Hi,
New member here. Stumbled across this site and love it; lots of good info. I'm a 200+ hr private pilot who is getting back into flying after a 3 yr absence. I've flown abut 14 hours over the last 90 days. I'm looking forward to being an active member.Currently renting but want to be an owner in the next year or so.I'm interested in the Sundowner, but have never flown one. I would like to find an FBO in TN that rents Beech airplanes. I've contacted AOPA for help, but they just directed me to the area of their website that lists FBO's. Very time consuming & frustrating calling FBO's on the phone. Any advice on getting experience in a Sundowner ( or other Musketeers ) would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Warren,

First of all, welcome back to flying. If you're interested in a Sundowner and planning to buy in the next year, I'd highly recommend joining the Beech Aeorclub ( beechaeroclub.org ). Assuming the Sundowner meets your mission you won't find a better value for the $ on a fixed gear piston 4 seater.

My mission is typically 1-2 people less than 500nm & occasionally 3-4 less than 400nm with the rare 3-4 >600nm so the Sundowner suits me very well. The cost of one owner acquisition and operation is low compared to comparable C&P AC with comparable performance. Of course the comfort, quality, and structural strength of the baby Beeches beats anything else in the used 4 seat, fixed gear, piston market.

Where in TN are you? We can probably find someone to give you a ride in the mouse line. I will probably be in NW Georgia next week so If you're in the Chattanooga area we can probably meet up pretty easily.

Bill - N6699S

Warren,
Like you I am new to the forum, but wanted to add a couple of notes to you based on your post.

Not sure where in Tennessee you are but check out Murfreesboro Aviation. (I think they have satellite operations in Clarksville as well.) I don't know if they have Beechcraft for rent or not, but they do have a pretty eclectic fleet, and they take good care of them. Recently sold them a C172 and was very impressed with the aircraft they flew to us to pick it up.

As for the Sundowner. I test flew a couple when I was looking for my first aircraft. I can't think of a better first airplane based on the performance, economy, and structural soundness. Not sure about the prevalence of parts but from my experience they fly GREAT!

Best of luck with your search and welcome back to flying.

Dan Clark
"Kilroy"

Thanks Bill, Cookeville is on I-40 almost halfway between Knoxville and Nashville(We are slightly closer to Nashville). Not sure if I can rearrange my schedule for next week, but I'll see what I can do.

Warren,

Would you be interested in a ride in my V35???? I hangar it in Dayton, TN and I can be in Cookville in 20min or so.....

Jay

Warren,
Welcome...... Flew a 77 Sundowner for a long time before the bonanza. I loved that airplane. No plane in its class has more ROOOOMMM. The headroom and visability (and the pilot door) make it really nice.

They are a bit slower that the warrior/archer line but only by a few knots and its more than compensated by the beech quality, pilot door and room. The downside is that they might be a little more difficult to sell as the warrior line in much more popular. But that shortcoming also makes it a bargain for you.

And once you go low wing, you'll never go back to that high wing that gets in your way in the pattern when you really need to see over there.

and most importantly, when a 172 and a Sundowner pull up to the 100 dollar hamburger joint and the two families get out of their respective planes, everybody is looking at your cool family getting out on the wing like a fighter pilot.

They are an exceptionally stable platform for instruction, time building, IFR training. (make sure you buy one that is IFR cert)..... you may want to get that IFR later.

Take your time. Fly a warrior too to compare quality.

Hi Warren and Welcome!

You have come to the right place!

Thanks everyone for the warm welcome!
Jay, I would love to take you up on your offer...I don't have a day off from work until the first weekend in December; we'll have to PM to set things up.

Mike, thanks for the comparison; I had suspected as much; but you confirmed my thoughts!

Thanks again guys!

Warren,

So it looks like we won't be able to meet up next week since you've got a packed work schedule (a good thing in this economy). To SWAG what a flight in a Sundowner is like, next time you're up in a 172 or Cherokee, jus thinik "it's like this but with more room, more stable in turbulence, better quality, more solid feel, gentler stalls, more fuel if you want it, plus better ramp appeal and respect."

Bill - N6699S

If you happen north and find yourself in the Twin Cities you have a permanent offer of a ride in a Sundowner with me. They are good airplanes.