So true Jeff, and I've got a great wife who has supported and encouraged me to get my license and agreed to our purchasing and owning an aircraft.

With our own business I probably should have said, "until it makes good business sense", which there again it never will, but I will need to regularly travel more that 500 NM, or wait until the kids are larger to justify it to myself.

I love the Sundowner, and it's just so darn cheap to keep flying, even with all the upgrades I've made to it.

With almost 60 gallons useful and traveling solo, I can fly almost anywhere between the Smokies and the Rockies that I have to travel to and do it non-stop, with all my gear and golf clubs too, and most of the time I will beat the airlines if you calculate getting there early and waiting for baggage. And as a bonus I don't have to take off my shoes unless I want to

In Feb I made St Louis to Dallas in 4.5, three weeks ago St Louis to Charlotte, NC in 4.3, I can handle that

Thanks, Mike, it's nice, but there are still a lot of little things that need addressing, some of the steam gauges are long in the tooth, but with the new Aspen glass now available I've got a pretty good idea where I'm going

Steve,

Welcome to our prejudiced Beech-loving forum!

That is a very nice Sundowner...Very pretty and well equipped.

When you acquire a 36 and discover you can fly around the patch at 115 knots and 8.6 gph in it as well as the Sundowner you might change your mind on shedding the present plane. Two sets of upkeep/annual/insurance might be the final deciding factor.

Now...where are the pictures of the interior and panel???

Max, the pics will be forthcoming.

Q: I read in one of the posts that you played pro ball. I did a google search and came up with a Max Grogan that played for the Indians organization in the 60's. Was that you? The reason I ask is because my father in law, Jerry Kelly, also played for the Indians organization in the 60's in the Carolina League, the Midwest League, and a few others that I can't remember off the top of my head.

Steve,

Yes, my short span with the Cleveland organization was 1964 and '65. I don't recall meeting Jerry Kelly.

Max,

Jerry was in Selma and Dubuque in '61, Dubuque in '62, Burlington in '63, Charleston in '64, Reading in '65, and Pawtucket in '66 & '67.

He said you were probably in spring training together although he doesn't recall meeting you either.

Here's his info off the website I found:

http://www.baseball-reference.com/minor ... lly-001jer

Welcome Steve! Standing by for those pictures of your nice interior!

Steve -

Welcome, thanks for telling us about your bird. I also had a "Mouse" (180hp B19). I bought it because "my dad was a Beechcraft man" . I loved having pilot and co-pilot doors. I also loved the large fuel capacity but found that I punished myself by flying around with too much fuel most of the time (I am paranoid about running out of fuel). It truly handled differently when it was light.

Anyhow, great to have you here.

Here are the pictures of my '77 Sundowner N3342L as promised:

Thanks for showing an interest

Hello Gentlemen, I posted this on the Twin area, but then realized this is the intro thread.

I'm happy to announce I'll be joining your ranks. After drooling over it for years, I just purchased Dick Ward's Twin Bonanza Excalibur 800. I'll be basing it at ENW or UGN.

Looking forward to chatting.

Phil

Steve,
Dang!! That is a beautiful Sundowner, mine is a '75 and looks great, but it could use your panel and interior.

LUX is indeed Mecca for Baby Beeches. I was there on Sunday just dropping in to say "Hello" to Monty. Mike was in Florida. If I could have a clubhouse, it would be Mike's hanger at LUX!

I still need to get some tweaks to my rigging. I'm about 4 knts slower than yours.

Norton

Thanks a lot Norton, we met when you stopped by KLUX when I was there and you had Chad do something to your plane, unfortunately we didn't get to talk much as I was up to my elbows in Sundowner.

I wish I lived close enough to KLUX to "just stop by", man am I jealous.

Welcome Phil,

Nice plane. WOW!!!

Thanks Steve.

Nice Sundowner. Looks like you've got it well sorted out! Where do you base?

Phil

Phil,

About 250 miles SSW of ENW in the St Louis area at SET.

If you ever come to the area let me know, I would love to see your plane firsthand.

Steve

Hello All,

I got my private certificate in 1966, and started flying a D35 at 43 hrs total time. Bought a P-35 in 1985 and got my IR in it. Sold it in 2000. When I retired at the end of 2007, I started looking for another Bo and wound up with a BE36. Best airplane I have ever flown and the 430 WAAS makes IFR a dream. Been on this board for a few days and this is my first post!

John