![brian]](/community/data/avatars/m/21/21096.jpg?1456258959){kind=avatar}
brian]
Cleared for Takeoff
Back in 2013, I finally decided that working 90 or so hours a week was not “living”. Yea, it wasn’t digging a ditch (did that), but it was about time to do something for “me”. Yea, there were personal implications that go beyond this conversation. However, I had a pilots license and the desire. WHY NOT?!
The goal was a piper 140. Something basic. No frills, but IFR capable would be nice. And I flew a few. The manual flaps are COOL! Good aircraft. After talking with a guy selling a Piper 140, I setup to fly the aircraft and see if it was what I wanted to buy. Unfortunately, it sold a few hours before I got to the airport. Dang.
But he did have a 1948 Beechcraft Bonanza for sale. As a kid growing up in Kansas, “Bonanza” pretty much meant “Cadillac”. Well, yea, I wanted to give it a try! I would have to come back as he had to contact the owner to arrange the flight. The day of the flight, I found my old LightSpeed headset. I hadn’t been flying a lot and it was a mess. Sometimes working. Other times the ANR would cut out. Fiddling with it was frustrating. My wife was with me and we got her a good headset and we boarded the Bonanza for the test flight. Man, that headset was just not cooperating - good thing I was right seat and the seller was flying. “Positive rate, gear up!” What? Wait.. where is the noise as the headset was clearly not working. This old “beater Bonanza” was in the air?!! There isn’t enough noise. not enough vibration. So I looked up and, yea, we were climbing! That old Bonanza was pretty much sold on takeoff.
Over the next several years, I spent a lot of cash on that old “beater Bonanza”. Was kinda fun, and I could see taking another forgotten aircraft back to the air once I retire. It was both frustrating when it was time to spend time/money and enjoyable when cruising at 8500 in full style.
But it was not to be - we missed one very small part - a rod end that retired on take off one day. I set the aircraft on it’s nose and had to turn the keys over to the insurance company … sad day.
Unfortunately, things got complicated with an unrelated medical event. Turned out to be nothing, but kept me grounded for a while. During that time I decided that if I ever purchased another aircraft it would be more modern than that old beater Bonanza. Maybe a later model 35 - or maybe a 36. Conversations with my wife slowly cleared up a few things. In short - she could care less about an airplane. She is totally ok with me flying and has no problem using “our” airplane for transportation. But that is about it.
Anyway, I noticed an A35 I recognized from an instructor I had flown with in the past. Learned a bit from him, but … NO I needed a later model 35. Not sure why, but a local N35 was a good candidate. So was an M35. Maybe a K35 I had seen before. I just needed to get through some work related travel to arrange some time to see these airplanes. So I started learning about the later model V-Tails. Different critters than the early models. Lot of good points, but it seems that a lot of them spend more time in the hangar than in the air. Sad.. But there was that A35 I knew was flying …
… well if it wasn’t flying - it sure was appearing - EVERYWHERE. EAA ads. ABS website …
To cut this short - well, I bought that airplane!
What is it like riding inside a work of art? Pretty much what you would expect - absolutely stunning! Oh, and the curtains DO have a purpose. When I was flying my wife to Gastons a few weeks ago, she said she was getting hot. Liking what I was hearing I looked over. But it wasn’t me, it was highly polished ALCLAD that was illuminating her with a lot of help from the sun. I said “why don’t you pull the curtain so we can get close?” She pulled the curtain and cooled off - darn…
So now it is first annual time. I wanted to spend a little time with the previous owner (and A&P) learning a little more about the oldies. But a mixup in timing blew that possibility. So I’m taking the aircraft on Monday to a local A&P/IA that is very familiar with old Bonanzas. The good news is that he is about my age - so if we develop a working relationship I’ll have a good local resource for my oldie. But there is that apprehension during the first annual. Anyway, I’ve spent a good number of hours over the past couple of weekends cleaning things (no polishing yet) preparing for the annual. Sure is tempting not to fly that old aircraft as I’m pretty sure it keeps whispering in a Marilyn Monroe voice, “Hey little boy, since I’m already naked - why don’t we go have a little fun?!” Knowing there is a DPE on field does kinda throw some cold water on that thought …
The only thing I’ve learned about flying is the following: do it while you can - it is just a matter of time before you can’t. And never mind the bozos that never figure this out….
The goal was a piper 140. Something basic. No frills, but IFR capable would be nice. And I flew a few. The manual flaps are COOL! Good aircraft. After talking with a guy selling a Piper 140, I setup to fly the aircraft and see if it was what I wanted to buy. Unfortunately, it sold a few hours before I got to the airport. Dang.
But he did have a 1948 Beechcraft Bonanza for sale. As a kid growing up in Kansas, “Bonanza” pretty much meant “Cadillac”. Well, yea, I wanted to give it a try! I would have to come back as he had to contact the owner to arrange the flight. The day of the flight, I found my old LightSpeed headset. I hadn’t been flying a lot and it was a mess. Sometimes working. Other times the ANR would cut out. Fiddling with it was frustrating. My wife was with me and we got her a good headset and we boarded the Bonanza for the test flight. Man, that headset was just not cooperating - good thing I was right seat and the seller was flying. “Positive rate, gear up!” What? Wait.. where is the noise as the headset was clearly not working. This old “beater Bonanza” was in the air?!! There isn’t enough noise. not enough vibration. So I looked up and, yea, we were climbing! That old Bonanza was pretty much sold on takeoff.
Over the next several years, I spent a lot of cash on that old “beater Bonanza”. Was kinda fun, and I could see taking another forgotten aircraft back to the air once I retire. It was both frustrating when it was time to spend time/money and enjoyable when cruising at 8500 in full style.
But it was not to be - we missed one very small part - a rod end that retired on take off one day. I set the aircraft on it’s nose and had to turn the keys over to the insurance company … sad day.
Unfortunately, things got complicated with an unrelated medical event. Turned out to be nothing, but kept me grounded for a while. During that time I decided that if I ever purchased another aircraft it would be more modern than that old beater Bonanza. Maybe a later model 35 - or maybe a 36. Conversations with my wife slowly cleared up a few things. In short - she could care less about an airplane. She is totally ok with me flying and has no problem using “our” airplane for transportation. But that is about it.
Anyway, I noticed an A35 I recognized from an instructor I had flown with in the past. Learned a bit from him, but … NO I needed a later model 35. Not sure why, but a local N35 was a good candidate. So was an M35. Maybe a K35 I had seen before. I just needed to get through some work related travel to arrange some time to see these airplanes. So I started learning about the later model V-Tails. Different critters than the early models. Lot of good points, but it seems that a lot of them spend more time in the hangar than in the air. Sad.. But there was that A35 I knew was flying …
… well if it wasn’t flying - it sure was appearing - EVERYWHERE. EAA ads. ABS website …
To cut this short - well, I bought that airplane!
What is it like riding inside a work of art? Pretty much what you would expect - absolutely stunning! Oh, and the curtains DO have a purpose. When I was flying my wife to Gastons a few weeks ago, she said she was getting hot. Liking what I was hearing I looked over. But it wasn’t me, it was highly polished ALCLAD that was illuminating her with a lot of help from the sun. I said “why don’t you pull the curtain so we can get close?” She pulled the curtain and cooled off - darn…
So now it is first annual time. I wanted to spend a little time with the previous owner (and A&P) learning a little more about the oldies. But a mixup in timing blew that possibility. So I’m taking the aircraft on Monday to a local A&P/IA that is very familiar with old Bonanzas. The good news is that he is about my age - so if we develop a working relationship I’ll have a good local resource for my oldie. But there is that apprehension during the first annual. Anyway, I’ve spent a good number of hours over the past couple of weekends cleaning things (no polishing yet) preparing for the annual. Sure is tempting not to fly that old aircraft as I’m pretty sure it keeps whispering in a Marilyn Monroe voice, “Hey little boy, since I’m already naked - why don’t we go have a little fun?!” Knowing there is a DPE on field does kinda throw some cold water on that thought …
The only thing I’ve learned about flying is the following: do it while you can - it is just a matter of time before you can’t. And never mind the bozos that never figure this out….
Last edited:
Congratulations to your new ride.
She's a beauty... Keep her shiny and enjoy her... I'm sure you're going to get lots of attention everywhere you go...
.
