Hello!
My name is Paul and I am currently searching for my first Beechcraft. I am a 300 hour, instrument rated, High performance, and Complex rated pilot. Although very recent complex endorsement with low hours. I have already reached out to a potential mentor, but I wanted to start understanding the best way to sift through the online ads for a V tail costing below $80k. This seems reasonable but might not be, that's why I'm here. I have a mission defined. I am based out of Lehigh Valley in eastern PA. My mission is to fly regularly to Lincoln Regional (KLRG) north of Bangor Maine. I would also like to occasionally fly to grass strips to camp with my daughter. Speed is relatively important as I will be flying my mother from Maine to PA and I'd like to have the flight take less than required for a bathroom break. I am maintenance savvy and work part time in aviation maintenance and am apprenticing to get my A&P eventually. I am trying to understand how reasonable it is to bet on the E-225-8 engines, it seems you can put fuel injection on them which matters to me for mixture distribution as I'd want to put on a digital engine monitor. Obviously a pre-buy with a knowledgeable A&P is critical to avoiding a money pit (worse than usual anyway) and I saw the pre-buy checklist on the site. But I'd like to know if there is a "sweet spot" for an aircraft configuration, year, etc. Should I be worried about electric props? I am not fussy about updated panels, autopilot, or shiny paint. I would like a corrosion free airframe that has a reasonable amount of time on the engine left. Thank you all!

Paul

I hate to suggest it because I'm a Beech guy, but you might want to broaden your search to include Mooneys and Bellanca Super Vikings in that price range.

KABG to KLRG is 415 nm. Sounds like a C172 trip. Or a C170, maybe with a 180 LYC conversion would be better for grass strips. The TAS difference with an older Bonanza would be minimal.

Super Viking. Yum!

These guys claim to have a STC for putting fuel injection on a E225-8:

https://dgsupply.com/products/2524114
The don't list a price on their website but I suspect it's pricey (ten years ago it was $4200 plus labor). Then again, so is a PS5C pressure carb overhaul.

If you're considering an E225 powered Bonanza you should definitely get Lew Gage's book from ABS. If I still had one and the carb was OK I'd fly it that way. On at least some of these, you can go LOP if you close the throttle slightly to mix the fuel air mixture better.

As to the prop question, properly maintained and operated an electric prop works well but there are some parts that are nearly impossible to find. There were two Hartzel hydraulic prop conversions, one used engine oil pressure directly with a large diaphragm pitch change actuator and IMO they never worked very well. The other used a prop meant for twin engines and a more conventional governor (with an internal high pressure pump) and an external oil transfer collar. These worked OK but the OTU was a bit fragile. There is a significant AD issue with them now though and IIRC the AD free replacement is very expensive. There aren't a lot of other options due to the splined prop shaft on the E225.

If you can find an affordable J model it comes with an IO470 from the factory. There are also earlier models that have been converted to an IO470 or IO520 out there as well.

I would waive most folks off from an E series, but it might be a perfect fit for you.

Join ABS. Buy Lew Gage's book. PM folks on here with the last name Weeks (Stan, Ben, etc).

Follow Stevie Triesenberg on IG (Bayflight) to see her awesome C35 and a good pilot with good procedures and discipline.

I agree with Jim. I wouldn’t recommend an E series engine to a Beech noob with the mission he describes.

I’d suggest an Io470-N powered bird for its a known quantity in maintenance circles and the N and P birds are simple fuel systems.

Plus the speeds of those birds should cover the OPs distances in about 3 hrs?

Mike

This is all great advice, and I really appreciate it. Since my original post I spoke to an A&P who also steered me away from the E series. Now I should mention that I was looking at a 1952 example on trade a plane that has the Bendix fuel injection mod. Does this shift the opinions at all? Probably not, but it was interesting.

Beech bird is not really for the money sensitive type...
They are more expensive to maintain. Just because the parts are way more expensive.
An older mooney may fit the bill better, as long as you are looking for 2 people or 3 max.
Fast, simple engine, simple systems, especially if you get one with a manual gear.
Great IFR platform.
Not as good as a 182 on the grass though.
But it's hard to find a fast bird that is good on grass.
It really depends on the mission.

I wouldn't say I am money sensitive so much as looking for a decent value, and keeping the task manageable. I do work part-time in aviation maintenance so I have a strong support network of A&Ps and am apprenticing to eventually get my A&P so I am a hands-on type. I am not rich by any means, but I feel my income is sufficient to deal with what might come my way even with the higher costs of the Beechcraft. I am looking at Mooney's and really do grasp what you're saying regarding their utility. Essentially what I am trying to do is find an aircraft that I can finance, and simultaneously pay the maintenance of, but trying to keep the "see-saw" balance of acquisition cost, and maintenance cost balance. Meaning I don't want to cheap out where I should have paid another $20K on acquisition, and wind up having to pay $40k later because I was penny-wise and pound foolish. That is why I am coming to this community, to try and find a sweep spot if possible. I don't necessarily need a beautiful paint job, most powerful engine, or most modern panel, I'm not fussy. I just want corrosion free, straight metal that I can reasonably maintain. I really appreciate your feedback!

An older beach may be a giant frustration for you. The systems are more complicated, and far more expensive to bring up to snuff.
Mooney, if the interior size works for you, may be the ticket for you.
They are fairly inexpensive to acquire.
They are very well built. Strong.
The engines are very easy to work on, common.
You can fly at 150knts and sipping 10+ gallons per hour.
Having a manual gear makes the system easier to maintain.
They hold their value well. And whatever money you add in, you will get back easily on the way out.
I don't want to say that Beech is a money pit... But in a sense, they are. Older ones can become a serious investment to bring up to snuff. They are faster, but with bigger engines, and a lot more fuel...
But pound for pound, it's hard to beat Mooney in the certified line up. ( I just can't really fit in them... )

I wouldn't say I am money sensitive so much as looking for a decent value, and keeping the task manageable. I do work part-time in aviation maintenance so I have a strong support network of A&Ps and am apprenticing to eventually get my A&P so I am a hands-on type. I am not rich by any means, but I feel my income is sufficient to deal with what might come my way even with the higher costs of the Beechcraft. I am looking at Mooney's and really do grasp what you're saying regarding their utility. Essentially what I am trying to do is find an aircraft that I can finance, and simultaneously pay the maintenance of, but trying to keep the "see-saw" balance of acquisition cost, and maintenance cost balance. Meaning I don't want to cheap out where I should have paid another $20K on acquisition, and wind up having to pay $40k later because I was penny-wise and pound foolish. That is why I am coming to this community, to try and find a sweep spot if possible. I don't necessarily need a beautiful paint job, most powerful engine, or most modern panel, I'm not fussy. I just want corrosion free, straight metal that I can reasonably maintain. I really appreciate your feedback!

[/quote]

I wouldn't say I am money sensitive so much as looking for a decent value, and keeping the task manageable. I do work part-time in aviation maintenance so I have a strong support network of A&Ps and am apprenticing to eventually get my A&P so I am a hands-on type. I am not rich by any means, but I feel my income is sufficient to deal with what might come my way even with the higher costs of the Beechcraft. I am looking at Mooney's and really do grasp what you're saying regarding their utility. Essentially what I am trying to do is find an aircraft that I can finance, and simultaneously pay the maintenance of, but trying to keep the "see-saw" balance of acquisition cost, and maintenance cost balance. Meaning I don't want to cheap out where I should have paid another $20K on acquisition, and wind up having to pay $40k later because I was penny-wise and pound foolish. That is why I am coming to this community, to try and find a sweep spot if possible. I don't necessarily need a beautiful paint job, most powerful engine, or most modern panel, I'm not fussy. I just want corrosion free, straight metal that I can reasonably maintain. I really appreciate your feedback![/quote]

As for Mooneys, I have often heard it said that you don't get IN a Mooney, you put one ON

Your ownership costs with your hands on approach and apprenticeship toward an A&P will pay HUGE dividends in ownership costs for a Bonanza bird. So I continue to encourage your search for a Bonanza as a good fit for your missions. Buy the most you can afford, in fact, I believe one saves money by buying the plane that will last them the longest time for their current and expected future missions.

Mike[/quote]


Yes, I hear you! I am a good fit in a Mooney, I checked out in a Mooney F and just love the aircraft. I am looking at the 35's because I think my Mom might feel more comfortable in one than a Mooney, this is a factor, but not the only one. I also think my wife might find the roomier cabin more to her liking. I have already done a couple pre-buy's on Mooney's that didn't work out (engine/corrosion problems which I picked up on with a borescope analysis). I am not in any way put off from buying one. But I am casting my net a little wider and making sure I don't overlook a great aircraft because I didn't engage with the community. And I am loving the interaction on this thread. It's great stuff!

I have been flying for 57 years now, and have owned Piper, Mooney, Cessna, and Beech
aircraft. Owning, flying, and working on Bonanzas is very satisfying, and even though I see attractive pricing for Mooneys, Beech wins out for me. Your price catagory is unrealistic for a dependable, 21st century equipped Bonanza. Anything older than a J model will be a hangar queen, unless tons of money have already been spent on it by previous owners.
Rethink your budget, and then let Neal Schwartz help you find something at a market price.

Hello Larry and thank you for the frank feedback. Looking quickly on Trade-a-plane there are some Js for sale for just over 80, and even a K I think so there is hope!