BeechTalk - BT

Username Protected · **Posted:** 06 May 2014, 10:42

I am Jon Kelley and I am a student pilot with 26.1 hours. I just completed the purchase, March 27th, of a 1976 Beech Sundowner, or Slowdowner as I have heard it called. Just a couple of flights away from my first solo. Kind of nervous and excited.

The Sundowner is equipped with a GNS430 and Century 1 autopilot and is currently IFR certified. I plan on completing my PPL and then getting my instrument rating. Then I will think about moving on to another airplane. Right now, this aircraft satisfies my needs and I am proud to own her.

Jon Kelley.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 06 May 2014, 11:19

Username Protected wrote:

I am Jon Kelley and I am a student pilot with 26.1 hours. I just completed the purchase, March 27th, of a 1976 Beech Sundowner, or Slowdowner as I have heard it called. Just a couple of flights away from my first solo. Kind of nervous and excited.

The Sundowner is equipped with a GNS430 and Century 1 autopilot and is currently IFR certified. I plan on completing my PPL and then getting my instrument rating. Then I will think about moving on to another airplane. Right now, this aircraft satisfies my needs and I am proud to own her.

Jon Kelley.

Welcome Aboard Jon!
My territory used to cover JSO, but Last year it changed... so I don't get down there as often as I used to... however, I'm happy to say I've been told I will get East Texas back in the next 60-90days... look for my very distinctive Red and Yellow V-tail, or my unique in it's unique-ness Twin bonanza.
Keep your flying up and get that PPL taken care of, we have (sometimes) monthly Texas Beech Bro lunches in and around Central Texas... you're welcome to join us.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 06 May 2014, 11:21

Welcome to BT Jon!

Come visit DTO, Denton sometime.

I owned the Edsel of low wing retractables, the Sierra for 9 years and 1400 hours. The good thing about the Slow, I mean Sundowner

is that it and the Sierra are unlikely to reach Vne in a dive... :rofl:

But seriously, congrats on your purchase, its a great Beech platform to do your training in.

Mike

Username Protected · **Posted:** 06 May 2014, 11:24

And you own your own plane.

That's a good thing.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 06 May 2014, 12:09

Username Protected wrote:

I am Jon Kelley and I am a student pilot with 26.1 hours. I just completed the purchase, March 27th, of a 1976 Beech Sundowner, or Slowdowner as I have heard it called. Just a couple of flights away from my first solo. Kind of nervous and excited.

The Sundowner is equipped with a GNS430 and Century 1 autopilot and is currently IFR certified. I plan on completing my PPL and then getting my instrument rating. Then I will think about moving on to another airplane. Right now, this aircraft satisfies my needs and I am proud to own her.

Jon Kelley.

Jon, if you're ever down at LFK, let me know and we'll grab lunch at the restaurant. Congratulations on the plane. Looking forward to hearing about your solo! :thumbup:

Username Protected · **Posted:** 06 May 2014, 12:12

Username Protected wrote:

Welcome Aboard Jon!
I'm happy to say I've been told I will get East Texas back in the next 60-90days... look for my very distinctive Red and Yellow V-tail, or my unique in it's unique-ness Twin bonanza.

Chester, let me know if you make it down to Lufkin and I'll order your burger an hour in advance...

Username Protected · **Posted:** 06 May 2014, 13:33

Welcome, Jon.

I used to live on O'Keefe, on the east side of town.

I flew off JSO for a few hundred hours in the late '70's and early '80's.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 07 May 2014, 09:01

Welcome Jon, good luck with your solo and look forward to meeting you at one of our BT Texas Bro gatherings...

Username Protected · **Posted:** 07 May 2014, 09:36

Welcome Jon. Best of luck on your solo flight - you're going to do great!

Username Protected · **Posted:** 08 May 2014, 00:57

Welcome Jon. Sounds like you have a capable aircraft and good for what you are doing. Enjoy it! And your flight training! :thumbup:

Username Protected · **Posted:** 08 May 2014, 06:23

Welcome to BeechTalk!

I prefer to think of my plane as a baby bonanza (albeit one with 2 doors), haven't heard the Slowdowner nickname before - pretty accurate.

Since you are new around here you need to try to bum a ride to Max's fly-in next weekend, or plan a LONG Crosscountry with you CFI

Peace,
Don

Username Protected · **Posted:** 08 May 2014, 14:28

Have been doing windy landings for the last two days and nailed my first crosswind landings today. Things are progressing more quickly than I could have imagined. Guess it helps to have a plane and be able to go fly when the CFI has time. Managed to get in an hour block this morning, before the thunderstorms hit. We were rolling the plane into the hangar when it started raining here at KJSO.

Thank for the encouraging words. I will post photos of "The Gold Digger" when I get a spare minute.

Thanks again.
Jon Kelley

Username Protected · **Posted:** 24 May 2014, 17:54

Well, the skies finally cleared enough. I soloed today. Glad to have that out of the way, finally. It was very exciting and I was happy with what I did.

Thank you for all the encouraging words. I have my son taking flight lessons in the plane now, as well. This Sundowner is not sitting very much.

Jon Kelley :woot:

Username Protected · **Posted:** 24 May 2014, 18:00

Congratulations! That's a flight that you will never forget..

Peace,
Don

Username Protected · **Posted:** 24 May 2014, 22:44

Congrats!

Greetings from Jacksonville, Texas