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Re: [OM] IMG: A Few from the Beech Party

Subject: Re: [OM] IMG: A Few from the Beech Party
From: "Bill Pearce" <billcpearce@xxxxxxx>
Date: Sat, 17 Oct 2015 13:51:09 -0500
This needs further research. I recall an ex military pilot telling me that they didn't get an instrument rating for some mainly sensible reason, but I can't remember it, due to advancing age.

-----Original Message----- From: ChrisB
Sent: Saturday, October 17, 2015 12:51 AM
To: Olympus Camera Discussion
Subject: Re: [OM] IMG: A Few from the Beech Party

“Not many of the ex-military pilots had instrument ratings. . .”? That seems wrong. It would be unnecessarily restrictive on any military force for its pilots to be unable to fly in bad weather.

Chris

On 16 Oct 15, at 21:09, Jim Nichols <jhnichols@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Bill,

I did a little more searching, and found this article, which has some interesting numbers and a few more details on structural problems. I can recall when the tail chord was increased, and the front of the stabilizer was anchored more securely.

http://airfactsjournal.com/2012/06/tail-tale-what-was-wrong-with-v-tail-bonanza-pilots/

Jim Nichols
Tullahoma, TN USA

On 10/16/2015 2:54 PM, Bill Pearce wrote:
While ego was a large part of the problem, there were structural problems, when an egotistical pilot flew into weather he shouldn't. I believe, but memory is unclear, that the tailcone came loose due to torsion. Beech applied structural fixes in the late years of the V.

-----Original Message----- From: Jim Nichols
Sent: Friday, October 16, 2015 8:26 AM
To: Olympus Camera Discussion
Subject: Re: [OM] IMG: A Few from the Beech Party

Bill,

Thanks for your comments.  I agree that the Bonanza was a slippery
airplane when cleaned up, but no more so than the Mooney, Comanche, or
the Cessna 210, for that matter.  I knew pilots who were killed in a
Mooney, and in a Twin Comanche.  And even Scott Crossfield, with all of
his experience, was killed in a Cessna 210.  My only RG experience was
with the Comanche 250.  I have ridden in a Bonanza, but never flew one.
But, even the Bonanza had a safety outlet.  If one found himself in a
situation where caution was required, the gear could be lowered, and
then it was rock solid.

The problem, in my humble opinion, was a matter of ego, not airplane.
For low-time pilots with deep pockets, the Bonanza was a nice, shiny toy
that they just couldn't resist.

Jim Nichols
Tullahoma, TN USA

On 10/15/2015 11:45 PM, Bill Pearce wrote:
Jim,

Glad you enjoyed yourself, I would like to have been there. It does, though make me sad that the museum and event isn't in Wichita, where most of these things were born.

The V tail Bonanza was a handful to fly unless you were an experienced pilot. It was once said here that, "If it weren't for the Beech Bonanza, we would be up to our a** in doctors and lawyers." That's because more than a few were lost because the Bonanza was a handful for a low time pilot with a big ego and wallet to match. With the conventional tail, most of the problems were solved.

-----Original Message----- From: Jim Nichols
Sent: Thursday, October 15, 2015 5:18 PM
To: LUG@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ; Olympus Camera Discussion
Subject: [OM] IMG: A Few from the Beech Party

Each year at about this time the Beech airplane enthusiasts throw a
Beech Party in Tullahoma, where they enjoy each others company and all
things Beech.  The airplanes have been arriving for several days.
Today, I snapped a few examples of the airplanes that brought it all about.

The pride and joy of the Beech enthusiasts is the BE-17 Staggerwing,
built in the 1930s and 1940s.  This photo was too far away to show the
details of craftsmanship, but it was the best I could do today.
http://www.gallery.leica-users.org/v/OldNick/Red+Staggerwing.tif.html

The follow-on to the Staggerwing was the Twin Beech, built for the Army
and Navy in a number of configurations during WWII, and produced for the
civilian market in the 40s and 50s.  The Pratt & Whitney R-985 450 hp
radial powered most of the Staggerwings and the Twin Beech, though some
were converted to turboprops later.
This one was caught on a low pass down the runway.
http://www.gallery.leica-users.org/v/OldNick/Twin+Beech+in+Flight.TIFF.html

After WWII, Beech developed the Bonanza for the civilian market. The
original had the butterfly tail shown here, while the later models
featured a conventional tail.
http://www.gallery.leica-users.org/v/OldNick/Red+Bonanza.TIFF.html

And when pilots get together, frequently they want to do things that are
not a part of their daily routine, such as formation flying and low
passes down the runway.  This formation contained the military trainer
version of the Bonanza, the T-34, along with a Bonanza.
http://www.gallery.leica-users.org/v/OldNick/T-34+and+Bonanza.tif.html

All shot from a distance with the E-1 and Takumar 135/3.5.

Comments and critiques welcomed.



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