Gang, Bob's absolutely right!

That must be the reason nobody's positively ID'ed the mod. Sorry I didn't mention that earlier.

Thanks OB1 !

OK, I'll do the right thing and introduce myself:

My name is Keith Griggs. I've owned various planes over the years, to include 2 King Airs and a Hawker, and frankly, got awful tired of hoping for pilots' schedules to agree with mine when I wanted to go somewhere, so in January 2007 my son Paul and I decided that if we were ever going to learn to fly, we'd better do it now, before I get too old and he gets a job and a family, so we drove from Texas to Florida, enrolled in American Flyers as zero time pilots, and returned home 44 days later with private, multi engine, and instrument ratings, and high performance/complex endorsements. It was one of the most grueling things I've ever done, but also the most rewarding, because we haven't stopped flying since.

The next thing we approached with the same level of fervor was the improvements we made to our C-55 Baron. It's an earlier model and had alot of vintage stuff in the panel, so we ripped it all out and put in a new, customized, extended panel, including stuff like 530 & 430 with WAAS, terrain and Nexrad (check out the 430 in the pilot subpanel); Avidyne, approach plates and TCAS, roll steering, new audio, xponder, GEMs, and OPT1s. Freon A/C is also very nice on hot Texas days. See pictures attached.

We then turbocharged the IO-520s. Payload is now 2,000 lbs (translated as 6 ea 200 pounders and full fuel), and 220 KTAS cruise at 16 gph/side is almost an out of body experience.

What's next? My wife Sharon would say "God only knows", but something tells me it's gonna be alot of fun.

-kg

My name is Chris Adams. I am a low time PP that is currently looking for a S35 or V35 Bonanza. I have been doing a lot of reading around here and learning as much as I can. Hopefully in the next few months I will have some pictures I can post. Any help you guys can give would be greatly appreciated.

Chris

Welcome aboard Chris! Where are you located?

I live in Hoschton, GA, about half way between GVL and AHN. My ideal situation would be to find a partner that already has a plane or is willing to buy into one that I find. If this sounds like any of you, let me know.

Hey gang,

Couple folks recommended this forum, so I thought I'd see what it was about.

My name is Daun, and I'm a 3rd generation Bonanza pilot. My grandfather had three model 35s over the years (B, K, and P), and my father has had his A since I was in diapers.

Currently I own a '56 Cessna 172, a set of keys to dad's A model, and my partner & I just sold our Piper Arrow in order to buy a 35 Bonanza for ourselves. (We were going to buy grandad's old K but we couldn't agree on a price with the current owner.) So the search continues....

And since the thread title says introduce your plane, I'd best do that too 'eh?

The 172:


Dad's A-35:

great looking 72

Dude:

This may be BeechTalk and all, but that Cessna is pure delight, poetry in aluminum. Thanks for sharing!

Hey, Daun! That's a neat-looking grass strip the Bonanza is on. Where is that?

Minerva Ohio (OH15). It was started by my grandfather & several other folks in the early 1950s. Two of dad's sisters still live up there so we still get to drop in now and then. Still one of my favorite places to take pics, although they've recently strip-mined away the hill in the background.

Here's a pic of the K-model coming outta there in about 1965. Mind you this was a 2000 foot strip at the time. (Runway began just beyond the end hangar.)



BTW thanks for all the compliments on the 172. I've had her about six years and have no intentions of getting rid of her.

I finally signed up for Beechtalk! I currently own a '07 DA40XL which I really enjoy except it has no ice equipment and its been tough to get anywhere this winter, I usually fly 20 -30hrs / mth for business. I live in Medicine Hat Alberta where I work in the wealth management world. I have just over 200 hrs in logbook, currently working on my IFR. Made it to OSH this year and was a little overwhelmed but was a great experience!
I have demo'd SR22G3 GTS CP and Cessna 400 think they are great planes but have concerns over $'s and usefull load. Have considered twins (FIKI) but concerned about operating costs. Hoping that a V35B or A36 may fit the bill. My common trip is about 300nm each way and may only fly over mountains 2x a year. My family is still light but would like a plane that can get 4 guys a reasonable distance. Will get or add tks, not sure if I would spring for the FIKI $'s. Would like a Garmin 600 and good autopilot. May add TAT in future. My thoughts are to get a decent V35B under $100,000 and likely speed $50,000 on upgrades. Any thoughts or suggestions are appreciated and please advice if should move to a different forum topic.

Welcome Doug,

Even though you own a Diamond you are welcome (By being here we know you appreciate the best regardless of what's in your hangar.).

We will enjoy helping you spend your money on the Bonanza of your dreams. If you will regularly haul two or three other people they will ride with more comfort in a Beech than any other brand AND you will enjoy flying it more!

The Garmin flat panels are now on the market. We will enjoy your posts on retrofitting your purchase.

Welcome to the group. I did a bicycle tour in the Banff area in August and found it gorgeous country compared with the flatlands of Illinois.

I also want to congratulate you as a Canadian on the improved quality of your major export: winter weather. There were a few years back in the late 1990s when we used to get pretty sleazy stuff from Alberta, but these new clippers have been of very high quality - good gale force winds, wind chills well below zero F coming this weekend.

I also want to congratulate you as a Canadian on the improved quality of your major export: winter weather. There were a few years back in the late 1990s when we used to get pretty sleazy stuff from Alberta, but these new clippers have been of very high quality - good gale force winds, wind chills well below zero F coming this weekend.

Welcome to BeechTalk Douglas! We might have to do something about that Diamond (or Not - just kidding )

Glad to see another member from Alberta, I fly out of Calgary - still in a *gasp* - Cessna 172!