Hi everyone,

I’ve been reading this board for a few weeks now and would like to introduce myself. I live in Cedar Rapids in Eastern Iowa, but grew up in Germany and started learning to fly over there: gliders at first, and airplanes later. I am a private pilot, instrument rated, with around 800 hours total time. Most of that time is in a Piper Arrow II based here in KCID, which I share with eight other guys. I was also a glider instructor back in Germany, but have abandoned motorless flight since I moved to the US.

I am sure I will get flamed for saying this, but in the interest of full disclosure: I love flying my Piper Arrow. Down the road, I hope to own my own aircraft one day – a bit larger and more capable than the Arrow – but it’s served me well, and I have many great memories from flying it. Who knows, maybe I will change my mind when one day I get to experience a nice Beech aircraft. For the time being, I hope you guys don’t mind the presence of a Piper driver here on this forum. From what I’ve seen, this seems to be a very pleasant group of people that are willing to share their knowledge and experience, and I have no doubt that I will learn a lot from this board.

Eventually, I’ll be looking for something a bit larger and faster than the Arrow. A cross-country travel machine - I am thinking six seats, the ability to fly at least 500 miles with four adults and luggage, or two adults and two full-size bicycles. A turbocharger will be a must-have item, for I love to fly high and I will be flying to high-elevation airports every now and then. I fly one, sometimes two long trips (1,000 miles each way) in a typical year, and would expect to go on more of those in my own airplane. That airplane might be an A36 or B36 kind of Bonanza; however, I’ve had a chance to sit in the pilot’s seat of an A36 a few weeks ago, and I couldn’t figure out how to sit in it and not hit the ceiling with my head (and that was without a headset). I’m 6’3” – yes, tall, but not so tall that I would expect to not fit in such a popular airplane. Did I do something wrong? Other options on my radar screen include a Saratoga, Malibu (yes, they are Pipers, I know...), or maybe even a twin Cessna such as a 340 (ordered from realistic to maybe just wishful thinking). Anyways, it’ll be a while before I can make any of these happen, so I have some time to learn more about all options, maybe even figure out how to sit upright in a Bonanza.

If anyone knows of a flight school in my vicinity that rents an A36 Bonanza, I would love to go up with an instructor sometime just to get a feel for the aircraft. The rental fleet that I’ve seen here locally seems to consist mostly of older Cessnas and Cherokees, and the occasional light sport aircraft. I have a feeling there must be a reason why you Bonanza owners love your airplanes so much.

Hope you guys all have a good weekend.

Kind regards,
Martin

Martin,

Welcome to BT. I have my Bonanza based at KCID. If you are up for a ride in a 35 rather than a 36 I could do just that. While the 35 wouldn't suit your flight requirements, you could still feel the difference between the Bo and the Arrow. I used to hangar my plane down in the West T' near PSAir. Is that where the Arrow is located? Is it the Cloud9 Arrow? I checked into that partnership before I made the move to the Bonanza. I have relocated my plane to the East T's.

John

Martin, you are most welcome here!!!

The fact that you chose to join a Beech site just shows your good taste!

I for one would still love to see pictures of your plane!

Martin, welcome to BeechTalk! You have found a very good place!

Everyone,

Thanks for the warm welcome.

Let's see if I can figure out how to attach pictures...

- Martin

John,

I have no idea how close the 35 and 36 are in terms of feel and flying characteristics, but I'd sure love to take you up on that offer sometime if we can arrange it at a time that's convenient for you. Thank you very much.

And yes, this is the "Cloud 9" Arrow. I bought one of their shares about three years ago; before that, I flew a very similar Arrow owned by the Rockwell Flying Club (and I still have access to that, even though I prefer the Cloud 9 airplane). We are located in the West T's, right by PS Air.

- Martin