Hello world!

I currently own a Beechcraft C23 Sundowner Baby Beech, based at KTKI (Collin County Regional in McKinney TX). I used it to get my instrument and commercial ratings after buying it nearly 5 years ago.

I'm starting to look for a 1979-1983-ish Beechcraft A36 Bonanza. As my kids have grown, so has my mission - I now want to carry 4 pretty-much adults, with baggage and a dog in IFR over the high ground of the Rockies and Cascades, at 150-160kts with fuel for 4 hrs plus IFR reserves. That sounds a lot like an A36 to me.

I'm also open to a 50-50 partnership, as long as we have similar goals and live nearby.

So here I am - to learn about my potential new bird, and maybe even find on, or a partner to share one with.

Paul
"Once you have tasted flight, you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been and there you will long to return." - Leonardo da Vinci, who was only guessing. But he was right, as usual.

4 adults, baggage, a dog, and mountains sounds like a Baron to me.

Paul, just wished you lived closer to me. We share the same aircraft now and the same goal aircraft for the future. Good luck with your search!

Paul: Great to see you on the Forum. The folks here are very eager to spend your money for you and they are REALLY good at it, so be ready!

Seriously, when it comes time to sell the C23, I'm sure it will sell quickly (good ones seem to be in demand).

And its hard to go wrong with a good A36.

Good luck,

Paul

Welcome aboard!

We need to see some pictures.

welcome aboard.
sounds like an a36 to me... i may know of a person in a similar position.

Welcome Paul! Glad to have you here on BT. You'll get lots of good suggestions. Pay close attention to the useful load if you have an A36 on your mind. Some on BT have unreal useful loads. Jim C's comes to mind. My 76 A36 is not as high on useful load as some others.

Good luck in your search!

An A36TN will carry all that over the mountains, perhaps at higher TAS than a Baron. Of course, the Baron will stay in the air longer with one not running, but will also eventually come down in the weeds - unless there is an escape route - a good plan in any of our piston driven airplanes.

Welcome aboard.

Welcome Paul!
This is an amazing place to learn about all different aspects of A36 knowledge from folks who have spent their money and hopefuly can keep you from spending yours unneccessarily. There are some good planes out there if you will be patient. My advice FWIW, is dont compromise! You will not be dissatisfied in the end. Trust me, I just went through the buying curve 6 mos ago and am one happy A36 owner. I fly into KTKI quite often and would love to help. Happy hunting.
Chris

An A36TN will carry all that over the mountains, perhaps at higher TAS than a Baron. Of course, the Baron will stay in the air longer with one not running, but will also eventually come down in the weeds - unless there is an escape route - a good plan in any of our piston driven airplanes.

Welcome aboard.

Let's hope my sales pitch for my P-Baron training is more sophisticated. However, I also offer training in Bonanzas.

Paul, a turbonormalized A36 (typically referred to on Beechtalk as an A36TN) usually has a gross weight increase from 3600 to 4,000 lbs., for a net increase without adding tip tanks of about 300 lbs. This not only provides enough weight capacity for a family of four, but the turbonormalizing allows you to operate at reasonable altitudes over the mountains. However, as Jesse noted, most of us are not comfortable flying over the mountains in IMC condtions in SE aircraft.

The only problem I see is getting your dog to wear an oxygen mask.

Good luck with your search.

Thanks everybody for the welcome, and for the advice!

I tend to agree with everyone about flying over the mountains single engine in IMC - but it would also be nice to be able to reach the MEA and MOCA in good conditions! Even better with some power still in reserve.

The turbo seems a bit of an overkill, as "IFR-over-the-mountains" is likely to be a once-in-a-great-while activity. There are no mountains higher than 50 feet within sight of TKI, and most of my trips are still likely to be East and North-east bound. I can get to PHX in the C23, but not comfortably or IFR without a long circuitous route. I just want more margin and more options. I remember going IFR over the top of some building weather over Buffalo 3 years ago at 10,000ft - and wishing for 2,000 feet more in reserve. The A36 would have it.

Update:

I seem to be in the middle of buying a V35A. It sure seems like that airplane chose me ("the wand chooses the wizard, Mr. Potter" - Olivander) rather than the other way round.

I was a bit nervous about that V-tail, but further research has put me straight. The useful load, service ceiling and speed all meet my requirements, at about $40 to 50k less cost. Being nearly 45 years old was also a concern, but it seems in great shape and I'm having Paul M do a pre-buy - he has the same type only 1 year apart.

Now for transition training, and to sell my 1983 model Sundowner - about the best equipped there is with a powerflow exhaust, IFR GPS coupled to the STEC-50 a/p, and every IFR instrument available. I shall be sad to see it go, but I've outgrown it.....

Paul-

Looks like you've narrowed in on one. I fly from Dallas to N. New Mexico/Colorado many times a year. I feel a turbo is required equipment up there, IFR or not (opinions vary). In the summer the thermals will beat you to death (especially in the afternoon) unless you go high. Winter same thing when the jet stream is bouncing off the rocks, I want a lot of clearance. If you get into icing at mountain MEA's the turbo could give you another out with climb rate.

Perhaps an upgrade to consider since you're saving so much on the purchase.

Good luck and thanks for the update-