Flight of the Bonanza

[mjc]

The other day I was forunate to go for a flight with my friend in his very nice A36 Bonanza. I decided that others should share in the experience.

http://www.xtranorma...oney-to-bonanza

It occurred to me as we flew that I've never flown in an airplane I didn't like. I like some more than others. The Bonanza was high on the "like" list; it is an excellent, if expensive, airplane.

Posted in General Mooney because it explicitly mentions the Mooney in comparison.

[flyboy0681]

Great humor. It's been a while since I chuckled out loud by myself.

[Oscar Avalle]

great...

[Txbyker]

That's hilarious. Bound to go viral.

[scottfromiowa]

Now THAT is funny. Love it. IWCMBYSSBTB...or "It WILL cost MORE but you should STILL buy the Bonanza. Thanks for sharing,

Scott

[aviatoreb]

The other day I was forunate to go for a flight with my friend in his very nice A36 Bonanza. I decided that others should share in the experience.

http://www.xtranorma...oney-to-bonanza

It occurred to me as we flew that I've never flown in an airplane I didn't like. I like some more than others. The Bonanza was high on the "like" list; it is an excellent, if expensive, airplane.

Posted in General Mooney because it explicitly mentions the Mooney in comparison.

I love the "you can put your children into an external pod"

[The-sky-captain]

I love those short cartoons. Here's another funny one debating single vs twin...

http://www.xtranormal.com/watch/7812971/twin-vs-single

[Bolter]

My wife is not nearly as into flying as we pilots are, but I heard her laughing out loud (LOL for the youngsters) from across the room when she overheard this.

Well done, my friend.

-dan

[mjc]

Now that folks have had a chance to watch the video, here is the story if anyone is interested.

Yes, the video is "based on a true story." A colleague did indeed take me for a flight in his A36. I made the video as a sort of thank-you. Most of the dialogue was part of our actual conversation. I really was stunned to find how enormous the A36 is.

As many folks here know, the airplane I fly is a C, which is small, even by Mooney standards. It's a fantastic airplane, and it is inexpensive to buy, own, and fly. My wife and daughter fly with me frequently.

On the last couple of overnight family trips, we noticed that we were packing the plane until it was full (volume, not weight). When sitting in back, my daughter's legs now reach my seat back. And our second child is coming soon. We are pretty sure we're going to need something more capacious sooner or later.

Back to the A36. I've read a lot of posts on forums in general that claim that the Bonanza flight characteristics put every other airplane to shame and that once one experiences a Bonanza,  a purchase follows closely. Well, I hate to be the turd in the punch bowl, but it's not so. It was a great airplane to fly, but it isn't any more awesome than what I have.

It's also said that wives and children should be kept away because they will insist on the large, comfortable Bonanza. That, too, isn't always so. I brought my family to the A36 so they could climb in and around it. Both wife and daughter prefer the Mooney. My wife is an efficiency nerd like me, and my daughter just wants an airplane that's lower to the ground and easier to climb into. As for me, I'm so accustomed to putting on my airplane like a pair of pants that sitting bolt upright and being able to see my feet while flying seems... wrong.

But in the end, it doesn't matter what we like, if we can't fit in the plane. Maybe we can get away with the Mooney for a bit longer. Sooner or later, we're going to need something bigger, and it might be a longer Mooney but also may be the A36.

[HopePilot]

Mooney vs. Cirrus:

http://www.xtranormal.com/watch/13764958/new-mooney-owner

[AcclaimML]

Well maybe one of the longer body Mooneys could be your ticket. I mean if your gonna consider the tri-lithium crystal super expensive A36, save yourself some money and get what you really want in an Ovation or even an Acclaim. My Hanger neighbor has a 252 and he gets four adults and luggage fairly easily. We compared our planes and the only real difference that we could tell was the aft cargo area in the Acclaim is significantly larger like at least twice as big was the consensus. I believe the Ovation fuselage is identical. (and you don't have to look at your feet if you dont want too ). I have a 12 and 14 yo that accompany my wife and I. We use duffle bags for luggage and with even all our stuff--my daughter in the back seat can fully recline back and is usually out cold within 15 minutes. The only way your gonna get anywhere close to the luggage space in the A36 is to take out the mid row seats. ( and careful with that aft cg after underway-seriously) no cg problem with the long body Mooneys.

Sounds like its time for you to get a ride in a long body with you and your family-soon - for the real treat.

[jetdriven]

you can get an A36 for a hundred grand now. Two years ago a friend of mine paid 169K for a 1980 A36, but they are much more affordable now.

[flyboy0681]

Mooney vs. Cirrus:

http://www.xtranorma...ew-mooney-owner

This one is just as good as the Bonanza flick.

[mjc]

I would consider an Ovation, except for two small problems. One is that the Ovation's useful load (around 1000 lbs. if I'm not mistaken) is lower than the A36's. But I could live with that because I would need way less fuel.

The bigger issue is cost. The cheapest Ovation on controller is $165k. Byron's comment that one can get a [mid-70's] A36 for $100k is accurate. So while the A36 does lack the dedicated baggage area and is less efficient and is older and has the tail on the wrong way, it is cheaper. Way cheaper. The A36 does not have the CG issues that plague the shorter Bonanzas. Note: I wouldn't even consider a shorter Bonanza because if I'm going to do that I would just get a 201. The 201 is more efficient and is also prettier and can be had for less even than the A36.

[sleepingsquirrel]

Now that folks have had a chance to watch the video, here is the story if anyone is interested.

Yes, the video is "based on a true story." A colleague did indeed take me for a flight in his A36. I made the video as a sort of thank-you. Most of the dialogue was part of our actual conversation. I really was stunned to find how enormous the A36 is.

As many folks here know, the airplane I fly is a C, which is small, even by Mooney standards. It's a fantastic airplane, and it is inexpensive to buy, own, and fly. My wife and daughter fly with me frequently.

On the last couple of overnight family trips, we noticed that we were packing the plane until it was full (volume, not weight). When sitting in back, my daughter's legs now reach my seat back. And our second child is coming soon. We are pretty sure we're going to need something more capacious sooner or later.

Back to the A36. I've read a lot of posts on forums in general that claim that the Bonanza flight characteristics put every other airplane to shame and that once one experiences a Bonanza, a purchase follows closely. Well, I hate to be the turd in the punch bowl, but it's not so. It was a great airplane to fly, but it isn't any more awesome than what I have.

It's also said that wives and children should be kept away because they will insist on the large, comfortable Bonanza. That, too, isn't always so. I brought my family to the A36 so they could climb in and around it. Both wife and daughter prefer the Mooney. My wife is an efficiency nerd like me, and my daughter just wants an airplane that's lower to the ground and easier to climb into. As for me, I'm so accustomed to putting on my airplane like a pair of pants that sitting bolt upright and being able to see my feet while flying seems... wrong.

But in the end, it doesn't matter what we like, if we can't fit in the plane. Maybe we can get away with the Mooney for a bit longer. Sooner or later, we're going to need something bigger, and it might be a longer Mooney but also may be the A36.

I thought flying and raising a family were mutually exclusive. Keep the Mooney! the children will abandon you soon anyway!