Hello All-

I just recently joined the group through a recommendation of some of my HawkerBeech clients. I'm not currently an owner but my firm did evaluate the G36 when we purchased our 2008 Turbo Saratoga (G1000). Hindsight being 20/20 perhaps the better decision would have been the G36 based on several metrics - however we have flown our Saratoga for the last 3 years putting over 600 hrs to date on the airframe while enjoying decent operating economics and dispatch performance.

I represent Wings Insurance as our Director of Sales and we are a global aviation insurance broker. We are licensed in all states and maintain US offices in Minneapolis (corporate headquarters), Las Vegas, NV and Mansfield, MA. I work with numerous HawkerBeech regional offices/dealers and really enjoy the camaraderie in the Beechcraft family.

Having perused the site last evening it looks like there a number of great resources in the group from the insurance, legal, tax and finance side - I look forward to being able to add to the resources network already in place.

Sincerely,
Tom Hauge

Welcome, Tom.

I'm curious what the criteria were for selecting the Saratoga over the G36.

Hi Paul-
Our airplane came with TKS (inadvertent ice) which we find useful in the winter months being based here in Minneapolis. Although we can't file legally there are times when it is nice to have the fluid. Also I'm 6'2" and about 220...the other broker in my office that i usually fly with is about the same size....we found we had more cabin width in the front office than the G36...also found the cabin overall (In back) to be a bit more comfortable (distance between the seats front to back). Looking back I think the G36 had more headroom overall but about 6" less cabin width at least up front? Of course the Saratoga is now out of production so it remains to be seen how our resale is shaping up! I much prefer the aesthetics of the Bonanza and operating I think it is a wash. We also bought a demonstrator airplane that had about 40 hrs on the airframe so from an acquistion standpoint the pricing was a bit sharper based on the deal we made with the dealer. The only major drawback with our airplane is at full fuel we have about 450 lbs left for 2 passengers and baggage which is horrible (the airplane has air conditioning as well). Obviously we are wondering if we made the right call but at the time the deal was right so we went with it.

Tom, welcome to BT! Great to have you with us. You're pretty close to member 9000!

Welcome, Tom, from a very satisfied Wings client!

Welcome Tom, from another of your satisfied clients!!!

Greetings from down South
Welcome to BT, Tom.
My insurance is due in a few months... I'll check in with you.

Thank you kindly gents.