from a 172 at something like 550 hrs total time with a fresh Instrument ticket, it was a very easy transition, just go with an experienced Bonanza pilot or better yet a BPPP instructor.
As far as someone saying you need to be an ACE pilot to fly a Bo, I suspect they never flew one.
Good advice above on the purchase of your friends Bo, just get an experienced Beech mechanic to look at it for you.

A "warning" if you fly it, you'll never look back :thumbup:

_________________
Gilles
Bonanza V35
1946 Funk B85C
“Only thing better than a Bonanza is 2 Bonanzas"


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 Post subject: Re: Beech Newbie
PostPosted: 21 May 2017, 20:04 
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Joined: 09/05/12
Posts: 6479
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Location: Portland, OR (KHIO)
Aircraft: 1962 Bonanza P35
Super easy to fly. Things happen faster for sure, and you need to know how to manage them. Once you get that figured out it's much easier to fly. In my club I fly a 182 and short body Bonanza. When I come back to flying after some time away things are pretty clunky in the 182, especially my landings :oops: . When I get back in the Bonanza it's more like getting back on a bike.

And they're like crack. You just want more.

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Paul
I heart flying

ABS Lifetime Member
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 Post subject: Re: Beech Newbie
PostPosted: 21 May 2017, 20:25 
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Joined: 09/16/10
Posts: 8885
Post Likes: +1954
Username Protected wrote:
I've always admired v-tails from a distance


Who hasn't!
Nate, welcome to BT! :thumbup:

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If you think nobody cares about you. Try not paying your income tax.


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 Post subject: Re: Beech Newbie
PostPosted: 25 May 2017, 13:53 
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Joined: 01/08/15
Posts: 1418
Post Likes: +1301
Company: Yoyodyne Propulsion Systems
Location: Stow, MA (6B6)
Aircraft: 1991 Bonanza A36
Welcome out of lurking, Nate! Joined 2 years ago, I see!

I've consistently maintained that Bonanzas are something to take seriously, but whether or not you're ready depends on you, and your CFI. Playing it conservative is always a good idea, but it really depends on your personal capabilities as much as how you treat acceptable risk.

I started flying the Bonanza while still a student pilot (owned by a friend), and took to it like water. Everyone advised me to "fly it by the numbers" and it's worked... It's also built some really good habits.

I've seen others step into planes with low time and the results are all over the page. If you love it, and respect it, why not? But you don't have low-time - you have experience and you have the educational background to understand what you need to do...

Good advice already received on the potential purchase!

Doc


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