This is the story of owning and operating a 1993 Beech Bonanza A36 in the UK and some of its adventures and flights. I have owned this plane for over six years now.
Well we have had yet another annual inspection completed on our Beech Bonanza A36 and this time a few small issues to be dealt with that cost an extra 25 hours labour.
Here is the bill below
To Annual Check and ARC Renewal of A36 Bonanza G-FOZZ
Entering all flights for journey log into Aircraft log books. 60.00
2 x Inline Filters (Pressure System) 84.44
2 x Inlet Filters (Pressure System) 60.00
1 x Induction Air Filter 22.00
10 Qts W80 Oil 66.00
1 x Undercarriage Uplock Cable 125.00
Paint and Sundries, Screws, Split Pins Etc 65.00
Standard Annual Check (Complex) 1600.00
Radio Annual Check / Certification 200.00
ELT Battery 85.69
Static Wick 37.00
Additional Defect Rectification:-
Fit undercarriage Uplock cable, Retraction Tests,
De-corrode and re-paint undercarriage retract links,
De corrode and paint engine, repairs to rear door mechanism.
25 hours labour. @ 40.00 1000.00
Survey by xxxxxxxxxxxxx 600.00
CAA ARC Fee 108.00
SUBTOTAL. 4113.13
VAT. 822.63
TOTAL £4935.76
Having not managed to get out in G-FOZZ for a good few weeks I took the opportunity today to go on a short flight to stretch my wings. I was in for a treat.
The weather was perfect. Cold, severe clear for miles and completely still air. I tried a max power cruise and got a TAS of 184 knots at just 3000 feet. Not something I normally do due to rising fuel costs but I am glad I did. It is just amazing the effect that cold air has on that engine.
I landed at a wonderful little airfield owned by ex superbike racer Jamie Whitham and had a cup of tea with some of the local flying members in the international arrivals cabin/static caravan. What a very nice bunch. Mr Whitham popped in soon after and was equally charming.
I don't know what is around the airfield but I strongly recommend you drop in to say hello.
I quick journey back and
after I parked G-FOZZ in the hangar at the wonderful Hangar 3 facility.
Its that time again and the insurers have decided that despite being a loyal customer and never having a claim they were going to ask for £600 extra premium this year. I wasnt happy with that so I have shopped around and managed to get another quote to cover the plane at the same price as I paid last year, Around £3600.
Now on the face of it I should be pleased but it begs the question why it costs so much to insure a plane that flies about 60 hours each year and little chance of being stolen against my Maserati Gran Turismo that cost 60% of the price that it cost to buy the Bonanza but costs less than £700 to insure and is driving on busy roads on a daily basis.
It shows that premiums in aviation are a rip-off pretty much like everything else in this industry I guess!
There was a fault with the A36 Bonanza landing gear that required a new bracket ordering from the States and a small repair. The total cost was £636.
This week we needed to have a 50 hour check on G-FOZZ, our
Beech Bonanza A36. While having the check it was deemed that we needed to replace all 3 tyres. The cost of the service and tyres was a shade under £1400.
We got the prop back from Brinkley Aviation last week and I have to say they did a beautiful job. Quite simply the prop looked new. The dent it had in one of the blades has magically vanished too.
It wasn't cheap at £3800 including VAT but that was one of the most competitive quotes I got. Also it was completed in pretty much the same time quoted which was just over a week. Much faster than any other company quoted.
I can't hesitate in offering a superb reference for Brinkley Aviation.
The Bonanza has had its prop removed and shipped to Brinkley Aviation for its 6 year overhaul this week. They offered the fastest turn around and a competitive price and by far the best service on the phone with a clear description of what work was required and what it would cost. I will wait to see if they do the job as efficiently. This company did it 6 years ago too.
Last week we headed off for the annual Forrest family UK holiday in the plane which this year we decided was to be in Jersey. This was a great example of a trip that is made easier by owning a plane. Well it would be easier if we didn’t have to try to cram six people of which four are ladies and one has a wheelchair and two of the male species with the corresponding luggage for a week away and clothes for every kind of weather.
Surprising as it may sound it is definitely possible to cram all this in to a Bonanza A36 and stay within weight and balance requirements. To do this you need to practice however as the Bonanza A36 is not well endowed with storage space, the most being in the rear compartment but is limited to eighty pounds and the other compartment behind the pilot seat narrows quickly as you stack things up.
You can also pack smaller bags under the co-pilots feet and under all the seats but only so long as you put everything in smaller bags. Now we have done this before so this holiday we bought some very soft but strong holdalls and also packed much of our clobber in small bags which we then crammed in to every nook and cranny but it certainly was tight. To put it in perspective though when we got back we had to have bags on a laps in our Audi Q7 even with one of the seats folded down so the Bonanza ha actually swallowed an enormous amount but I would still like more room as the ladies in my life get bigger!
The journey to Jersey at economy cruise of about 155 knots took 1.9 hours. Parking A Beech Bonanza A36 at Jersey Airport for a week and including the landing fee was about £25. Absolutely incredible!
