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.
Today we managed a great journey using various modes of transport. Out of all of them the Bonanza wins hands down for me.
Part One: We jumped in our car first to go to Blackpool from Kendal, a distance of 49 miles which took 50 minutes. Cost: £24 (Return and fuel only)
Part Two: Next we took our Beech Bonanza to Welshpool which took 25 minutes for what would be a 122 mile journey by road. Obviously quite a bit shorter in a straight line. Cost: £145 (Return fuel plus two landings)
Part Three: We walked 2.5 miles from the aiport to the train station down a beautiful canal path into Welshpool town. 1 Hour. (Cost: Sweat)
Part Four: Finally we took the 2.15pm train on the Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway to Llanfair. Time 50 Mins. Cost £32 (Two adults and three kids)
We had half an hour in the cafe in Llanfair then got back on the train and reversed the whole journey.
On the way back into Blackpool I requested a radar vectored ILS despite it being severe clear, to test the autopilot as it had been reported as been not working by another pilot in the group. Unfortunately the radar at Blackpool is closed after 7pm so we were offered and accepted a procedural for the ILS. After a quick dusting off of the brain cells I managed to fly the approach and test the equipment which appeared to work fine today.
All in all a great day out in G-FOZZ. Final cost £201 excluding any fixed costs for cars or planes. Also we left the house at 10am and got back at 9pm including two picnic stops. Not bad really.
