Warning ! May contain fixed wing photos

[gyroplanes]

I finally found a picture of my Barnett project, unfortunately it is in my small workshop and with another gyro (a glow-in-the-dark wonder from the flying 80s (PRA Chapter 80 from Indiana) which was in for some electrical and plumbing work.
The other pictures are of my Beech Sundowner. I just got it out of the paint shop on Saturday.

[barnstorm2]

Cool Tom!

The Beech sure looks new with that paint job, you must be very proud!

[Brian Jackson]

Lovin' the Sundowner, Tom! Nice lookin' ship. That day-glo gyro ain't bad either! Now with a little spandex and Tears For Fears in the background you'd have that whole '80s vibe going!

Cheers,
Brian Jackson

[GyroRon]

I mentioned Beech to the airport rats a few weeks ago. they bad mouthed them, said they are heavy like a tank but otherwise were ok planes. Seems like some good buys on Beechs out there...

[Brian Jackson]

I mentioned Beech to the airport rats a few weeks ago. they bad mouthed them, said they are heavy like a tank but otherwise were ok planes. Seems like some good buys on Beechs out there...
Beaches rock! Good movie too.

[gyroplanes]

I mentioned Beech to the airport rats a few weeks ago. they bad mouthed them, said they are heavy like a tank but otherwise were ok planes. Seems like some good buys on Beechs out there...


I used to work on Beechcraft (now Raytheon) Barons, for a living. I really got to appreciate the way they were built. Beech builds a good product.

When I went airplane shopping I started out looking for a Piper Cherokee 180. I found the Sundowner (which I knew nothing about) is a modernized, 180 HP version of the old Musketeer, basically a Sierra with fixed gear.

Sitting next to a Cherokee (or Warrior) the 'Downer seems like a troop transport. It is the roomiest light single that I know of and because it is so large it barely musters 115 kts or roughly 125 mph.

Speed sells airplanes more than anything else and the baby Beeches take the hit on the used market. I bought my plane for the same dollars I'd a paid for a 10 year older Piper Cherokee and since these were "high end" planes at one time most had full King IFR and an autopilot.

I had a blast flying it around Lake Michigan a few months ago and plan to use it to do my DAR visits.

[StanFoster]

Tom: That is a beautiful plane you have. Way to go.....and your photo trip around Lake Michigan was awesome. Thanks for posting.

Stan

[GyroRon]

what do you think of the Beech Skippers? Or Piper Tomahawks?

[gyroplanes]

what do you think of the Beech Skippers? Or Piper Tomahawks?


I'm sorry I couldn't get on the last few attempts due to the dreaded 404 error message.

I have no experience with either airplane. I've heard nothing but bad about the Tomahawk from instructors.
No cold, hard facts.... just adamant rejection
Tom

[StanFoster]

Tom: I took my fixed wing lessons, soloed, and did my check ride in a Piper Tomahawk. I remember it had some quirks,,but dont recall offhand what they were. I havent flown one since I took my check ride in 1983.

Stan