That's more than 1%.

The bottom line is this..... The next step up from a G36/58 is millions of dollars. So to say "nobody will pay the money for a G36/58" just isn't true. They're a good deal for what you get.

Then, I am even more interested to see how my poll turns out.

That is a terrible marketing strategy! They need to leave the G36 unchanged and lower the price by $150,000. They will sell a lot more planes and make a profit. Spending millions to widen the cabin, add TC and add a longer wing will never pencil!! They never sold that many B36 TC

Or offer a new A36 again as a "simpler", less expensive option.

What I do not get is all the talk by Beech about a single engine turbo-prop based on the KA and all sorts of crap like that.
The focus I think should be on the basics:
-- Get the common after market options available as factory items
-- Solve sales/marketing issues
-- Avionics or other gee whiz items
-- Production costs and manufacturer efficiency
-- Incremental changes to improve UL (common complaint)

Anyone suggesting they through 40 Million plus to certify a plane in a crowded market when they are losing their shirts in existing markets is crazy.

Tim

Agreed. Not an option. The current airframes are great.

oops missed a digit. Yep 210 which is still 197 more people than bought a G36 last year or quoted another way 15 years of G36 sales at the current sales rate.

So....what do ya all think it will cost to get all those new fang-dangled goodies certified on an old Bo frame?


....and how many more copies do ya suppose they'd sell with these extras?

Ask Cirrus

If you want a Cirrus, the most you can really go back is 10 years and then you're stuck with an non-upgradable plane and orphan avionics. If you want a new Bonanza you can go to the factory, but you can also buy a clean low time airframe, strip it with a beautiful new custom leather interior, send it to Copeland for a better than factory paint job, send it to EAM for a stunning new panel with touch screens which is more modular and better than the G1000, send it to Ada for a new 550 and a TAT upgrade, and for all intents and purposes you'll have a brand new better than new Bo for $350k or less, and you'll probably be done in less time it takes the factory to build you a new one. That's what I've done with my Baron, and it's actually been pretty fun.

Maybe the real issue is that Beech is competing against 50+ years of it's own airframes which are STILL just as great.

To be fair, Beechcraft was selling 80-90 Bonanzas a year up thru 2008 when the economy and HBC hit the fan.

That's more than 1%.

The bottom line is this..... The next step up from a G36/58 is millions of dollars. So to say "nobody will pay the money for a G36/58" just isn't true. They're a good deal for what you get.

This is more true than a lot are willing to admit. They are victims of their own, original competence, and they have proven that you either innovate or go out of business. Apple plans out their innovation. Cirrus is doing that to a lesser extent.

If you want a Cirrus, the most you can really go back is 10 years and then you're stuck with an non-upgradable plane and orphan avionics. If you want a new Bonanza you can go to the factory, but you can also buy a clean low time airframe, strip it with a beautiful new custom leather interior, send it to Copeland for a better than factory paint job, send it to EAM for a stunning new panel with touch screens which is more modular and better than the G1000, send it to Ada for a new 550 and a TAT upgrade, and for all intents and purposes you'll have a brand new better than new Bo for $350k or less, and you'll probably be done in less time it takes the factory to build you a new one. That's what I've done with my Baron, and it's actually been pretty fun.

Maybe the real issue is that Beech is competing against 50+ years of it's own airframes which are STILL just as great.

Agreed. Not an option. The current airframes are great.