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Flight Summary

Picking up our new Bird

This week Rick and I flew to Virginia to do the final inspection on our new Airplane and return her home to Austin (KAUS).  We shipped our selves to Charlottesville, VA via American Airlines early Wednesday morning and arrived in town by 2pm.  We rented a car and drove the 1 hour to KSHD to meet with the broker and seller. 

Our New Bird

Our New Bird: N36LM is a 1980 Beech Bonanza A36TC

Test Flight

The seller wasn't willing to let either of us sit in the left seat for the test flight due to insurance reasons.  Despite the fact that Rick was far more experienced at flying the A36 than even the seller was.  Regardless, I loaded into the back of the airplane and rick into the right seat.  We flew along and Rick tested everything he could think of and paid special attention to the engine monitor to make sure the engine was working great.  We had a cylinder running hotter than we would have liked it, but we expected it based on the Pre-Buy inspection.

Overall, the plane checked out well and now we wait for the banks to move the money.

The Flight Home

The next morning we drive back to the airport and load our bags into the airplane.  This is now my first time actually flying an A36TC with Rick guiding me.  My first thoughts... Wow!  The A36 is a great airplane.  It is much bigger and heavier than a PA28, C172, C177, etc.  But it is easy to handle and flies like a dream.   With a bigger airplane, everything is about engine management and emergency management.    

On the Climb you are burning through fuel at 35gal per hour.  It isn't that the engine will actually use that much gas, but you need the high fuel flow to keep the engine cool during climb.  

Once in cruise, you are tweaking the mixture ever so slightly to get the engine at the right temp and performing great.

When it is time to descend, you all of sudden have way too much airspeed.   You have to plan ahead to level off for a bit to slow down below Approach Flap and Gear extension speed.  Once you get those out, the plane will never go fast again!  And then down you go.

Landing a A36TC is very smooth.  You carry a little more power in than you would a smaller airplane and you slowly roll the power off as you flare.