http://www.aopa.org/aircraft/articles/2 ... P=News:S1T

Without a price it's hard to speculate about a market, but it sure seems like the closest thing to a Bo to come around in a long time.

Soooooo...just because my airplane is 47 years old (and an absolutely PROVEN commodity), it's not as good as something built today with no track record whatsoever? I don't think so...

This reminds me of the Windecker Eagle. Another Texas creation that "revolutionized small airplane travel"

Poor thing. It was ahead of its time. Way ahead, it was developed in 1958 and flew in 1961.

http://airandspace.si.edu/collections/a ... 9850619000

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windecker_Industries

At what point are these new age designers and manufacturers going to realize the reason our bonanzas (and barons) have remained largely unchanged is because beech just did it right the first time?

Based on the size of a number of BT members whose pics appeared with the recent CMI event, a couple more inches of cabin width would be an improvement.

edit: and it would certainly be nice to have 2 doors for the front seat.

and its a 4 seater. although they did mention something about pressurization.

Well, I am glad it: "will have many other advantages, including a stable wing" as opposed to an unstable wing I suppose. Looks a little like an Aero Commander 114, which with a 260 hp. engine went just as fast as my G model Bonanza with the 225 hp engine.

Jim Christy

“Most U.S. manufacturing of GA aircraft is in a museum,”

I agree, what new did HBC as brought for the last 40 years besides Garmins glass cockpit?

Ouch

Agreed. Just because beech products havent changed doesnt mean theres no room for improvement. It means theres no money for improvement.

I build all carbon fiber/Kevlar aircraft so I can speak about so called lightweight composites.
Most composite airplane are as heavy and sometimes heavier than the same airplane built out of aluminum. The RV series is a great example. The planes they build are just as light as mine.
Where I have an advantage is in wing spar strength and overall toughness.
The Cirrus is a good example, It is not a lightweight. I have seen a number of wrecked Cirrus and most in various taken apart conditions. Compared to Beech they are somewhere between the average home built and a Beechcraft. They look very nice, but are terrible to work on. Beech Bonanzas actually flew before the war was over and remain one of the finest airplanes ever built. I actually like the older ones, as they weigh less and perform better (IMO).
I can guarantee the plane being discussed will weigh 15% more that they anticipate . All planes gain weight and none ever lose weight. Even the big guys gain at least 10% from their design weight. Look at the Air Bus 380.
My personal desire is for a full sized pressurized 4 seat airplane.
As current pricing goes , I will never live long enough to buy one of these, no matter how good it is.
The best I could ever do is a Lancair 4p or design/build one of my own. O well I can dream.

1. Nothing much is going to change in piston offerings until we build more HP. There's no JATO available as far as I know. It's pretty much all the same stuff.

2. How long does it take to develop and certify a new airplane, THEN convince a new buyer they have a sufficient parts inventory, build a service network, have a reputation for a smooth warranty claims, and prove enough dispatch reliability that they would be willing to write a check for about the same price as everything else?

Answer....a long, long time!

With the piston market today barely surviving, do you think there is room for another manufacturer to duplicate and split the current offerings?

US domestic maybe not, but internationally with China seemingly buying anything related to aviation it can get it's hands on who knows?

US domestic maybe not, but internationally with China seemingly buying anything related to aviation it can get it's hands on who knows?

After touring the Mooney factory, we saw firsthand how obsolete the equipment there is.

A diesel-electric hybrid Mooney (with a 4" cabin width plug) would be a great seller.