Whatdayathink..

A few months I ran my idea of acquiring a Commander 114/115.

As was pointed out to me, the numbers historically sold and the companies
current financial plight makes future parts availability questionable.

After some digging and evaluation, I am now considering bypassing my 2nd
choice as well, which was a T182RG.

My current selection is based on a few (amongst other) factors, the most
crucial of which a

* Performance
* Availability of parts and service (No Paggio's, thank you)
* Good history in terms of reliability and maintainability.
* Comfort (I'm 6'1", 205 and big in the shoulders)

My trips are typically going to be 300-700 miles with very few of them
carrying three passengers.

I think I'm settling on a Beech F33A. I've found quite a few that are late
80's and early 90's models, some with less than 1,000 hours. Being out in
the Rocky Mountain West, I'm also likely going to add the Tornado Alley
Whirlwind turbonormalizing system.

Your comments, warnings and advisories are welcome.

Thanks,

Tom

Sounds like you have figured out your "mission" first, and then selected
the tool to accomplish it.

I now own my 3rd Bonanza, and love it.

Suggest you access:

http://www.beechcraft.org/vtail/

and consider joining the mail-list from that site (about 100 messages
per day). A rambunctious and cantankerous group, some times, but no
more knowledgeable group of Bonanza owners exists.

Rich

Tom S. wrote:
A few months I ran my idea of acquiring a Commander 114/115.

As was pointed out to me, the numbers historically sold and the companies
current financial plight makes future parts availability questionable.

After some digging and evaluation, I am now considering bypassing my 2nd
choice as well, which was a T182RG.

My current selection is based on a few (amongst other) factors, the most
crucial of which a

* Performance
* Availability of parts and service (No Paggio's, thank you)
* Good history in terms of reliability and maintainability.
* Comfort (I'm 6'1", 205 and big in the shoulders)

My trips are typically going to be 300-700 miles with very few of them
carrying three passengers.

I think I'm settling on a Beech F33A. I've found quite a few that are late
80's and early 90's models, some with less than 1,000 hours. Being out in
the Rocky Mountain West, I'm also likely going to add the Tornado Alley
Whirlwind turbonormalizing system.

Your comments, warnings and advisories are welcome.

Thanks,

Tom

"Rich Hare" wrote in message
...
Sounds like you have figured out your "mission" first, and then selected
the tool to accomplish it.

I now own my 3rd Bonanza, and love it.

Suggest you access:

http://www.beechcraft.org/vtail/

and consider joining the mail-list from that site (about 100 messages
per day). A rambunctious and cantankerous group, some times, but no
more knowledgeable group of Bonanza owners exists.

Rich

Rambunctious and Bonanza-owner is redundant, isn't it? :~)


Tom S. wrote:
A few months back I ran my idea of acquiring a Commander 114/115 in
here.

As was pointed out to me, the numbers historically sold and the
companies
current financial plight makes future parts availability questionable.

After some digging and evaluation, I am now considering bypassing my 2nd
choice as well, which was a T182RG.

My current selection is based on a few (amongst other) factors, the most
crucial of which a

* Performance
* Availability of parts and service (No Paggio's, thank you)
* Good history in terms of reliability and maintainability.
* Comfort (I'm 6'1", 205 and big in the shoulders)

My trips are typically going to be 300-700 miles with very few of them
carrying three passengers.

I think I'm settling on a Beech F33A. I've found quite a few that are
late
80's and early 90's models, some with less than 1,000 hours. Being out
in
the Rocky Mountain West, I'm also likely going to add the Tornado Alley
Whirlwind turbonormalizing system.

Your comments, warnings and advisories are welcome.

Thanks,

Tom

"Tom S." wrote in message
...
A few months I ran my idea of acquiring a Commander 114/115.

As was pointed out to me, the numbers historically sold and the companies
current financial plight makes future parts availability questionable.

After some digging and evaluation, I am now considering bypassing my 2nd
choice as well, which was a T182RG.

My current selection is based on a few (amongst other) factors, the most
crucial of which a

* Performance
* Availability of parts and service (No Paggio's, thank you)
* Good history in terms of reliability and maintainability.
* Comfort (I'm 6'1", 205 and big in the shoulders)

My trips are typically going to be 300-700 miles with very few of them
carrying three passengers.


Curious why you are bypassing the TR182. I have one that I fly out of
Colorado, and it seems to fulfill your mission pretty well. That said, I
wouldn't mind trading up to a Bonanza, but I think a comparably equipped
Bonanza would be quite a bit more expensive. Just wndering what madethe
decision...

Michael

"Michael 182" wrote in message
news:O2wpb.95810$Tr4.258451@attbi_s03...

"Tom S." wrote in message
...
A few months I ran my idea of acquiring a Commander 114/115.

As was pointed out to me, the numbers historically sold and the
companies
current financial plight makes future parts availability questionable.

After some digging and evaluation, I am now considering bypassing my 2nd
choice as well, which was a T182RG.

My current selection is based on a few (amongst other) factors, the most
crucial of which a

* Performance
* Availability of parts and service (No Paggio's, thank you)
* Good history in terms of reliability and maintainability.
* Comfort (I'm 6'1", 205 and big in the shoulders)

My trips are typically going to be 300-700 miles with very few of them
carrying three passengers.


Curious why you are bypassing the TR182. I have one that I fly out of
Colorado, and it seems to fulfill your mission pretty well. That said, I
wouldn't mind trading up to a Bonanza, but I think a comparably equipped
Bonanza would be quite a bit more expensive. Just wndering what madethe
decision...


A rough running carbureted engine as opposed to a smooth injected engine
(especially after it gets the GAMI injectors, primarily. Also, a bird that's
ten years newer with one third the hours on it.

Also, the fact that the 182RG has a gear system that is a b*^$tch to
maintain.

When the Bonanza gets the Turbo Alley Whirlwind system on it, it will
outperform even a T210. http://www.taturbo.com/520features.html and
http://www.taturbo.com/performance.html

I have about 350 hours in a 182RG and it was a nice plane...20 years ago,
but Cessna just didn't keep up with the technology. Not to knock Cessna
entirely....this coming Spring I will be getting a CE-525 type rating and
nothing, by any manufacturer, comes close to a Citation CJ. :~)

Tom S. wrote:

A rough running carbureted engine as opposed to a smooth injected engine
(especially after it gets the GAMI injectors, primarily. Also, a bird that's
ten years newer with one third the hours on it.

Any engine can be smooth or rough.



Also, the fact that the 182RG has a gear system that is a b*^$tch to
maintain.

Yes, but the later ones are really good.


When the Bonanza gets the Turbo Alley Whirlwind system on it, it will
outperform even a T210. http://www.taturbo.com/520features.html and
http://www.taturbo.com/performance.html

Well it should. It is a slipprier airframe with the same power.



I have about 350 hours in a 182RG and it was a nice plane...20 years ago,

But you are comparing it to a Bo. Nothing new there.


but Cessna just didn't keep up with the technology. Not to knock Cessna
entirely....this coming Spring I will be getting a CE-525 type rating and
nothing, by any manufacturer, comes close to a Citation CJ. :~)

Keep looking, there's lots out there.

"Newps" wrote in message
news:Cnzpb.74894$ao4.204958@attbi_s51...


Tom S. wrote:

A rough running carbureted engine as opposed to a smooth injected engine
(especially after it gets the GAMI injectors, primarily. Also, a bird
that's
ten years newer with one third the hours on it.

Any engine can be smooth or rough.

Yes...but some are inherently rougher than others.




Also, the fact that the 182RG has a gear system that is a b*^$tch to
maintain.

Yes, but the later ones are really good.

But it's still an overly complex arrangement. In slang it's called a "Rube
Goldberg fix".



When the Bonanza gets the Turbo Alley Whirlwind system on it, it will
outperform even a T210. http://www.taturbo.com/520features.html and
http://www.taturbo.com/performance.html

Well it should. It is a slipprier airframe with the same power.

And that's why I'm leaning towards the F33A... :~) 167kts at 11gph and
200kts top end.




I have about 350 hours in a 182RG and it was a nice plane...20 years
ago,

But you are comparing it to a Bo. Nothing new there.


but Cessna just didn't keep up with the technology. Not to knock Cessna
entirely....this coming Spring I will be getting a CE-525 type rating
and
nothing, by any manufacturer, comes close to a Citation CJ. :~)

Keep looking, there's lots out there.

Not any newer than 1985, there's not.

I am in a similar situation,, I think the F33 is a good choice,, probably,
the Mooney is too small for you, have you considered a used Cirrus SR22,,
probably a great choice...most used ones have less than 400 hrs

"Fred Wolf" wrote in message
...
I am in a similar situation,, I think the F33 is a good choice,, probably,
the Mooney is too small for you, have you considered a used Cirrus SR22,,
probably a great choice...most used ones have less than 400 hrs

Yes, I considered the Cirrus and declined. For one thing, every one I find
is more money than the 1993 Bonanza I'm considering.

In my original post, I posted my initial requirements, one of which is a
established parts supply chain and a reputation for rugged construction and
reliability. A reputation that is derived over several years. The Cirrus
line has been around, what, three or four years?

Just curious. A 1993 Bonanza with the turbo-normalized engine sounds like a
fantastic plane - certainly an upgrade over any 182. Enjoy!

Michael