Finally stopped thinking - bought my first plane!

M

MIFlyer

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MIFlyer
Many thanks to Ted, Barret and others.

After 8 years of thinking about buying a plane, I'm finally an owner!

I got my PPL about 8 years ago and have enjoyed flying in a great equity club that has two 172s and a 182 and a great membership. I one day want to have a twin with more carrying space and useful load, but I can neither justify the expense or the currency with the present demands on my time and budget from my family and job.

SOOOOOO, I decided to get an aircraft that would help me build the experience (both for the insurance company and for me) to handle a bigger, more complex plane down the road.

I bought a v-tail!!!!!

Pics coming soon (excuses first!)

It's a local, clean, hangared C35 Bonanza with good original P&I, an 65hr SMOH E225 and a workable panel, new struts.

GNC300XL (with a 2004 database!)
STEC 50 AP
Skybeacon ADSB

Insurance was very reasonable with 10 hours dual required (I am a VFR, 190 hr private pilot with 7 hours of complex time).

I'm in "owner logistics" heck right now.

1. Getting my storage situation finalized means I don't have physical access to the plane (seller is someone I know and is letting me leave it in his for a couple of weeks)
2. I don't fit!!! The C model has a fixed bench and my legs don't fit, so I am getting the STC installed to let me have sliding seats so I fit better.
3. I have an instructor lined up, so once I get the seats done (I have friends who can move it to the MX airport), I'll get going on my required transition time and then be looking for every single clear day I can find to fly the heck out of it. Insurance man says that I'll drop 9% every time I get 30 hours of retract time in, so my goal is to top 60 in the first year, we'll see how I do.

Sent registration to the feds and trying to work with the state to get them to take my sales tax money so I can register here.

I'm beyond excited. Since it's locked in the PO's hangar right now, I don't have pictures, but will come back and share those.

I'm going to try not to "improve" things until I fly (except the seats), but I do really want ADSB in. I don't really want to buy a new transponder at this point for $10K (I have a KT76 now), but I also am uneager to throw $800 at a GDL50. Is there something small and cheap that will give me traffic and weather "in"? I am using Garmin Pilot on IPAD and I just don't want to get into the panel right now, though a 375 or 345 could happen in a year or two.
 
Welcome to the v tail club !!!! I had a G and now a V35A.

The 225 is a solid motor. Does it have the electric prop or upgraded hydraulic?

If you haven’t yet, join the American Bonanza Society. There are a ton of great resources. Especially mechanics to ask questions about pretty much anything.

ABS also has a great type training course. And a number of qualified instructors to give a great check out and operating tips.
 
Yes, it’s rather common for cessation of thought to precede an aircraft purchase. Congrats, fellow Beechcraft owner!

MIFlyer said:
Is there something small and cheap that will give me traffic and weather "in"? I am using Garmin Pilot on IPAD
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Stratus or Stratux will do that for you.
 
Initial Fix said:
Welcome to the v tail club !!!! I had a G and now a V35A.

The 225 is a solid motor. Does it have the electric prop or upgraded hydraulic?

If you haven’t yet, join the American Bonanza Society. There are a ton of great resources. Especially mechanics to ask questions about pretty much anything.

ABS also has a great type training course. And a number of qualified instructors to give a great check out and operating tips.
Click to expand...
Thank you!

It has the Hartzel with the 60 month AD that I'll need to get addressed this winter at annual (not due until August, but I"m not taking the plane down for scheduled MX in the summer in Seattle!)

it also has the 470 cylinders which are supposed to be better for cooling.

I have joined ABS as a life member and am taking their trainings. I have a cool 80 year old Bo guy as my instructor to get me though the basics, but would consider the BPP course when it comes somewhat nearby.

I have a great hangar neighbor that is helping me think about a lot of stuff that's new as an owner vs renter as well (he's not a Beech guy, but has about 5 airplanes of all description. :)
 
T
Rgbeard said:
Congratulations!!!
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Thank you!!!!!! I appreciate the help on insurance, that, MX (found the IA who's done it for 10 years) and the hangar were all worrying me and with help from you and others, I'm getting all that stuff sorted, so I can jut go fly when I see a sunbreak for a couple hours! You truly helped make the dream come true.
 
Chrisgoesflying said:
Congrats! Plenty of options for ADS-B in that won't cost a whole lot. Look at Stratux.
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Thanks, I found a well reviewed Stratux+battery for $225 on fleabay and that seems very fair. The traffic under the SEA bravo shelf where I fly out can be busy and I really like the extra situational awareness.
 
MIFlyer said:
Thanks, I found a well reviewed Stratux+battery for $225 on fleabay and that seems very fair. The traffic under the SEA bravo shelf where I fly out can be busy and I really like the extra situational awareness.
Click to expand...

They work great. I used one for about a year until I upgraded my panel with a built in unit. Thinking of, I should post mine on the classified board if I can figure out in which moving box it is lol.
 
If you already have the sky beacon, put the sky sensor on the other wingtip. That’s what I did for $675. Simple install- just 2 wires. Ran through my iPad with ForeFlight. Had stratux before and like this so much better
 
jbDC9 said:
GNX 375 and Bob's your uncle! Great unit for ADSB in/out plus IFR navigator.
Click to expand...
will that cast to your ipad like the the Avidyne will? How does the buttonology compare to the GNS430 (which I hate)? I really need to think about that long term, if I ever do IR rating, but for now, I'm VFR only.
 
Garee said:
If you already have the sky beacon, put the sky sensor on the other wingtip. That’s what I did for $675. Simple install- just 2 wires. Ran through my iPad with ForeFlight. Had stratux before and like this so much better
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do you know if it's only Foreflight, or can I keep using Garmin pilot? Might be worth the upgrade at annual to get stuff off the dash and the admittedly tight cockpit
 
That I don’t know, but I would think it would. Another added bonus is the green LED light will now match the red light
 
jbDC9 said:
GNX 375 and Bob's your uncle! Great unit for ADSB in/out plus IFR navigator.
Click to expand...
If you have a desire to be IFR, this is a very good way to go. If you are diehard VFR forever, there are other options.
 
Ya done good! Welcome to the Bo club. It's a great place to fly. There is a Bonanza national expo every year. Well worth going early in ownership. A few caveats about the features.

1. Be careful about where you send or who you have look at the prop AD. Make SURE they don't make any logbook entries, or stamp anything on the blades or hub. Hartzell shops have a tendency to red X the older props for unspecified reasons, thus making you buy a new Hartzell prop. Zoiks! If they don't like your prop, take it somewhere else and have a second opinion.

2. The O-470 cylinders are an improvement. Keep an eye out for hairline cracks near the plug holes, and where the head mates to the jug. Your A&P will know where to look. There are two different pistons avail with that cyl. One has three rings, and one piston set has an extra oil ring below the pin in fairly light tension. Check your oil consumption on each flight. If you have a 3 ring setup the oil consumption may be pretty high, but don't worry, it's normal. The 4 ring has lower oil consumption.

3. Check your oil before and after each flight. Check after, because it's a dry sump engine, and the oil will all be scavenged from the crankcase, and in the tank. No more than about 9 quarts when hot. The oil cooler is those mesh of holes in the oil tank. Do NOT obstruct those holes. If they get a mud dauber in the hole, be careful to poke it out gently. Invest in an external oil filter to protect the engine.

4. You can't fit? I bet you can, if you know how to adjust things. Your adjustment is not the seat bottom, the adjustment is the rudder pedals! See the pic below. Note that little angled curved flange with the spring? Get a light in the footwell. Grasp the rudder extrusion shaft, and squeeze in on that curved flange. Pull it all the way to the back. It's likely already in the short person setting. Now, push it forward. It might stick along the way, but there are 3 or 4adjustment notches for the rudder pedal, and you can push it all the way to the furthest position, then release the flange, and it will snap into place. Do the same for the other pedal. The pedals on the pax side can be folded flat to the floor if you want. Remember, Mrs Beech did a lot of design work on the Bo, and she didn't want to be stomping on pilot controls.

4A. Grab a 8" adjustable wrench. fold the seat forward, and hop in back seat. Now, tip the pilot seatback as far forward as it will go. You can move the yoke over to get it tipped way forward. Locate the seatback vertical frame tube. At the bottom of the tube, locate an alum plug, with about a 1" hex flats. Note - how much alum is sticking out from the steel frame, to the hex flats? This will determine the rake(angle) of the seat back. Note there is one on each side of the frame, and now tip the seat all the way back, and see that those alum plugs rest on the plate on the seat bottom frame. This - is your seat back rake(angle) adjustment. To adjust, use the wrench on the hex flat, and turn it CW to increase the angle/rake. Turn it CCW to increase the alum plug longer and make the angle more upright. Adjust both sides equally, so that when the seat back is touching the seat bottom frame, both alum plugs are resting on the frame, and the seat back is oriented horizontal to the fuselage. You may adjust the right side the same, or different as needed.

Climb out of the back, and climb in the front, and see how you fit now. The yoke also has two notches. A low notch for short, and an upper notch for tall folk. The spring loaded yoke pin will lock in the position you like. Of course, it can also be 'thrown over' to the passenger easily.bo pedal.jpeg
 
Barret, if you weren’t already, you’re now my hero! I’ll try that when I get it to my hangar, hopefully this weekend, which would allow me to start my lessons.

Yes it does have the shoulder belts, alternator, and remote oil filter upgrades!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Care and feeding of your E-225 engine. The E-225 is an O-470 engine. The same one that makes 260HP with higher compression and FI and a new cam profile. All E-225 engines will make full rated power with NO rings in the pistons! It was tested by Conti, and made more than 225HP with no rings. It will make an easy 235 or more with rings at 2650RPM(2600 plus a 50RPM limit). It will consume some oil, so keep 4-5qts onboard all the time. Limit 2600/2650 to 5 min on takeoff.

You check your oil before flight and find it only has 4-5 quarts. Oh no, start pouring oil in! No, no, no, don't do this. There is an oil tank, and a dry sump engine. The anti-backflow valve in the bottom of the tank or engine has leaked and most of your oil is inside the crankcase. So, start and run the engine for 5 min, shut down and viola', you have 8.5 quarts. Go fly. There's a puddle of oil under the rear of the engine. Yep, they leak. If it still has a generator, the leak is the two seals at the generator shaft. Do NOT go tightening the flange bolts on the gen/alt. The leak is at the shaft, and not the flange. You can prove this by noting the oil drip coming off the bottom rear of the gen. It's hard to fix, and should be done with a change over to a 50 amp alternator from Plane Power. Oil pressure when hot will hover around 40PSI. Find a guy who knows the E-series engine, and tell him you want the oil pressure relief adjusted by adding washer(s) under the locknut. This will help keep the hot oil pressure up some.

Acquaint yourself with Conti SB03-3. It's 14 freakin' pages. If you say you understand it after reading it twice, you're lying. No one understands it until the fifth reading, and at least 3 field experiments. Comp test results are 38 over 80? No worries, it means the cyl is airworthy, but needs to be further checked, and down the rat hole of SB03-3 we go. Recall that the engine will make full rated power without any rings! Just need to inspect that jug with a borescope. Chances are good, the next comp test it'll read 68 over 80. Go figure...

Baffle leaks. Fix them all, no excuses. New baffle seals, new cowl seals, cracks repaired and sealed, edge fitment to the case tight. The engine likes a lot of air. Watch the CHT in cruise with the cowl flaps closed. I usually leave the cowl flaps open just a smidge and pay a tiny price in speed for air flow.

The engine has a pressure injector. It's sometimes called a carburetor, but it's not, it's a fuel 'injector' as it uses pressure to push fuel into the throttle body on 6 annular discharge nozzles. Take off a gill door(under the cowl), use a flashlight, see if the seals on the injector body are black, or red. If black, it's going to need a rebuild sometime in the near future. If red, you're ok. When the engine shuts down, push the mixture back in, it keeps the seals and gaskets wet so they don't crack. it won't leak fuel. Hot starts are done with no fuel pump. Throttle 1/4, mixture full lean, both mags. Crank and as soon as the engine fires, push the mixture all the way in. If it doesn't catch, then flood the injector with the fuel pump, turn it off, mixture lean, throttle full in, and keep cranking even if it pops, don't stop cranking. When it fires(and it will), use both hands, and mixture rich, throttle back rapidly.

It will operate lean of peak at 65% power or less. Set power to 65%, with throttle all the way in. Now, pull mixture until the RPM barely begins to drop(or MP falls on a constant speed), push it back a tiny bit near peak power. Now turn the THROTTLE(not mixture) out about 1/4 to 1/2" of MP, just barely tipping the throttle plate from vertical. It will be LOP. Make sure all intake boots are tight, for even running engine.
 
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MIFlyer said:
Thank you!

It has the Hartzel with the 60 month AD that I'll need to get addressed this winter at annual (not due until August, but I"m not taking the plane down for scheduled MX in the summer in Seattle!)

it also has the 470 cylinders which are supposed to be better for cooling.

I have joined ABS as a life member and am taking their trainings. I have a cool 80 year old Bo guy as my instructor to get me though the basics, but would consider the BPP course when it comes somewhat nearby.

I have a great hangar neighbor that is helping me think about a lot of stuff that's new as an owner vs renter as well (he's not a Beech guy, but has about 5 airplanes of all description. :)
Click to expand...
I wish we had more new Bonanza owners like you :) you're off to a great start to enjoy your new ride
 
Garee said:
That I don’t know, but I would think it would. Another added bonus is the green LED light will now match the red light
Click to expand...
Thank you for the tip. I'm looking into it and it seems like it'll work with GP. This would really keep the cockpit tidier and be much more "preflight and go" vs having to hook up a bunch of junk evertime I want to fly. I'm going to talk to my IA about this and see if it's something we can just fit get done quick. $750 plus a couple hours of IA time would be pretty nice, especially since I won't try to integrate it with anything on the panel so I don't have to wait for the avionics shop if the IA is willing to do it.
 
Jim Carpenter said:
Congrats! If not already equipped, shoulder harnesses should be top priority (and considered part of your seat mod.).
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Mine will need those, as well. How does that addition work? Are they added to the seat back or to the roof/frame?
 
StraightnLevel said:
Mine will need those, as well. How does that addition work? Are they added to the seat back or to the roof/frame?
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BAS has roof mounted inertial reels, Alpha has sidepost mounted, and there's ABI with different options. Probably other providers available as well.

P.S. If not already done, join ABS. And, start surfing Beechtalk (you don't have to leave POA!)
 
Jim Carpenter said:
BAS has roof mounted inertial reels, Alpha has sidepost mounted, and there's ABI with different options. Probably other providers available as well.

P.S. If not already done, join ABS. And, start surfing Beechtalk (you don't have to leave POA!)
Click to expand...

I installed the ones sold by Alpha Aviation in my Comanche. They also have them for the Beech via stc. They’re attached to the ceiling of the cabin. Wasn’t a huge job according to the bill my mechanic sent me. That was the first thing i installed after i bought the plane. i refused to fly it without shoulder harnesses.
 
MIFlyer said:
Thank you for the tip. I'm looking into it and it seems like it'll work with GP. This would really keep the cockpit tidier and be much more "preflight and go" vs having to hook up a bunch of junk evertime I want to fly. I'm going to talk to my IA about this and see if it's something we can just fit get done quick. $750 plus a couple hours of IA time would be pretty nice, especially since I won't try to integrate it with anything on the panel so I don't have to wait for the avionics shop if the IA is willing to do it.
Click to expand...
It’s literally 3 screws and 2 wires to hookup, I think less then 30 minutes to install and program. Yes to less clutter in cockpit plus not worry about the Stratux overheating……
 
Half Fast said:
My Mouse had shoulder harnesses but they were fixed. When they were snug enough to do any good I couldn’t reach the fuel selector or flaps bar. The very first mod I made was to install inertia reel harnesses.

Whatever it takes, get this one done.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I took my PPL checkride in a plane with fixed shoulder harnesses. Like you, I found that I couldn't reach some critical items. Non-starter.
 
texasclouds said:
I would love to see some pictures of her, preferably from behind. And maybe a shot of the panel. For research…
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You and me both! I hope to get her moved to her new home Saturday or Sunday and then I can move the air compressor, some extra tools, a couple of lawn chairs, a folding table, my battery maintainer, some cleaning supplies, etc.

Then I can take some pictures, look at the seat adjustment, and put the battery maintainer on it so that I can sit in it and play with the avionics/etc to learn it a bit before I'm allowed to fly it.
 
MIFlyer said:
Many thanks to Ted, Barret and others.

After 8 years of thinking about buying a plane, I'm finally an owner!

I got my PPL about 8 years ago and have enjoyed flying in a great equity club that has two 172s and a 182 and a great membership. I one day want to have a twin with more carrying space and useful load, but I can neither justify the expense or the currency with the present demands on my time and budget from my family and job.

SOOOOOO, I decided to get an aircraft that would help me build the experience (both for the insurance company and for me) to handle a bigger, more complex plane down the road.

I bought a v-tail!!!!!

Pics coming soon (excuses first!)

It's a local, clean, hangared C35 Bonanza with good original P&I, an 65hr SMOH E225 and a workable panel, new struts.

GNC300XL (with a 2004 database!)
STEC 50 AP
Skybeacon ADSB

Insurance was very reasonable with 10 hours dual required (I am a VFR, 190 hr private pilot with 7 hours of complex time).

I'm in "owner logistics" heck right now.

1. Getting my storage situation finalized means I don't have physical access to the plane (seller is someone I know and is letting me leave it in his for a couple of weeks)
2. I don't fit!!! The C model has a fixed bench and my legs don't fit, so I am getting the STC installed to let me have sliding seats so I fit better.
3. I have an instructor lined up, so once I get the seats done (I have friends who can move it to the MX airport), I'll get going on my required transition time and then be looking for every single clear day I can find to fly the heck out of it. Insurance man says that I'll drop 9% every time I get 30 hours of retract time in, so my goal is to top 60 in the first year, we'll see how I do.

Sent registration to the feds and trying to work with the state to get them to take my sales tax money so I can register here.

I'm beyond excited. Since it's locked in the PO's hangar right now, I don't have pictures, but will come back and share those.

I'm going to try not to "improve" things until I fly (except the seats), but I do really want ADSB in. I don't really want to buy a new transponder at this point for $10K (I have a KT76 now), but I also am uneager to throw $800 at a GDL50. Is there something small and cheap that will give me traffic and weather "in"? I am using Garmin Pilot on IPAD and I just don't want to get into the panel right now, though a 375 or 345 could happen in a year or two.
Click to expand...
Congratulations
 
MIFlyer said:
I'm going to try not to "improve" things until I fly (except the seats), but I do really want ADSB in. I don't really want to buy a new transponder at this point for $10K (I have a KT76 now), but I also am uneager to throw $800 at a GDL50. Is there something small and cheap that will give me traffic and weather "in"? I am using Garmin Pilot on IPAD and I just don't want to get into the panel right now, though a 375 or 345 could happen in a year or two.
Click to expand...
Whoa, those GDL 5xs got expensive! :eek:

The other option from Garmin is the GDL 39, a simpler predecessor to the GDL 5x series. If you're looking at the SkySensor, I'd take that over a portable thing.
MIFlyer said:
will that cast to your ipad like the the Avidyne will? How does the buttonology compare to the GNS430 (which I hate)? I really need to think about that long term, if I ever do IR rating, but for now, I'm VFR only.
Click to expand...
GNX 375 is GPS + Transponder and it does connect to the iPad. Buttonology is nothing like the 430, it's all touchscreen similar to the 650/750. You can download manuals off of Garmin's web site to get a feel for how it works.
 
flyingcheesehead said:
Whoa, those GDL 5xs got expensive! :eek:

The other option from Garmin is the GDL 39, a simpler predecessor to the GDL 5x series. If you're looking at the SkySensor, I'd take that over a portable thing.

GNX 375 is GPS + Transponder and it does connect to the iPad. Buttonology is nothing like the 430, it's all touchscreen similar to the 650/750. You can download manuals off of Garmin's web site to get a feel for how it works.
Click to expand...
There is also an iPad simulator for the 375 that is great for familiarization.
 
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