True Cost of Older Bonanza

[[email protected]]

Hello,

I'm interested in hearing from people who have 'real' first-hand
knowledge of the true costs of owning an older (early 50s) V-tail
Bonanza. I've heard all the horror stories about the outrageous costs;
but the thing is that I heard the same stories before I bought my
*last* plane (a 1963 Beech Musketeer). The Musketeer turned out to be
much cheaper to own and operate than most people told me to expect.

A buddy of mine is looking at buying an older (but very well cared-for)
C-35, and I'm considering buying in. Obviously we'd have a VERY
thorough pre-buy done by a good Bone mechanic. But I'd really be
interested in hearing some info from owners who have been through
owning these old birds for a while. Insurance isn't a problem (I'm a
CFI, and he's 2000+ with a ton of IFR time), and we're both already
quite familiar with the ups and downs of owning a plane; but we've
never owned anything complex before. This would be my second plane, and
his third. Old birds don't scare me, if they are take care of...but is
an old Bone *really* a different animal? If so, why?

So...any ideas or suggestions?

Thanks in advance,
Cap

[Toks Desalu]

Try rec.aviation.owning

Toks Desalu

> wrote in message
oups.com...
> Hello,
>
> I'm interested in hearing from people who have 'real' first-hand
> knowledge of the true costs of owning an older (early 50s) V-tail
> Bonanza. I've heard all the horror stories about the outrageous costs;
> but the thing is that I heard the same stories before I bought my
> *last* plane (a 1963 Beech Musketeer). The Musketeer turned out to be
> much cheaper to own and operate than most people told me to expect.
>
> A buddy of mine is looking at buying an older (but very well cared-for)
> C-35, and I'm considering buying in. Obviously we'd have a VERY
> thorough pre-buy done by a good Bone mechanic. But I'd really be
> interested in hearing some info from owners who have been through
> owning these old birds for a while. Insurance isn't a problem (I'm a
> CFI, and he's 2000+ with a ton of IFR time), and we're both already
> quite familiar with the ups and downs of owning a plane; but we've
> never owned anything complex before. This would be my second plane, and
> his third. Old birds don't scare me, if they are take care of...but is
> an old Bone *really* a different animal? If so, why?
>
> So...any ideas or suggestions?
>
> Thanks in advance,
> Cap
>

[Newps]

High Beech parts prices are a myth, as both you and I have discovered.
Your main problem will be locating a certain few parts but otherwise you
won't have any problems. What engine does it have? The newer and
bigger the better. Electric prop or constant speed?



wrote:
> Hello,
>
> I'm interested in hearing from people who have 'real' first-hand
> knowledge of the true costs of owning an older (early 50s) V-tail
> Bonanza. I've heard all the horror stories about the outrageous costs;
> but the thing is that I heard the same stories before I bought my
> *last* plane (a 1963 Beech Musketeer). The Musketeer turned out to be
> much cheaper to own and operate than most people told me to expect.
>
> A buddy of mine is looking at buying an older (but very well cared-for)
> C-35, and I'm considering buying in. Obviously we'd have a VERY
> thorough pre-buy done by a good Bone mechanic. But I'd really be
> interested in hearing some info from owners who have been through
> owning these old birds for a while. Insurance isn't a problem (I'm a
> CFI, and he's 2000+ with a ton of IFR time), and we're both already
> quite familiar with the ups and downs of owning a plane; but we've
> never owned anything complex before. This would be my second plane, and
> his third. Old birds don't scare me, if they are take care of...but is
> an old Bone *really* a different animal? If so, why?
>
> So...any ideas or suggestions?
>
> Thanks in advance,
> Cap
>

[[email protected]]

"Toks Desalu" > wrote:
> Try rec.aviation.owning

Or you might try this group:
<http://www.beechcraft.org/vtail/>

[Jim Macklin]

This is the group to join http://www.bonanza.org/


--
James H. Macklin
ATP,CFI,A&P

--
The people think the Constitution protects their rights;
But government sees it as an obstacle to be overcome.
some support
http://www.usdoj.gov/olc/secondamendment2.htm
See http://www.fija.org/ more about your rights and duties.


"Newps" > wrote in message
. ..
| High Beech parts prices are a myth, as both you and I have
discovered.
| Your main problem will be locating a certain few parts but
otherwise you
| won't have any problems. What engine does it have? The
newer and
| bigger the better. Electric prop or constant speed?
|
|
|
| wrote:
| > Hello,
| >
| > I'm interested in hearing from people who have 'real'
first-hand
| > knowledge of the true costs of owning an older (early
50s) V-tail
| > Bonanza. I've heard all the horror stories about the
outrageous costs;
| > but the thing is that I heard the same stories before I
bought my
| > *last* plane (a 1963 Beech Musketeer). The Musketeer
turned out to be
| > much cheaper to own and operate than most people told me
to expect.
| >
| > A buddy of mine is looking at buying an older (but very
well cared-for)
| > C-35, and I'm considering buying in. Obviously we'd have
a VERY
| > thorough pre-buy done by a good Bone mechanic. But I'd
really be
| > interested in hearing some info from owners who have
been through
| > owning these old birds for a while. Insurance isn't a
problem (I'm a
| > CFI, and he's 2000+ with a ton of IFR time), and we're
both already
| > quite familiar with the ups and downs of owning a plane;
but we've
| > never owned anything complex before. This would be my
second plane, and
| > his third. Old birds don't scare me, if they are take
care of...but is
| > an old Bone *really* a different animal? If so, why?
| >
| > So...any ideas or suggestions?
| >
| > Thanks in advance,
| > Cap
| >

[Dylan Smith]

On 2006-04-24, > wrote:
> Hello,
>
> I'm interested in hearing from people who have 'real' first-hand
> knowledge of the true costs of owning an older (early 50s) V-tail
> Bonanza.

When I was living in Houston, I used to hang out with our mechanic quite
a lot - he often worked on Bonanzas of all vintages. They didn't seem to
cost their owners more than comparable aircraft from other
manufacturers.

--
Yes, the Reply-To email address is valid.
Oolite-Linux: an Elite tribute: http://oolite-linux.berlios.de

[Matt Barrow]

"Dylan Smith" > wrote in message
...
> On 2006-04-24, > wrote:
>> Hello,
>>
>> I'm interested in hearing from people who have 'real' first-hand
>> knowledge of the true costs of owning an older (early 50s) V-tail
>> Bonanza.
>
> When I was living in Houston, I used to hang out with our mechanic quite
> a lot - he often worked on Bonanzas of all vintages. They didn't seem to
> cost their owners more than comparable aircraft from other
> manufacturers.
>
Raytheon has done a damn good job keeping parts available for the Bo; wish I
could have said the same regarding Cessna for the T210 I used to own.

[Robert M. Gary]

It would be hard to imagine that they're any more expensive than Mooney
parts. The control cable for my ram air door is $600. I'd hate to see
what the cable for the throttle must cost.

-Robert

[Matt Barrow]

"Robert M. Gary" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> It would be hard to imagine that they're any more expensive than Mooney
> parts. The control cable for my ram air door is $600. I'd hate to see
> what the cable for the throttle must cost.
>

Recall, too, that sometimes it's not the cost, but the _availability_.
Downtime is a cost, too.

I had to let my T210 sit for five weeks waiting for simple parts...it might
have been longer, but I unloaded the beast and don't know when they
eventually arrived.

Most I ever had to wait for parts for my B36 is 72 hours...over a weekend.
--
Matt
---------------------
Matthew W. Barrow
Site-Fill Homes, LLC.
Montrose, CO

[swag]

Well I don't know if high Beech prices are a myth overall or not, as
I've really only owned a Bonanza and have nothing to compare it to.
But I do know that a new footstep (forged stainless steel) was $1700.
That kind of blew me away.

[Jim Macklin]

General Motors, Honda, just to name two, build cars by the
millions every year. Many of the parts are unique to each
model. But there will be hundreds if not thousands of
versions of even limited edition models.

Airplanes are built by the dozens. Since 1939, world-wide
aircraft production has not reached the numbers of one year
by one division of GM or Honda. Yet it cost more to design
and certify each part for an airplane and have all the
paperwork in order. If you go to a glass molding company and
ask them to build you ONE bottle for your home-brew, it will
cost you a million dollars, the next million bottles will be
a penny each.

The Bonanza has been built for over fifty years by the same
company and most of the tooling is in storage on the factory
property. Given some time, they can find the tool and build
almost any part, if you just want one, it will cost a
bundle. You should have bought a hundred footsteps, the
price each might have only been $250 and then you could
store the parts in a dry, secure place until you could sell
them at a profit.

If you want economical transportation, but a Yugo, no wait,
they don't build junk cars anymore.


"swag" > wrote in message
oups.com...
| Well I don't know if high Beech prices are a myth overall
or not, as
| I've really only owned a Bonanza and have nothing to
compare it to.
| But I do know that a new footstep (forged stainless steel)
was $1700.
| That kind of blew me away.
|