Ooh! So you've done it? !!

Way to go. You will really appreciate the capabilities of the A36/550. It is a remarkable plane and flown properly can achieve a miles per gallon close to that of the Sundowner (while almost 50% faster).

I look forward to a visit. Now you have to plan a trip to Tullahoma in October!

Congrats Steve, sweet ride! Look forward to the interior and panel shots.

Steve, that's a great plane. Fast with long range.

You'll love it!

Thanks everyone, I can't wait to fly it for the first time.

Max, Paul McCracken probably won't be done for two weeks as he is "squeezing me in" and the repairs before closing took three weeks longer than anyone anticipated, so I probably won't make Tullahoma this year.

Tom, if I hadn't been up to my eyeballs in this deal when you listed yours, you would still be looking for a twin.

Thanks again to everyone on this board that has offered insight and support.

Steve,

Welcome and you've made a fabulous choice. Great plane and you'll love it. Keep us posted....

Beautiful Bo Bro

congrats congrats congrats, she's a beauty!!!

Hello Beech Talkers

I have been lurking on Beech talk for some time now - so it is about time I introduced myself and my aircraft. I have been fliying in Bonaza's for the last 35 years (since the age of 5) with my father and I have held my licence for the last 19 years. I was bitten by the aviation bug at a very young age. It must be genetic as my 5 year old son is inflicted with the aviation bug as well!

Due to a lack of funds for the first 10 years of my licence, most of my flying has occurred in the last 9 years since I have owned my 1971 A36. I have logged 1300 hours total time, with 991 of those in my A36. I hold a command instrument rating with 9 renewals and fly primarily for business with the odd Angel Flight mixed in.

Our family has owned three Bonanza's in total. My father owned a V-Tail (N35) VH-IOM and an A36 (VH - COG). We now own VH FMY. We are clearly a "Beechcraft" family, although my father did own a Cessna 177RG at one stage. Prior to flying the Bonanza, my father always said "you haven't flown unitll you have flown a Bonanza". He was right!

I have recently completed a "full" restoration - Avionics, Interior, Exterior and Prop. During the refurbishment project, all of the flight cables were replaced, undercarriage removed, overhauled and re rigged, the gear and flap motors overhauled and numerous other tasks completed. During the avionics upgrade, a new instrument panel was manufactured and all electrical cables completely re wired.

The avionics stack includes:

GMA 340 Audio Panel
GMX200 MFD with Chartview
2 x GNS430 (One WAAS)
1x GTX327 Transponder
1 x WX 500 Stormscope
1 x SAM GPS Steering Module

I have found the Beech Talk site a fantastic web site - keep up the good work!

Regards
David Young

Jeff

I am based in Redcliffe which is in Queensland, Australia. WAAS is of little benefit in Australia - I guess it was just a good salesman!

Regards

David

David,

Did you get your Bonanza refurbished at Redcliffe? I supervised a paint and interior of a C172 there a few years ago and was very happy with the result.

Jeff - There is an advantage with the WAAS units in Australia as the TSO146 certification allows single source of navigation performance which does not come with the non-WAAS units. This can be very useful when outback and not having to carry fuel for an alternate due to aid availability. That said, I wish AirServices would just get on with the process of getting WAAS all over Australia!

cheers,

Hugh

G’day

While replying to David Young’s posts above, I realised that although I have been a member here for over 12 months, I have neglected to formally introduce myself. Apologies to you all for my lack of manners.

I am primarily a sheep and cattle grazier (rancher) from “Mirani” in northern NSW. I am also a registered, but not practising, Veterinarian. My immediate family is my wife Felicity, and kids Zoe (10) and Tom (8). As well my mother lives elsewhere on the farm, and my brother and family nearby on another farm. Our closest town is Walcha (pronounced Wol-ka) and the area is well know for producing the best fine Merino wool in the world, and excellent beef. Our website will give anyone interested a better understanding of where we live and what we do.

Our family association with aviation goes back to the 1950’s when my Grandfather was trying to develop better and more productive pastures. The first fertiliser spread by air in Australia was done on “Mirani” from a Tiger Moth. I still use the same strip today. My father gained his private license just after leaving school and although he really loved his flying, family, farming and financial pressures meant he didn’t stay current.

Although always wanting to learn to fly from a young age, I had never the opportunity or excuse until a friend lent me his C172 to learn in about 5 years ago. In 3 weeks and 40.2 hrs I gained my PPL. I have since gone on to get my multi engine endorsement (PA30 and Baron) and sometime later an instrument rating. The whole process has been enormous fun and a great challenge. I have continued to use that friend’s C172 which we have both put time and money into refurbishing, as well as hiring a local C210 and Baron when available. I just love flying the Baron!!

In addition to work related trips, we have had some fantastic family tours around Australia. With family scattered into Queensland and the NT, we have been able to visit them by air when a road trip would have been impossible. The kids just love going places in the plane. Recently I have been working with overseas investors who are interested in buying and operating agricultural businesses in Australia. Having the ability to move around the country relatively quickly and easily compared to either commercial airlines or by road has been very useful. Perhaps if this line of work continues to develop I will finally get the chance to purchase a Baron of my own.

Cheers,

Hugh

All is forgiven Hugh, you get an A+ for that intro! Welcome!

We need a thread on GA life in Australia... we have a number of members from there now and yet I feel somewhat ignorant of what flying is like there. Anyhoo, thanks for the intro!

Ditto what Jeff said, Hugh, and what fine-looking children you have.

It appears to me that we have a hugely disproportionate number of BT-ers from Australia (by reference to population. I presume the Beechcraft's inherent superiority makes it a fine plane for use in the challenging Australian conditions?

As my sister lives in SA (Adelaide), I'll look forward to encountering some of you down there, some day.

I would like to introduce myself.

I live in a suburb of Houston with my wife, two kids (9 and 5) and 2 dogs, and fly out of David Wayne Hooks Airport.

We have owned N601BT (which the kids dubbed "Rocket") since September 2006. She is a 1989 F33A (s/n 1371). She sports an IO-550B, a largely stock King panel, plus Sandel EHSI, JPI 700, Stormscope and dual yoke. We bought Rocket after looking at a variety of fast singles off and off for a few years. She is now our primary mode of family transportation and my wife and kids have not been on an airliner since we bought her. Rocket was the June 2009 ABS cover plane.

We have flown Rocket to California, Florida, Colorado, Alabama, Kentucky and Mississippi. I also use her extensively in support of my aviation law practice. Finally, while it is a very short trip, N601BT frequently takes me to nearby Hobby Airport, where I serve as volunteer for and president of the 1940 Air Terminal Museum.

Thanks to Marty Detloff for introducing me to BeechTalk. I look forward to participating.

I love the N number 601 Beech Talk too cool!!! Welcome to Beeck talk!!!

Jay