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.
We are meeting on the 28th March 2007 at 8pm to discuss the future arrangements for the members of the G-FOZZ flying group. If you are interested in becoming a no-equity member in the group then give me a call on 07880 736073 and we can have a chat.
Get to fly one of the nicest piston engine planes there is for very little investment. We are looking for a couple of very sensible and careful pilots to join us in contributing to the running costs of this machine without having the commitment of an upfront fee.
This is a £200,000 aeroplane and quite unlike the hire machines you can fly at most airfields.
I really have discovered a jewel of an airfield in South West Scotland called Castle Kennedy. I have often overflown the strip but before Xmas I
managed to land there and go for a lovely lunch in a hotel across from the airfield.
We were looking for somewhere to go on today to take Granny who had never been in the Bonanza to date) and Gramps out with Mrs F and my son Max and time wasn't on our side as we had to be back in Blackpool for 5pm so it needed to be somewhere near and is just half an hour (90 miles) from Blackpool in the A36 Bonanza. In the past my choice would have been Kirkbride just this side of the Solway Firth but recently they changed their friendly club house to be no access to non members and our kids just don't like going their as much.
Castle Kennedy is owned by the extremely helpful Jamie and Mrs Stair of Stair Estates who are incredibly welcoming and I believe actively trying to encourage visitors to make the airfield more viable. They have started to restore much of the old runway and although the official length is 600 metres it is actually much much longer than that because the 600 metres is in the middle of an older and much longer runway that is not in too bad a stat
e unless you have a jet.The Bonanza is in its element going into places like this.
There is not loads to see and do around the airfield in walking distance apart from the Plantings Inn which does lovely food and I believe Stair Estates are developing an attraction centred around a very old castle structure which is about 15 minutes walk from the airfield. Give them a call and they can tell you more.
I cant stress enough what a nice place this is to fly into. It is not very busy (yet perhaps) but is in lovely countryside and has interesting approaches from one end.
Myself and Mrs Forrest and our happy little family will certainly be regular visitors.
Castle Kennedy AirfieldI wish I could own an airfield like Castle Kennedy!!
managed to land there and go for a lovely lunch in a hotel across from the airfield.
e unless you have a jet.The Bonanza is in its element going into places like this.
