I recently joined the forum looking for some information and insight on my new '75 A36. I say that I am a Piper convert for the fact that I was looking at a Saratoga pretty hard when this A36 fell in my hangar; proir to this I had flown a Tri-Pacer for 17 yrs and prior to that Piper aircraft at UND. My biggest concern at the time was how to get checked out in the single yoke airplane. I got reffered to BPPP and presto found two great instructors, with perfect schedules, close to home eager and willing to help, thanks Randy and Sue.

The instructors came to my base and we flew to where my plane was to be picked up. Upon arrival to pick up the airplane they installed a dual yoke in mine and off we went to thier home base in Fort Collins. The training in the beginning was for insurance purposes but the instruction was so good and I was having so much fun that I ended up spending a week with them putting in over 20 hrs and even an intro into mountain flying, which was really cool.

I totally love flying the Bo and have put over 45 hrs on her in a month. I am really glad that I found this opportunity, actually my wife found the bo I just participated in the purchase.

I signed up for the March APS seminar in Ada and will hopefully meet some BTer's there.

Welcome to the Beechcraft world. To satisfy my curiosity, how much instruction time did the insurance company require?

They did not require any instruction to get coverage, but if I recieved 10 hrs of dual the rate was cut by over half. I had not flown any complex since UND and never in the type so without the dual premiums were high. Another thing I didn't do was log much of the time in my tripacer, I so regret that now.

Thanks Camron. 30 years ago my insurance company required 10 hours but I've seen post on BeechTalk where some are requiring 20 hours. Needless to say you'll get a lot of enjoyment from your 36.

You're off to a great start Camron. BPPP and APS are two of the very best things going!!! Good luck and enjoy your Bo...

So....where does one get enough time to fly 45 hrs in one month?

After the time spent in Fort Collins I decided to get the most from the experience, my goal would be 5 hrs per week for a month. It was not that hard to exceed the goal once the decision was made. Plus my wife and I were able to help when my sister really needed help, thanks to the bo which was 7.5 hrs. Looking at it it really was not that hard.

I decided to try and upload a picture of my A36 which I purchased prior to joining this forum and the Tri-Pacer I used to own. Shot this picture right befpre the Tri-Pacer left. I kind of miss it.

Cameron, great looking airplanes, you should be very happy with the A36. Although I can see why you miss your Tri Pacer.

nice Tri-Pacer, Nicer Bo, and believe us you wont miss it for long. I missed my Debonair for about an hour after I bought the Baron. Now that my newer Baron is up and running, I dont miss the old one I had for 19 years either, except that the 55 was about 5 knots faster on slightly less fuel. Good luck, have fun and if your wife is not a pilot yet, get her to learn.

PL

Thanks for the nice pic - brings back some long term memories of my own Tripacer days. They don't look like much, but mine was faster than the Cessnas of its day (had the 150hp model).

Mine is no longer in the Registry. Never figured out what happened to it.

Nice looking Tri Pacer! I used to have a Pacer which had excellent utility. In the "bang for the buck" department the "flying milk stool" is hard to beat.

I took my first flying lessons in a Tripacer at Midway Field, Chicago back in 1966. That was before Southwest took over. Great airplane but the Viet Nam war and draft board interferred with my training until after I got out.

I know what you mean mine had the 160hp. Performed better than a 172 and would carry anything you put in it. Not alot of comfort factor though.

I don't miss it like, I would rather have it back instead of the Bo. I just wish I could have kept it and still have the Bo.