Hi everyone..a pleasure to be joining what seems like a very friendly and informative forum. The first thread I read turned out to be an epic one today (OP asking whether he can train in a Bonanza with 0 time) and very interesting! It partially but not wholly relates to my situation...my (now ex) wife used to have a Baron, and now has a Bonanza which I have handled. So naturally I am bitten by the Beech bug. I've been meaning to learn to fly for years, especially when working at Boeing for 8 years, but only recently started, in a PA28. Will have 30 hours under my belt within the next few weeks. I live in Spain, work in Switzerland and go to the UK regularly, and that's where I am learning (better instructors, challenging weather + no tests in Spanish!). I do want to build hours in the US, though, with the ultimate ambition of learning to fly a Bonanza (NOT before I get my licence plus a lot of PA28 time to get beyond 'the killing zone!), then a Baron. At which point, I might be able to buy one. At the risk of starting another contentious thread, I wonder if anyone can give me an opinion on where to find a very experienced, 'old school' instructor in Florida who might later on also take me to the next level in advanced a/c? I suspect that the US will be the best place...Thank you! Matt

Matt:

Any reason why you specify Florida? There is a lot of here, here, if you know what I mean.

Only because I have friends there...but have also spent time in Texas, which I love! So yes, maybe I am being too narrow-minded! I guess what I am saying is that my ex had the benefit of learning with someone very, very experienced who knew Beechcraft a/c extremely well and taught her some 'leftfield', non-textbook, perhaps sometimes forgotten skills that made her a better pilot than she would otherwise have been...so I am looking for the same thing, regardless of location...thanks!

Matt,
If you're really looking for Beechcraft-specific expert training, find a BPPP instructor in whatever part of the country you'll train, and go for it... http://www.bppp.org/instructors.asp

Arlen, than you so much for that. I am doing my research early here, but as soon as I get my PPL I'll be contacting them! Really appreciate it. Cheers, Matt

One of your challenges may be finding a place with Bonanzas to rent - not so common.

You may consider contacting RFC Dallas ( www.rfcdallas.com ) at which flying club one finds three F33A Bonanzas, and several excellent instructors.

The aircraft are priced at a cost rate - the club is a non-profit.

Just an idea.

matt-

good luck. i have about 300 hours and started the same way you intend w/ a PA28. owned an archer II and flew it for 2 and 1/2 years in NY winters and summers in and out of class B, and C airspace. great way to learn and get proficient in vfr/ifr flight. i now own an F33A.

once you've got some time in the pa 28 you will have no problem w/ the transition, the beech is heavier, less floaty and a solid plane. you will have the knack w/i 10-15 hours....

as another post-er noted renting a beeche is not a ready possibility. here in the northeast no one rents anything other than cessnas or pipers.

good luck w/ the training.

Welcome to Beechtalk Matt,

Like you, I got my original tickets in England from the Denham School of Flying in Buckinghamshire, just west of London. I got my PPL, IMC and ME in England (PPL and IMC in PA-28’s and the ME on an old Cougar). With that, I went to the U.S., spent two weeks in Lakeland, FL and got my IFR which was attached to my British PPL (and only usable in the U.S. ). Eventually when I moved back to the States, I converted my British license into a U.S. Commercial which was not a big deal.

To be frank, I would not get too bothered about flying the Bonanza or Baron for the time being. Just concentrate on getting the British PPL which is a bit of a pain (due to the written tests). Once you get the PPL, I would then suggest you come to the states for a couple of weeks and get your Multi Engine and IFR. Once you have those, you can begin to worry about flying a Beech product. If you can fly a complex single, you can fly a Bonanza and if you can fly a light twin, you can fly a Baron.

While the quality of the British license is very high, I found the weather to be a pain in the neck during the PPL as any clouds meant your lessons were canceled. By all means, go for the British PPL but you will find allot more sunny days in Spain so find yourself a good instructor and get some practice there. While I was training in England, I actually spent about a week flying in Portugal and got about ten hours of flying in.

Spike/Arlen/Bruce/Victor

Thanks very much for your helpful replies. Victor, get your point but am obviously itching to get into a Bonanza particularly as I have flown one quite a bit (wife's plane). So I may well try to come over in December for a week to do some hours. Per everyone's advice seems hard to find one to train on but I'll be following their links. Interesting that you trained at Denham - I was going to train there but they are about to shut down, FYI (Cabair, not the field). See you are now in Chicago - I was there every month until recently when I worked for Boeing. Guess you might keep your plane where Boeing keeps some of its Challengers- can't remember the field but it's across the bridge. I once had a very hairy cross-wind landing in a Challenger there! Anyway, you are right about learning in the UK, weather a pain but I guess good for skills. If any of you guys are every near Spain, let me know!