INSURANCEGet with the program.No games – no gimmicks.Call today for your best quotesfrom a qualified agent for anyand all of your aviation needs.CALL: 800.232.<strong>19</strong>53OR 972.227.8688To talk toJennifer, Lee or JoshAircraft<strong>In</strong>surance Agency621 North Jackson, Suite AWaxahachie, Texas 75<strong>16</strong>5Equipment ListAll factory-standard equipment:Garmin 530/430KFC225 Autopilot/Flight DirectorHoneywell Bendix/King KT76C transponderElectrothermal propeller deiceStandby alternatorStandby instrument airAir conditioningAftermarket equipment:JPI engine analyzerElectric backup attitude indicatormost of their flying was not as critical as I felt my flying was.The Bonanza was IFR equipped, but not new technology,and dependability of the electronics was a concern.Judy and I found a <strong>19</strong>68 V35A in Watertown, Wisconsin(KRYV). The pre-buy was performed by Jim Pollock andhis son Doug. On <strong>May</strong> 7, <strong>19</strong>99, I got checked out as weflew the seller home and I returned to KTQE in our airplane.My logbook says it was IFR all the way. N40KT was – andstill is – a beautiful airplane. It was our ride for businessand pleasure, 250 hours a year. It was dependable, a classic.I can’t begin to tell you how many com pli ments we receivedas we flew this plane. We were very fortunate. <strong>In</strong> time, N40KTwas ready for a new engine.I had looked at the A36 a little and had talked with thesales people in Omaha and Oshkosh. Upon landing at KMLEafter dark one evening in early 2004, while I was putting theV-tail in the hangar, a lineman drove up and told me that <strong>In</strong>eeded to look at a plane sitting on the ramp. He had thekeys, and I was supposed to give them back to him when Iwas done looking. It was a new A36, a 2002 model that had12 AMERICAN BONANZA SOCIETY FEBRUARY 2013
www.bonanza.orgAs I remember it, he used all the adjectives: speed, style, construction,value. He gave me a ride and I was hooked.not yet been sold. I looked at it and walked away, never evenunlocked it. The dealer called the next day and indicatedthe factory wanted this plane moved; it was a 2002, andthe 2004 models were out. You have all heard the samestory, just a different version. I was not ready to make thisbig step, but I didn’t stop listening. They were interested inour V-tail, and the deal would be fairly easy. I also wouldnot be without a plane during the engine change that wasgoing to take place, one way or another. N263EA (E-3437)is a stock 2002 A36, white with black and gold trim. It hasthe 2002-standard Garmin 530/430 stack, and like N40KT isa beautiful airplane. My log book tells me my first trip wasFebruary 13, 2004. I gave up my Corvette for a station wagon.On March 27, 2011, I started out for Sun ’n Fun to workat the <strong>ABS</strong> tent (I was on the <strong>ABS</strong> Board of Directorsby then). Rain was pounding the southeast, andgetting to Lakeland, Florida, proved to be a real challenge.Upon arriving I found the airport grounds were saturated.The winner’s choice foraerobatic and air racing performersnow STC’dfor the Bonanza and many other airplanes 26 Pounds Lighter Looks Great!! Reduced Take Off Distance Improved Climb Shorter Landings Improved Engine CoolingBENEFITS: Turbine SMOOTH Operation Unlimited Blade & Hub Life Faster Cruise No AD’s Stainless Steel Leading Edge Hot Prop & Fluid De-IceWe tied down and went about our business. As you mayrecall, a Florida tornado – which never happens – didhappen, passing right over the airport. John Annable,Bob Goff, and I were in the <strong>ABS</strong> tent when the tornadohit. We had been told it would rain hard and quickly pass.Our first indication that this was more than hard rain waswhen the lightweight, aluminum-frame tents around usstarted coming apart and items started flying through theair. The three of us each grabbed a corner post and justhung on out of fear. I clearly remember thinking of my familyand hoping this was not going to end sadly. Once the stormpassed, we checked on close neighbors and damage. We(<strong>ABS</strong>) had a real mess in our tent – wet merchandise, etc.We picked up and cleaned up as the emergency crewsmoved in. We were very lucky. As time passed, we discoveredthat some were not as lucky.We were in as good a shape as we could be at <strong>ABS</strong>, soI told the guys I was going to take a walk. I walked maybe300 feet north and saw the first damaged display plane,New and Used Equipment SalesComplete Avionics <strong>In</strong>stallationsIFR/VFR <strong>In</strong>spectionsGTN Series Navigators• Menu-driven graphics withtouchscreen display• Map point and dragflight planning• Preloaded FliteCharts• Brilliant high-resolution screenGTN750 and GTN650Flight-Resource, LLCWORLD’S LARGEST VOLUME MT PROPELLER DISTRIBUTOROffice: 866-717-1117 www.Flight-Resource.com Fax: 866-517-5047Visit our Online Storeand register to receivea $100 Service VoucherFAA Repair Station No. XL6R743J1-800-700-7779www.exxelavionics.comBrainard Airport (HFD)20 Lindbergh Drive, Hartford, CT 86114“Your Best Approach is with EXXEL”Volume 13 • Number 2 AMERICAN BONANZA SOCIETY 13