I assume something looking like this is in your garage.

quote:

Originally posted by nhracecraft:
That looks Sweet, even Racy...Sleek & Sexy!

Honestly, the prop seems bland by comparison to the flair of the fuselage. Any reason you didn't opt for more color there, even black on the hub? Just wondering...

The prop will get overhauled while the plane is down for panel work this winter. I'll have it painted gloss black with green tips to match the rest of the plane (matte black on the back side to prevent reflections in the cabin)

Here's what it looked like 5 weeks ago; this is the original 1970 paint from the Beech factory. I changed the N number from 9083Q to 28LD - much more work/frustration with the FAA than I ever imagined!

quote:

Originally posted by recoatlift:
Gorgeous job! Home run! The gloss is definitely there, I also see the depth of image from the reflection of the picture taker. Super job, what paint? Imron? base clear? Inquiring minds need to know. Thanks.

Not Imron, but a PPG modern version of the same 2 part urethane chemistry. It is indeed very shiny single stage, but I had it sprayed with clear 2-part PPG over the colors. The clear was $1,100/gallon!!!

The aftermarket tip tanks each hold 20 gallons, the 2 mains each hold 40 gallons so I have 116 gallons of useable gas - about 8 hours of endurance with reserves.

Very nice! Love the graphics and colors. It looks great.

quote:

about 8 hours of endurance with reserves.

Longer than most would want to fly without a pee break...

Thank you all for the compliments on the new dress for an old gal.

I had the plane re-rigged by a Beech guru in Puyallup WA before bringing it back to Montana, it now flies ball centered and like "balancing on a basketball" in roll - and is about 4 knots faster than it was before paint. This will be my last airplane; at almost 73 I'm unsure how long I will be able to fly but I'm going out in style...and broke.

quote:

Originally posted by HRK:

quote:

about 8 hours of endurance with reserves.

Longer than most would want to fly without a pee break...

https://www.aircraftspruce.com.../pspages/liljohn.php

The blue looked good, but the green is very sharp.

Didn't know you could change the tail number on an aircraft, I'd assumed it was more like a VIN [permanent] than a license plate [changeable].

quote:

Originally posted by aileron:

quote:

Originally posted by recoatlift:
Gorgeous job! Home run! The gloss is definitely there, I also see the depth of image from the reflection of the picture taker. Super job, what paint? Imron? base clear? Inquiring minds need to know. Thanks.

Not Imron, but a PPG modern version of the same 2 part urethane chemistry. It is indeed very shiny single stage, but I had it sprayed with clear 2-part PPG over the colors. The clear was $1,100/gallon!!!

The aftermarket tip tanks each hold 20 gallons, the 2 mains each hold 40 gallons so I have 116 gallons of useable gas - about 8 hours of endurance with reserves.

That sure is pretty! Eye catching as well. I expect it should be easily seen in anything other than IMC.

I’m also quite impressed with the 116 gallons. Between the main (25 per side) and the aux tanks (31 per side) in the wings the Travel Air only has 112 to feed two (little) engines. I figure about five hours is maximum leg. The girls don’t much like that. I expect eight would cause a mutiny.

quote:

Originally posted by P250UA5:
The blue looked good, but the green is very sharp.

Didn't know you could change the tail number on an aircraft, I'd assumed it was more like a VIN [permanent] than a license plate [changeable].

Yes, the manufacturer’s serial number is analogous to the VIN (though much shorter) and the registration number is analogous to the license plate number. You could even export one of the birds to Britain and get a G registration number, to Canada and get a C registration number. I think France is F, but can’t swear to it. There are plenty of others that I don’t know.

ETA: Shouldn’t have said registration number, as Britain and Canada at least used to be all letters.

What effect do the wing tip fuel tanks have on the way the airplane handles? Apologies if it is a thread drift, but I am curious from a layman's point of view.

Oh that is really sharp!

One question... are there not rules on tail numbers? Height, readability?

Most I see are quite big and readable from a distance.

quote:

Originally posted by jgerge222:

What effect do the wing tip fuel tanks have on the way the airplane handles?

Comparing apples to apples, I have noticed a bit more inertia in the roll axis in Bonanzas that are equipped with tip tanks. Just a bit less responsive when starting to bank, and also less responsive when leveling out. Not a big deal.

After-market tip tanks for Bonanzas are in the 10 to 20 gallon range, but the first time that I flew a Cessna 310 I got a BIG surprise. The tip tanks on the C-310 are the main tanks, 75 gallons (450 pounds!) on each side, out there at the end of the wings with a long moment arm. I took off and immediately started a big-time PIO (Pilot Induced Oscillation), rocking from side to side, over-controlling, until I finally smartened up, took my hands off the yoke and damped the roll using rudder. The experienced C-310 pilot who was checking me out in the airplane was laughing so hard at my efforts to get stabilized, that I thought he might pass out.

aileron, what’s your principal use for that nifty Bonanza?

quote:

Originally posted by cparktd:
Oh that is really sharp!

One question... are there not rules on tail numbers? Height, readability?

Most I see are quite big and readable from a distance.

The standard for N numbers on GA aircraft is 12" high, but for "vintage" aircraft (older than 30 years) the regulations permit 2" high N numbers. Experimental homebuilts may use 3" numbers, unless the normal cruise speed is greater than 180 knots... then 12" numbers are required. My Bonanza is 53 years old, so I elected to use 4" numbers that looked "about right" and not overpower the graphic scheme. Being the Federal Gov't, there are some weasel words and exceptions to what I stated above, but you get the gist.

quote:

Originally posted by Pipe Smoker:
aileron, what’s your principal use for that nifty Bonanza?

I fly from home in NW Montana to SoCal once a month for work and to see my grandkids. I hate to make fuel stops, so the long legs of my v-tail with tip tanks makes the 5-1/2 hour non-stop a cinch. It's about 850 nautical miles; there aren't very many planes that can make that trip non-stop regardless of winds and still have comfortable IFR fuel reserves.

How about some nose art for Blondie?

Decades ago there was a monthly magazine, “Flying”. Every issue had an article titled , “I Learned about Flying from That” (or close). Every small field had a stack of back issues. (And a pot of 5-hour old coffee.)

In one such article the author described the events leading to the forced landing of his Bonanza in a farmer’s field. He commented that the plane’s landing gear was more robust than most people gave it credit for. Lucky for him!

Great looking plane! My Uncle used to own a V-tail.