I'm a big fan! I'm on my second one, a B24R. Yes, go to beechaeroclub.org and read up on them. According to my mechanic, they are about the same maintenance intensive as an Arrow. Can't really beat the price on them right now, or ever, really.
My personal problems with them are few: Tons of screws on inspections panels, and some parts availability. HOWEVER, with the tremendous support of the BAC (beechaeroclub), parts are really not hard to find at all. Plus, some of the most unobtainium parts can be obtained by owner produced means, and they are usually very affordable. Look for black duct, ugh! The rubber donuts on the gear are not hard to find, and the aftermarket supply is very much cheaper than OEM, by far. That's about the only beef I really have. The club does a great job of keeping these odd balls flying. But, it's slow, like slowaira, slow. Which, is a compromise for the hangar sized cabin, and 3 doors, and strength like a Beech. Because of that Beech airframe, climbs are something to plan when hot, high, or both. Just fly it within the limits it is designed and nbd. Edit: Maybe a bit hot in the summer because of the huge windshield and windows, and the number of them.
My personal favorites are many. The plane does about 90% of what I want it to do. My main big mission is me and the wifey, 250 lbs of camping gear: including 2 bikes, one 29'er, firewood, portable fire pit, food, water, and 45 gallons of fuel - that's MTOW. About a 950 useful load in my serial number. The only thing I wish it could do requires bigger tires and a tailwheel, so nbd. I've landed on a beach, grass and gravel runways, short rough "paved" runways.
I usually fly with 30 gal, not the 52 that's max. Way easy to fill each tank with 15, 20, or full by visual means - tabs hang in the tank. With normal 30 gal of fuel, I have a good 3 hrs of flying to empty at 8 ish gph. I flight plan 115 kts. (slowaira) Usually, I set 2500-2700 rpm and WOT, lean as suggested, whichever is smoothest for the day - 122 kts is my usual number at 2500 and 24.5 mp. Just about 75% or so. Light weights, like I normally fly, TO and landing are less than 1000', less with practice for fun. Get one with Armstrong flaps, dump the lift, and the breaks work great.
My fav attribute is that huge back door. The rear seats can be taken out in 2 minutes with the thumb screws from the back door. No need to climb on the wing to take them out. I can fit my 29'er in there with the front wheel off no problem. The two front doors are pretty cool to have. I'm 6 foot 2, 235 lbs. The wife is (ahem, ha-choo, cough cough, grumble) and fits just fine. Let's just say she has an hourglass figure with about 10 extra minutes. I can wear any headset and not bump the headband on the headliner. CG is hardly an issue. If it is just me and another front pax, I put 75 lbs in the cargo to make the balance aft-cg for easy flying.
I got one with a new engine, and that Lyc IO360 is totally happy flying at high power settings. We all know that engine is really hardy. Descents with power are fine, so we get back our slow climb that way. The yeller arc starts at 145 kts (iirc) so push it over and haul butt down.
The gear is really strong, as long as we keep in mind it is a retractable, which is a generally accepted weak spot in airframes. My old flight school never had a NLG collapse in the 5 years I was there with 3 '24R's. The ride is not smooth on the ground because of the rubber pucks, but whatever. They have a very high Vlo, Vle, so they can be put down at like 125 kts and operated at 145 (iirc). I don't operate like that, so, again, whatever. The gear is also easy to maintain and adjustments are minimal. Occasionally, the legs need to be pulled apart to lube them, but it isn't hard to do.
There are some issues that the club has been very successful in helping me keep my plane awesome. The aileron and rudder bushings can easily be owner supplied, really tightened mine up. Cost, 0. NLG bushings can be owner supplied by John Deer, or the aviation department at your local machine shop, very cheep brass sheets cut into circles. Some club members have complete airframes they are parting out for cost, and my plane has a few of these parts.
It is really fun to fly! Fiddly prop, floppy gear, fuel injection, fancy 430, 'ugejass doors. It does fly pretty solid, and not very sloppy. Takes turbulence easy, not much to bend.
I fly mine with an inop AP in the clouds whenever I wish, within reason. VFR on top is fun to try to do, however, plan the climb.
PM me if you want more info, and my real cost to own. If you live near KSEA, I'll give you a ride. If you get on the Club's forum, ask for a ride and someone will jump at the chance for the excuse to go fly. BTW, the club members are really great folks. Very happy, friendly.
