I'm finally going to post an intro here... sorry for taking so long. I've been a member (lurking in Longview, TX / KGGG) for almost a year now. I started flying back in the late '80s in Montana; got my PPL when I turned 17 and flew a 172. One day the local 135 operator asked me if I wanted to ride along on to pick up a fare in Billings and let me fly his A36 all the way there. Ever since that day NOTHING looked as good as a Bonanza!

Fast forward about almost 20 years and my brother in law, a newly rated CFI, was looking to buy a plane. Naturally, I started "helping" look thru Controller, Trade a Plane and others. I quickly remembered how much I loved flying and it began to take over my life. I took some refresher lessons from him which were absolutely terrifying! For $100+/hr I rented a ratty old Piper Warrior that was in such bad condition, I doubted the safe return from our first flight. Immediately I started looking for my own plane... first looking at the familiar 172's and then, thinking about my primary mission - to fly to Montana to visit family - I started looking at 182's, then Turbo 182's. After visiting with several people and getting the encouragement to 'buy for your mission' not just get a trainer, I started looking at what I had always wanted to own - a Bonanza!

One fateful day, out of the blue, I decided to look on eBay. It was about 10pm and I was putting off packing for a trip to Montana (on the airlines - ugh!). There were only about 3 or 4 listings but only one caught my eye. N246WB was a 1969 V35A-TC with tip tanks, oxygen, a nice grey leather interior, a very capable IFR panel and nice red & grey on white paint job. Well, I mulled it over the whole time I was away, looking it up constantly and even showing the eBay add to my family. As soon as I got home I emailed the seller asking some questions... and received the disappointing reply that "this item has just been sold".

Amazingly, about a month later, I received an email from eBay with the subject "An item you were interested in has been re-listed" and there was this beautiful V-tail. Immediately I sent an email to the seller with a dozen questions. All were answered in short order and he graciously said he would fly it from NC to TX for the pre-buy inspection on his dime and if everything checked out he would get himself & wife home. There were a few squawks during pre-buy (main fuel tank liners and main tires needed replacing soon and some minor stuff) so he knocked several thousand off the already reduced price and a deal was made! "WOW. I own a Beechcraft Bonanza!!!" was all I could think for about a month.

It took awhile to get signed off because of insurance issues for a low time pilot, but now I'm flying as regularly as work permits - which is not nearly enough! I am a pretty low time at ~200 hrs TT now, and have yet to make the big trip to Montana. An IFR rating is high on my 'to-do' list but still not there, so I'm limited to looking for 1100 nm of clear sky. Usually it is not the trip north that holds me back, its the possibility of being able to get home as well.

Work has been very, very busy since I bought N246WB, which has been bad for getting flight time, but good for upgrading the airplane. In the spring of '09, I bit the bullet and upgraded the panel to what is shown in these pictures. It is really amazing to me that I can fly this awesome aircraft with these amazing avionics. I have never felt so blessed/lucky/happy as when up in the air in my own airplane!

Anyway, I have been lurking here for quite some time and feel like I know many of you who comment frequently. Every day I check in on BeechTalk.com for the latest news and information. Every day I laugh out loud at something I read on here. This is such a warm and inviting forum and I am happy to be a part of it. I only hope that I can contribute, as many of y'all have, in some small way to both general aviation and the Beech Bonanza heritage as well.

Looking at that panel says you have to take some time off and enjoy it!

Brent, a lot of people are going to be saying, "Wow" to their computer screen this morning looking at your V. Didn't know private citizens could buy a Space Shuttle.

Welcome aboard. Beautiful bird.

Brent,

Welcome.

You've done a mighty fine job upgrading your plane. I love the one piece flat panel.

Brent,
....beautiful plane, great intro.

Enjoy that airplane. Regarding your hoped-for mission of 1100 nm trips to Montana, I have just one bit of advice: make time now to get that instrument rating. A trip that long will depart, cross, or end in conditions that require IFR flight many many times, and not having the Instrument ticket will both (1.) keep you from going when you want to go, and (2.) put you at risk for suffering bouts of get-there-itis.

Just do it! Go fly with your instructor at 6 AM or at 8 PM, take a day off now and then, go every Sunday morning at 7 AM....just get it done.

Welcome aboard, awesome panel, pretty close to my dream panel.
Greg Stratz

Son!

That is some kinda fine panel, there.

Welcome to (out of the closet) BeechTalk. Hope to meet you one a these days.

Brent,

I'll agree with Arlen, GET THAT IR! It will SIGNIFICANTLY improve your dispatch reliability and safety, even though you really won't use it much.

You have a fine, long range high performer..... and a superb panel. Looks like fun.

OH, and what's that display on the far right, above the stereo?

Reminds me of my old V35TC..... but didn't have the goodies...

All I can say is WOW Brent! Welcome to BT.

Beautiful plane. I'm with Arlen and Larry.....you "HAVE" to get your instrument ticket. You just don't know what you don't know at this point. I'm a recently minted instrument pilot and it has given me so much more confidence (not too much) than I had before. No longer worrying needlessly about benign overcast layers dropping in and screwing the schedule.

I was able to find an independent flight instructor who would meet me anytime I wanted. We flew mostly early on weekdays at 6 - 7AM.....and whenever my schedule would allow. We also did lots of night flying and actually did quite a bit of actual IFR work in the morning scud layers....much more than with the flight schools in the area.

Holy cow Brent... panel of the year nominee right there.

Way to go... and welcome.

Now, I hope I'm wrong but I don't think I see shoulder harnesses installed.
Please oh please, get them installed. I just had the BAS system installed and it was very reasonable.... VERY reasonable. Will save your bacon on an otherwise simple off field landing.

Trust me, we will give you friendly nudges until they are ordered.

If you need any info on that, feel free to PM me.

Congrats......

Mike

Thanks guys. Definitely a friendly bunch on here! And I do appreciate the nudges & encouragement.

I'm doing the Sporty's IFR home study course as time allows and had considered going to ATP in Addison or Arlington for their 15 day course. I know there are a lot of opinions either way - fast track vs long term instruction. Mentioned it to one of the guys on the field and got an earful. ha! But yeah, y'all are definitely right about 'dispatch reliability'... almost impossible to go that far and not run into significant weather.

Regarding shoulder harnesses, it does have a pilot side shoulder harness, its just hanging back behind the seat. I need to add one for the copilot seat. Any recommendations on whose to use / where to get? IIRC, the airbag harnesses are not available for V-Tails, which is disappointing.

Larry, that is actually a PS Engineering PAV80 DVD player with a screen above it and two hookups (yet to be installed) in the back. Figured it would come in handy for those 6 hr non-stop cross country trips.

Yeah, your BE58 reminds me of the plane I hope to have someday!

Brent, that has got to be the intro of the year! Beautiful airplane...amazing panel...and your well delivered enthusiasm are an inspiration to all. I have no doubt you'll be helping the rest of us here on the forum in absolutely no time at all!

Larry, that is actually a PS Engineering PAV80 DVD player with a screen above it and two hookups (yet to be installed) in the back. Figured it would come in handy for those 6 hr non-stop cross country trips.

Yeah, your BE58 reminds me of the plane I hope to have someday!

Thanks Max. Some have commented that its not a very traditional Bonanza type panel, but I like it.

As with everything there are always things you wish you could change or had done differently. Like the black color - wish I had gone with a grey or maybe even white. If I had been reading BT back then, there were some threads on this. It actually looks better in person than any pictures that I've taken, but as someone mentioned, it is really dark at night. Small complaints though. Overall, it is a LOT of fun to fly.