I am new to this forum and new to Beechcraft as well. I recently sold my DA42 and have started to look at Beechcraft. Any suggestions would help. I live in Seattle and I am working on getting my first ride in one. Dennis Schilling

Dennis,

Let me be the first to welcome you to BT.

I would be very interested in learning your reason for moving from DA42 to A36. If you have never been in a Bonanza, you will love it. I will be interested in hearing you take on the feel of Beech vs DA42. I am sure other BTers will chime in soon and will most likely find a way for you to ride in an A36.

His profile says A36. He says he's not rode in [any] Beech and drove/sold a Twin.. B55 for this man..

Loved flying the plane but did not want to go through putting two new engines in two years. Don't need a twin now, did not need one then either but I got seduced when I went to look at a 182 that was parkedr next to this plane. I am weak.

Go buy a TN36 and get it over with.

Welcome Dennis!
I grew up flying Diamonds...I learned in a DA40, bought a brand new DA20 that I flew for my first couple hundred hours, and flew another DA40 for a couple more hundred hours. I have also flown the DA42 and I think Diamond makes an incredible airplane, and love how they handle and of course the safety record is second to none! However...last year I took my first ride in an A36 and I was blown away within 5 minutes. There really is no other aircraft like a Bonanza, and I think once you experience it, you will be on board! I bought an A36TC last summer and could no be happier. I have not flown a Baron or Duke, so you may want to give those a shot, but for the money, I think there is no better bird in the world than a Bo! I still love going up in the Diamond for a $275 hamburger...nothing like that center stick and unlimited visibility.
Again, welcome to BT!

Dennis,
Welcome to BT! Sounds like you've already made up your mind and just want someone to help you justify it. Well no one here at BT will have a problem with that! Go get your Bonanza!

I will be moving to SEATAC this summer. If you still haven't ridden in a Bo by then...yeah right!...I'll be happy to take you for a spin in ours.

Keep in touch and good luck with your search. You will LOVE the Bo!

Dennis, welcome aboard. You are going to love a -36 no matter what type you get. And by the way, you will be able to get all that stuff your significant other is standing behind along with about 50% more plus a couple of more people of normal size if you buy the 36, and if you decide that a twin is more to your liking, a C-E 55 or a 58 is going to swallow all that and then some . IT just costs more to do it on a direct basis. Get a ride in as many as you can before jumping off the edge. You wont find a bad one

PL

Welcome to BT. If the luggage in your picture is any indication, you will definitely need a 36. What would your average mission be? I'd seriously consider turbo-normalization with so many mountains around. Note that we do have a peddler section with some nice aircraft listed.

Welcome Dennis, that was a lot to fit in the Diamond. You should enjoy your plane shopping, some good deals to be had.

My normal flight is from Seattle to Orcas Island in the San Juans. I own a marina up there and try and go every other week and yes I tend to bring up a lot of stuff. It is only 80 miles or so but a great flight and it saves a five or six hour drive up there if you have to wait for a ferry. I don't think I need a turbo because I never go above 5,000 feet. My wife is a nervous flyer and turbulence worries her so I am hoping that a 36 would be stable enough to keep her happy. Thanks for the encouragement.

Like THIS one!

Welcome Dennis. At which Seattle airport are you based? I was at Renton for 10 years and Boeing Field for a couple of years before that. I envy your flying mission -- Orcas Island (and all of the San Juans) is one of the most beautiful places on Earth. I see they have an RNAV (GPS) approach there now, although the minimums are pretty high.

If you want to learn more about A36's you might contact Bruce Williams at http://www.bruceair.com/. He owns a beautiful one, at Boeing Field, I think.

I was based at Boeing field and liked having the ILS but Renton would be fine as well. The airport on Orcas (Eastsound) has a GPS approach and that helps. I will reach out to Mr. Williams, thanks for the info. Dennis

What you need is a twin bonanza. It will haul your load with ease.
A thousand pounds a thousand miles. Or go half tanks, and haul 1500 lbs.
Mine flew earthquake relief twice to Haiti.
Only god knows how heavy we were at take off.