It was a very interesting time at Tornado Alley and I was like a kid in a candy store checking out the personal freedom machines... an awesome Lancair IVP from Arizona, several Cirrus G22, both new and old.

Given that they had several Cirrus with the engine removed, I was struck by two things... how much red silicone caulking they had on the firewall, and how puny the engine mounts and support structure are. Not that I know anything, (I was a failed engineer in college that had to transfer into Communications to actually get a degree,) but it sure looked fragile. For that matter, the whole nose gear assembly looked mickey mouse without the cowling to distract you. No wonder they put a parachute on the airplane... looks like any serious impact would separate the entire front of the fuselage and send the engine into the cockpit.

Having put my Baby Doll in a corn field once, emerging without so much as a single scratch, I am very happy with my decision to spend my money on a "Renaissance" V-tail. (See previous thread on over-priced planes... couldn't help myself.)

With the advantage to choose gear up or gear down with an engine out, with a more substantial airframe to absorb G-loads, without TKS or FIKI to lure you into the unflyable weather, and with an amazing group of knowledgeable and savvy pilots to mentor the newer generations, it would seem that Beechcraft is the smart and safe choice.

If I get enough corroborating facts, perhaps I will go post it on the Cirrus forum.

We got your back - Bro!

Go get 'em!

-MO

its just a matter of time...

keep thinking of composite material... think airbus...

those vertical fins keep breaking off even below Va, killing everyone on board.

soon to be announced..." 15 year limited airframe AD "

hahahahhaha

I resemble that remark

Keep in mind that Va only takes vertical loading into account. Va does not protect your rudder/vertical stab on a Bonanza either.

Aluminum bends and stays bent. Plastic bends then breaks.

One of the above is still intact and easily repairable.

Yves, what do you mean by wet tanks?

Thanks

A lot of planes have wet wings. Many pilots prefer them.

Not this pilot. Wet wings=leaks although composite wet wings would be superior to aluminum, IMO

Thanks Yves, Thats what I thought. I had that on the Mooney and right before I got it fuel or vapors was starting to seep into the cabin

Sorry, but doesn't the Bonanza essentially also have a wet wing? I mean to say are bladders any better at containing post-crash fires? Is there a real difference in post crash fires between these two planes? The recent Michigan and Van Nuys Bo crashes were incinerated.

It seems that when a Cirrus burns you just get a pile of ash, when a Bo burns you get a kind of intact looking plane, except the cockpit is ash.

I have wet wings in my Cessna, I dont know of any Cessna with metal tanks ex maybe C140s, most are bladders or wet wings like mine. Never had any problems or leaks, I know some owners had problems with bladder that rippled and would keep water in the tanks or could not use all the fuel. I wish Beech had wet wings that way you would not need to replace bladders.

Well, if it was a Boeing, it would still be flying...


Ward

Ward, I have actually seen a B52 with the rudder blown away in real lief and photos. I was on the "D" model. The photo shows 1964 on it yet there is not a gunner in the back and turbo fans for engines. My model and older had the gunner in the back. And this was back in 1979. Is this a misprint or photoshop. Looks like a "G" model maybe for the first gulf war.

Doug

I'll post the story in a new thread to prevent too much thread creep...