It is at 6B0, Middlebury, VT. I use my wife’s plane-she is learning in a 150- to go from KDDH up to see it. I call 10 miles south, aircraft ID, distance, altitude, intentions, etc. After the call sign I add (only once) “the flying woodchuck.” Everyone there loves it. My name is Chuck, and I live in Woodford, VT.

I hope to fly it next week with the avionics shop owner/chief technician (former USMC). Green Mountain Avionics. I have been doing a bunch of flying in a CAP G1000 Skylane and hope the logic in the new Garmin radios will be similar.

Having owned this airplane for approaching 40 years, starting at Teterboro (KTEB), taking my company national using that airplane, going to Greenland, met my wife, etc...is the stuff of a book. Too bad I hate to read.

Stay tuned. I don’t go up to Middlebury until mid next week. Every trip is the same. I hope to fly it, but there is some glitch. “Free beer next week” never comes. But it should be finished soon. Then the fun begins of learning what your old friend is ready to teach you.

Holy moly Chuck, that's a heckofa sweet plane you've got yourself right there!!

Thank you for sharing.







We have that in common.
My mom told me "DON'T GET SMART!"
So I didn't.

Rob-

Mom was right, wasn’t she?

Sweet!! Great job!!!

“Man makes plans, and God laughs,” as my grandma used to say. The interior was completed today...I hope. WX permitting I go up Monday and start reclaiming my airplane after 3-1/2 years. That’s right. 42 months of being without the airplane you’ve flown for the last 35 years before this. I have been flying CAP G1000 airplanes so it may not be such a huge stretch.

Today, for the first time in nearly 3-1/2 years I got into the left seat of my airplane of nearly 40 years. With the avionics master on, the new panel came to life. 500Txi, 650-750Xi, dual EIS 500. GFC autopilot. A lot to learn and I need to learn quickly.

Imagine: your airplane that you have owned for a very long is taken away for 3-1/2 years. It comes back better than new. I hope to fly it later this week. Stay tuned. I hope it is all worth it.

From my ten year old son: “Wow, bro that is a really nice v-tail. Can I have that plane?”

I finally flew it. To lose an airplane that you have put 4500 over 35 years is like having part of your life go missing. Some things need to be addressed but it is a brand new V35 that would check all the boxes on your wishlist and a few boxes that you did not know (yet) existed. Next flight: AOA calibration. Next installation is the tank sensor system. If you move the fuel selector handle, the new panel sensor tells you which tank is selected. I have tip tanks so there are five possible positions and all are indicated in the new display. I was used to but not crazy about the old system where you simply had to remember which tank you were on. With the new system, the active tank is displayed and usage is confirmed on the G500Txi.

I love that all your CBs are right where you can see them. I hate how mine are under the panel in my ‘67.

Just awesome...

May I ask what type of Compass that is on top there, and is that an AOA next to it?

Thank you.

This is my favorite thread on BT.

I am so glad you saved the original Beechcraft clock. Mine is right next to my six pack. I use it every flight.

The angle of attack indicator looks like a Garmin GI 260.

Arnie - the compass is a SIRS compass - Spruce have them.
easy to read and well illuminated for night flight.

Gentlemen:
Thank you. I flew it today. I left KDDH in my wife’s C-150 (ours but really hers) up to Middlebury (6B0). My airplane has lived between the maintenance and radio shops in Middlebury (6B0) for the last three years. In that time my airplane received new glass, paint, interior and panel. The TKS plumbing received needed attention. Time to take top the tanks and fly. I gave a ride to Bennington to a pilot who had dropped off an airplane in Middlebury. It was my first time to fly into another airport since December of ‘16.

We are getting close. The AOA needs to be set up on a smooth day at gross max weight and that was not going to happen today. Today was a flight of joy. Yes, there are a few bugs to deal with, but this will be the utlmate machine once completed. More to come, I promise.

More stunning work by Green Mountain Avionics (shameless plug).