Hello, I'm introducing myself as a new (since August) F33A owner, who's been reading the forums for a few months with great interest. I'm an engineering professor and historian of technology, a 900 hour pilot, flying SR-22s for a few years, but flying to OSH in a friend's A36 convinced me that Beechcraft was the way to go. I was fortunate to find an amazing 1993 F33A with: TAT TN, TKS de-ice, Osborne tanks, Ryan TCAD active traffic, etc. etc. A very capable aircraft now hangared at KBED (Bedford, Mass).

After bringing the aircraft back from out west in August, I've spent the past five months getting it up to speed maintenance wise and me up to speed training wise. About 90 hours now, getting out of the 'low time in type', really starting to feel comfortable and developing my own procedures (paperless cockpit, all-electronic checklists on iPad mini (w/paper backup)). Nagle Aircraft at BED has been doing the maintenance, doing a great job and very responsive. It's been in and out of the shop every few weeks, but that's not a surprise as we've been learning every system and getting them all tuned up. I flew it to ADH in October for the APS course which was a great education. Just installed a GTN 750 and the GPS steering for the Sandel.

One thing I learned is it is an expensive PITA to buy an aircraft from far away, but well worth it if it's the right one for you. There were a couple of expensive items not noticed by a reputable shop in the pre-buy. Another, which I expected, is that it really is at least six months to get to know an aircraft and have it fully 'operational' -- but an enjoyable learning experience. I'm just beginning to learn the true capability of this terrific aircraft, high, far, and fast.

I actually teach and do research in human/automation interactions, so I'll post some of my observations in due time...

David

Here's a few photos:

Welcome! Cool airplane!!!

What a capable cross-country machine. I agree on it taking 6 months to really get comfortable in a new plane.

Welcome to the world of Beechcraft!

Wow, beautiful and capable aircraft. Congratulations on your purchase.

Holy cats, that is a well equipped F33A,

Very nicely equipped and great looking plane David. I'm so jealous!
Just curious what your thoughts were with switching over to the electronic cockpit and now the GTN 750 especially your background. Are you finding it more safe? Is the "cockpit management" easier after you get used to them all?

Welcome to BT. Now this is how to do an introduction, great pics, story, documentation.

Congrats on a great plane.

Tim

Good question. The electronic checklists just sort of evolved -- I was making them from paper by printing them out on card stock, but was changing them fairly frequently as I was learning the plane and it got to be a pain to print them out. Also, fumbling around in the lap for the right checklist was pretty distracting heads-down time. So I just make PDFs, put them on the iPad, and upload them to ForeFlight under 'documents.' Very easy and they're all there. If I make changes, I just upload the new document and it's all synced. Also keep the Tornado Alley Turbo procedures, and PDF manuals for all the instruments in the iPad inside fore flight. As a backup they're all on my phone too.

I got a good deal from NexAir avionics on turning in my 530W for the GTN 750. Being new to the 530, I never enjoyed it that much -- doesn't display time to destination, very difficult to access weather details, and the screen was less capable than I'd hoped. I'd like to upgrade the whole panel at some point, but that's out of my budget right now, so the 750 seemed a good way to start. The clincher was the beautiful and easy XM weather data access on the 750, which if you really need it strikes me as essential (more like the 496 than the 530). But I just got the 750 a couple of weeks ago and have only flown about 5 hours with it; 'takes a little getting used to, but overall very good SA. The touchscreen is a slightly different workload (requires a few more milliseconds of looking at the unit to hit the right button, but lets you do a whole lot more with those few milliseconds), but again so much more capable (I'm trying to train myself to use it to look up all frequencies). I'd like to put in a Garmin G500, but I really only need the left side of that panel -- the Aspen seems a little small to me. I'm hoping Garmin comes out with a PFD-only unit in the next year or so, so I'm going to wait before doing more.

Yes the 530W does display time to destination. You just have to set it to do so. Welcome, beautiful and fast plane you have there.

I am considering an f33a with the tornado alley turbo, any thoughts on yours since your purchase?

I live in Steamboat Springs, CO and won't have another non turbo aircraft.
Thanks

Nice ride! I love the sweet handling F33A.

Welcome! Beautiful bird and a few more pics would be more than appreciated!

Yeah. Does it have a panel? That could just be a pic of a 530 sitting on a bench in simulation mode.

At least