I am in the process of selling my B36TC and it has been an agonizing decision to say the least. My wife and I want something that we can load up with grandkids and go to Florida and Colorado. This will require a minimum payload of 800lbs with enough fuel to make a 650 nm trip. I would not leave my 2,300' strip loaded, but I still want to base the plane here.
I have talked to several of the BT guys and it seems I have only a couple options. One is a J50 Twin Bonanza, and the other is a 414 with the R/STOL kit. I know the T-bone will be a good fit, but the thought of pressurization and boots makes me want to consider the 414.
What are your thoughts?
I am currently talking to Gregg about a beautiful J50 and he has been wonderful!, I just want to make sure I am not missing something here.

The all time champion of big load and short strips was a DC-3, probably still is.

If you want smaller, you might consider a D18, though I am not sure about them, since I don't have direct experince. And there are nosewheel conversion models if that is a factor.

while I love the radials, I just dont want to go that far back. 170 knots is about as slow as I want to go also. I love the old birds, but I need something a little more modern to put the family in ( I know a T-bone isnt modern, but you get my drift).

Why not a P2 baron? I moved from a B36TC and it takes a lot less distance as long as both engines keep running.

I need 6 seats

I have six seats in the 55 baron. The vast majority of time though the back two are removed.

Rstol 414 or 421 seem reasonable. I'd look carefully at exactly what loads you need. Short field performance is hugely variable with weight.

I limit my B36TC to 3/4 fuel and 2 people on board when operating from my strip. its only 7 miles to the Decatur airport.

Doug,

Contact pete Bedell (spelling?)

Has an E55 on short turf strip IIRC.

A 58 or a 55 would work IF you are willing to accept the lower safety margins.

Leldon

I really think the best for your mission would be a Commander. A 500B Shrike is the ultimate cabin class/bush plane combo there is. They have higher prop clearances, bigger wheels and shorter takeoffs than most of the competition. Real load haulers, too. Well supported with "normal" engines like the O-470 and IO-540.




I had an old 520 for a few years. That thing took off like a homesick angel on crack. And although the 500B doesn't have as short a T/O, they're not far behind. You could easily be based at a sub 2000ft strip and takeoff fully loaded. No problem.

Here I am taking off from Johnson Creek, ID at 5000ft elev. I estimate the T/O run to be about 1700ft. I had half load.




Here I'm taking off in about 600ft at my home base El Monte, lightly loaded, with 2/3'rd flaps:

[youtube]http://youtu.be/0zEhHJkUERE[/youtube]


Here I'm landing on a dirt road in the Mojave desert:

[youtube]http://youtu.be/DYyvamJT334[/youtube]


Here I am taking off from Johnson Creek again at 5000ft elevation:

[youtube]http://youtu.be/7lt8kohU9lU[/youtube]

There simply aren't many twins that can compete with 500-series Commanders when it comes to bush capabilities in conjunction with cabin class. The TwinBo is probably the closest. Great prop clearance and big wheels on that too, but you're still dealing with geared engines that cost 2x as much to overhaul and have ridiculous 250hr prop AD's unless they've been modified costly.

How far does 3/4 fuel in your B36 take you?

I only ask because 3/4 fuel in one plane might take full fuel or even 1/2 fuel in another. Depends on where your going.

My guess would be 3/4 fuel in your B36 would be like 100 gallons in my 58. So that and 2 adults would still have me 700 lbs under gross. 2300ft with no obstacles shouldn't be an issue in a NA58.

Tell us more about your 2300 foot strip.

Baron (55 or 58), T-Bone or Commander would all be good options. As previously mentioned, we would need to know about obstacles at the ends of the runway.

What he said!

My 500B will haul over 800 lbs for 5 hours at 170 knots. It will do 180 knots if you wind it up a little but I cruise at 2,100 RPM and 70 lbs/side/hr just like the book says for economy cruise. A true Shrike even has a front door, and while a bit heavier, they are great too. Best kept secret in legacy piston twins . . .

Matt, my strip is XA99. It is a very smooth strip with only a fence on the south end. The north end has a row of 20' high trees across the road at the end. There is about a 10' rise in the middle that precludes you from seeing the end. It is lit, but I personally only fly out in the daylight in anything other than my Citabria.

I know nothing about the Shrikes, but that is something to consider.