Back on MooneySpace, it's Been Awhile

[Buster1]

Hello MooneySpace friends!  It's been a while since I've been a regular contributor and such to MooneySpace...like 3 years!  In that time the military has kept me busy and moved me to the Las Vegas area.

 

I do have to report that I have realized my dream of aircraft ownership, and recently purchased a 1969 V35A "V-Tail" Bonanza.  (Don't hate me!   )  It was a close running between the Mooney and Bonanza, but in the end, the Bo fits my mission a little bit better while giving up some of the efficiency of a Mooney.  I'm over in the BeechTalk forum quite a bit now, and we have a regular group of solid Mooney owners there too who contribute and are a welcome group.  So come on over if you'd like!

 

Lastly, I am also working on a small business building wooden spark plug trays...for cheap!  If you need such a thing, check out my for sale ad here on MooneySpace, and my link below...I'd be happy to custom craft a tray for you and your bird!

 

Thanks MooneySpace, it's good to be back!

[co2bruce]

Welcome back, and thanks for your service.

[co2bruce]

Oh,  and nice plane

[joneluv]

Buster1. Thank you for your service to our country! As the son of a 21 year Marine, who was one of the original C-130 pilots for the Blue Angeles, and my youngest son in the Air Force, I appreciate your sacrifice.

Could you please give your mission and what about it showed you that the Bonanza was the right choice. Also, which Mooney model(s) were in the running.

As a future pilot and want to be plane owner, I am interested in your decision.

Thank you,

John

PS. If memory serves correct, my profile picture is the autographed photo of the 1970 Blue Angles with one of my favorite planes, the Phantom F-4!

[HopePilot]

Even though you are a traitor (sic), feel free to come over to my hangar sometime and have a soda.

[carusoam]

Welcome back Buster!

-a-

[Raygun15E]

I know why Buster went with the Bo, especially this particular one... Just look at the last two numbers in the N#... ;-)

[jetdriven]

Thats a nice Bonanza.  If you got the money for gas, there's no better way to travel.  Keep up informed of your adventures.

[Buster1]

And she's a 1969 too!  

 

Thanks guys.  I appreciate not being flamed too much here.  But I'll take a little ribbing, I deserve it.  The Mooney was my first true love...but life and mission, and stuff changed ... and I think that the Bo fits my needs the best.

 

John, to best answer your questions, I can say I spent a fair bit of time with a friend who owned an E (or maybe an F) model I believe.  I got a little time in it, and it was pretty cool.  I was looking at Js and maybe 231/Ks for that turbo performance.  I'll be honest, (full disclosure) hearing some of the stories on the Ks and engine woes is what sealed the deal for me on NOT pursuing that bird.  I know with the right care and such that they can be awesome airplanes, but for me it was the nail in the coffin.  I was also eyeing a few Bonanzas, and soon realized that I could get the same speed as a Mooney, but at a higher fuel burn, but carry more stuff too. (these are simple comparisons mind you).  I needed a way to get a 75# Brown Lab in the back easily, plus bags, kids in the middle, and me and the Mrs up front.  The rear baggage door wasn't something I could live with, and neither could the pup.  In the few flights in my friends Mooney, It did feel a little more compact, and I like the way one sits higher in the machine, as well as off the ground in the Bo.  I LOVE the big gear in the Bo, straight from the T-34 that cadets slam dunk land every day.  And you know, for me and the Mrs...the single yoke in the Bo is a huge deal.  She loves the extra room and can even sit sideways, and I don't have to worry about control interference...ever.  (Thats the fighter pilot in me)

 

So these are purely subjective things, not meant to slight anyone or offend.  But they are what did it for me.  I was also happy with the bulletproof IO520 in most Bos and that, coupled with a few other minor subjective things is what pushed me to the...ahem...light side.   

 

I too love the F-4 John, and wish I could still see a few taking off commonly, as we use to around various bases.  Miss that ole workhorse.

[fantom]

Welcome back....not a bad ride. Good luck with her.

[RocketAviator]

Buster1,

#1 Thanks for your service to our country.... 

 

Hey we won't hold (well at least some of us won't hold it against you for buying that OTHER BRAND airplane..  Heck it is still an airplane and that is more than 99.9% of the people on earth can say!!!

 

Good looking ride for sure!

 

Fly safe

[mooniac15u]

I suppose if you can't have a backwards vertical stabilizer it's better to have none at all.

[Seth]

Congrats on your new plane!!  For that mission, the Bo seems like the right choice.  

 

You should still come to the fly ins - it doesn't matter what we fly - we're pilots.  In the mid atlantic we've had Mooneys, Bonanzas, a Cessna 414, a Decathelon, and some pipers at our Mooney fly ins.  Bring the F-16 sometime instead of the Bo!

 

And thanks for everything you do to serve our country.

 

-Seth