Beechcraft Bonanza

[FlytheBall]

I am looking at purchasing a Beech Bonanza. Anyone have any experience owning a beech ie maint. costs, operating cost etc? Are there any other types i should be considering? Here is my reasoning:

Boanza:
225HP, cheaper, retract, fast

Arrows:
less hp, more expensive and hard to find an older one, not as fast

Mooneys:
ugly, less hp, seems like they would be a biatch to maintain, also not as fast

Any thoughts?

 

[FlytheBall]

Only 1400 a year for insurance for me. The cirrus and lancairs are too expensive. They arent old enough to be economical for me. The bonanzas seem to be the cheapest i've found and in the nicest condition compared to the mooneys. Done quite a lot of research and the Bonanza seems to come out the cheapest. Maint. seems to be hit or miss. Some say you will spend a lot, and others say parts are easy to find etc. Either way, any plane will be expensive.

 

[FlytheBall]

I was never really big into the high wing cessnas. Its an older C35. No car payment, and hardly any student loans and looking for a partner. I think its very doable. Oviously its going to cost money, but thats expected when getting an airplane.

 

[KSUFLY]

Have you looked at a Cherokee 235. Very nice airplane, not complex, reasonable fuel burn/airspeed, actual 4 passenger aircraft.

 

[Gatordev]

I've always wanted to fly a Lancair, just to see if it was as smooth and sleek as it looks. I'd second the question about "needing" a 6 person airplane.

 

[FlytheBall]

Its not a 6 person plane, its a 4 person plane. Maybe you are thinking of the newer 36's. This is an older 4 seater V-tail.

 

[KSUFLY]

I'd second the question about "needing" a 6 person airplane.

You'd be surprised...you plus three friends and a keg. The keg is a killer when it comes to weight and balance.

 

[FlytheBall]

Must have been an ERAU guy. Sounds like other riddle stories i have heard

 

[KSUFLY]

Sounds like a great idea, until you need to break the seal 45 minutes into a 2.5 hour flight. Not that I'm speaking from experience (Seneca III + 5 college buddies all CFII's, 1 sober pilot, and a weekend 4th of july trip).

As far as the C35 "doctor killer" I'd def contact the Bonanza owners society... prob. your best source of information. Personally, if you're looking to go into a partnership, I'd do a C-310 A or B. THAT'S just a cool airplane, with the old tuna tanks and straight tail.

C-310...good thinking. Twin cessnas are nice. Maybe he should get a C-421 or better yet the C-441 with the Dash 10 engines. And as for the breaking the seal problem refer to...

http://www.airwarriors.com/forum/showthread.php?t=17590

 

[FlytheBall]

The guy I am taking the bonanza from has a 310 and he regrets it. Had to put way too much money into it and he said the maint. is twice what his bonanza cost him. But they are sexy. But seriously how cool would it be to own your own plane? I think it'd be worth it....one of those lifetime dream things.

 

[FlytheBall]

I am looking in the 40k-50k range...so granted those 310s are decent....still well out of my price range.

 

[FlytheBall]

I think with a partner it would be decently affordable and doable....going solo though....seems like its going to take a lot of cash.

 

[FlytheBall]

Well I should be there in May, let me know if you want to go halvsies.

 

[zippy]

Ya Fly Navy and I actually had planned on partnering on an airplane... then the moron had to go all left coast on me.

That'll teach you to trust Fly Navy...

 

[Fly Navy]

Ya Fly Navy and I actually had planned on partnering on an airplane... then the moron had to go all left coast on me.

Hey now, don't hate. Hopefully I'll get myself back to the right coast.