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I'll check the logs and get a prebuy done on it with a Beechcraft shop. I like that it has the bigger IO-550 engine as most Debbie's have smaller 225HP IO-470 engine so cruising 160-170 kts would make it a great cross country ship for me on the west coast. I'd like to fly fish in Idaho summers.

Sorry more info tSMOH 889 TT 4400 Hangar Midwest plane

So I am looking at a nice Bonanza that had engine last overhauled 15 years ago. Should I be concerned if it checks out?

It is not just the cost of the cylinders but the labor cost and accesories that often need to be replaced at same time. You either need an A&P friend to help do the work or owner assisted work.

Haha never heard that one before!

Unless you are an A&P and have the time and drive to do a project plan, it is better in most cases to pass. Also, for many, time is money.

Hopefully at least 5 years. I am planning to buy one to fly for long time without major upgrade. Hence a Bonanza! Twins are nice but twice as much to own and maintain. No need for six seater right now.

Probably 100-150 hours per year at most.

Good to know! I'm looking for data on Beechcraft Bonanza airframe data. Looked at the Bonanza ABS site but having trouble finding this. Any idea here? I'm shopping for one and see tons with 9-14,000 airframe hours but that's too high for my comfort level as a buyer.

I think there is a term called mean time to failure MTF that applies to airframes. Metal fatigue and so forth. But I could be wrong.

Yup tons of sellers and brokers hide the real condition and when you dig deeper the gremlins surface! That is why due diligence and a solid prebuy are crucial.

Factor in a lot more for labor unless you are an A&P and can do the work yourself. Both IO-540 and O-540 are SUPER EXPENSIVE engines!

True but having the ability to maintain and work on my plane would save me thousands of dollars a year in maintenance. Plus it is nice to know how things work beyond being a pilot.

Glad it worked out. I may just wait until I'm finished my A&P then buy a semi project plane that needs avionics upgrade as the avionics work that I can do myself installing as an A&P will save me 10k in labor. That way I can break even should I sell at future date.

Thanks guys. So far it has been challenging. I had a broker/seller accept an offer on a plane that was to go into prebuy and then never heard back and seller reneged on deal. Most planes for sale are far away and work schedule makes it tough to travel for the hunt.

Me too. In my case, I may will end up with a simple Piper fixed gear to get my instrument rating done and use for weekend burger hops. Plenty for sale at decent affordable prices and I prefer low wing to high wing.

Congrats. Hopefully your A&P did a compression and leak down test on the engine. I recommend oil sample analysis over time to make sure plane is not making metal.

It could be the Cessna rentals have been abused to the point where the doors do not open or close easily.

I dislike the Cessna doors complete pain in the ass to open and close and they break super easy! Piper doors much easier to open and close. Then again, I prefer low wing to high wing planes.

Why did older planes have such funky yokes?