The older bonanza's panel are kind of sparce, but don't let that be a
factor whether or not to buy one.
If the airplane is a nice one and/or affordable one, why not buy it and
fly it as it is and worry about the panel later.

I own an older Bonanza and had the original panel for eight years before
i modified it.

The main reason that i made the panel modification is that I wanted the
speed sloped windshield, and if you were ever going to do a panel
modification, do it while the windshield is out!!!

I would have flown behind the original panel forever without the
windshield modification. It just seemed like a good thing to do.

If your mechanically inclined it could be a very nice winter project to
do it your self.
It's quite a bit of work to do the modification, but its a lot of fun.

Good luck in your endevor!!

Dave


Howard Nelson wrote:

"soxinbox" wrote in message
. 165...

I've flow 172s and 182s, but prefer the low wings ( just my preferance).
I will be using this primarily for weekend getaways. In life I've found
that it is often the road you take, not where you go, that is most
important, but coffee house philosophy aside, I don't want to spend my
whole weekend getting somewhere just to turn around and come back, so I
want something that is resonably fast with a good range.

Your advice on the avionics is well headed. I am only going to keep this
plane until I get confortable enough to move up to a twin, so the resale
value is important. This intemediate plane is to keep me from being one
of those smoking holes in the ground that used to be someone who could
afford more plane than they could fly.

I am really looking for a TRUE four place plane ( useful load 1000) with
a 700 mile range, flip flop nav/coms, autopilot, gps, and modern six pack
panel. Without breaking the bank, this seams to be leading me to the
debonair. Problem is There are few planes with this combination, and so I
was seeing if it is feasable to not lose too much money on it.


In reference to previous replys. A Cessna 182 or Piper 235 (fixed gear) with
long range tanks might get you to your destination just as fast or nearly as
fast as a 165K plane with less range. The cost of ownership and resale for
these two planes has been very favorable (there is a reason for that). The
actual total time for a 600nm trip in a 135K aircraft vs 155K aircraft is
not that different (you spend a lot of the time getting to the airport,
loading the plane, etc.) If you can avoid a refueling stop by having good
range then you will get there first.
Howard
C182 (with long range tanks!)


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