Backcountry Pilot • Anyone Fly a Bonanza as a back country plane?

Anyone Fly a Bonanza as a back country plane?

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Mon May 09, 2011 9:13 pm

Anyone Fly a Bonanza as a back country plane?

Would a Bonanaza be ok as a back country plane or would a guy be much better off with a high-wing like a 182 if he wanted to do grass strips in fun locations?

I'm a lowly 8 hour (some day) Pilot.... so, just dreaming/researching.

Thanks!
MNJon offline
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Mon May 09, 2011 9:16 pm

Re: Anyone Fly a Bonanza as a back country plane?

lets see, Bonanza... back country.... bonanza.... back country strips,,,,, just doesn't compute...sorry.... [-X #-o :wink: actually the bonanza is a good rugged airplane you just don't see all that many in the back country... probably cause Bonanza drivers don't want to get them dinged or dirty...
Last edited by iceman on Mon May 09, 2011 9:22 pm, edited 1 time in total.
iceman offline
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Mon May 09, 2011 9:18 pm

Re: Anyone Fly a Bonanza as a back country plane?

iceman wrote:lets see, Bonanza... back country.... bonanza.... back country strips,,,,, just doesn't compute...sorry.... [-X #-o :wink:


Trying to cause trouble here? [-X [-X

:P
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Mon May 09, 2011 9:21 pm

Re: Anyone Fly a Bonanza as a back country plane?

Actually, there is a guy flying around out west in a Bonanza. You can check it out on youtube,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmkWh51mGh8

I know there's another video of a guy in a v-tail doing the same...

There's another guy on here doing it in an m20c mooney....... (piperpainter) =D> :lol:

So yes, pick your runways and get some training....
Last edited by eh009us on Mon May 09, 2011 9:29 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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Mon May 09, 2011 9:26 pm

Re: Anyone Fly a Bonanza as a back country plane?

58Skylane wrote:
iceman wrote:lets see, Bonanza... back country.... bonanza.... back country strips,,,,, just doesn't compute...sorry.... [-X #-o :wink:


Trying to cause trouble here? [-X [-X

:P

no just telling it like it is... of all the fly in's Ive attended at JC with aircraft lining both sides of the runway the entire length (about 100 aircraft) there wasn't one bonanza...
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Mon May 09, 2011 9:42 pm

Re: Anyone Fly a Bonanza as a back country plane?

I just caught the front end of this Bonanza that was out of Hailey, Idaho. This picture was taken at Smiley Creek, Idaho.
Image
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Mon May 09, 2011 10:04 pm

Re: Anyone Fly a Bonanza as a back country plane?

Any low wing tricycle aircraft like the Bonanza is obviously not ideal for rough runways, but frankly 90% of the places we all like to go are easily landed and negotiated with them. Many of those Idaho strips are perfectly groomed grass that you could land an RC plane on without dinging its prop. :) The Bonanza has a huge door like a Maule and can haul a good load, and fast.

Add rough, uneven surface or a requirement for a very short takeoff or landing though and it starts to get less ideal. Prop clearance is probably the biggest factor. I know a fellow who taxied his M20 into a dished out grassy area while being marshaled at night at FBO parking and suffered a prop strike.

Personally I love looking at a taildragger, even though most of my destinations could be handled with any aircraft. If you love Bonanzas though, you can make it work for you if you get the proper training to really fly the aircraft. They are heavier and faster than trainers though and have a reputation for punishing the complacent or inexperienced weekend warrior.

Inspiration for low winging retractors:
http://www.backcountrypilot.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=4015
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Mon May 09, 2011 10:22 pm

Re: Anyone Fly a Bonanza as a back country plane?

Wouldn't a Bonanza just go into Automatic Mountain Collision (AMC) mode the minute the doctor began his approach to a mountain airport in a Bo :mrgreen: ?
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Tue May 10, 2011 12:48 am

Re: Anyone Fly a Bonanza as a back country plane?

iceman wrote:
58Skylane wrote:
iceman wrote:lets see, Bonanza... back country.... bonanza.... back country strips,,,,, just doesn't compute...sorry.... [-X #-o :wink:


Trying to cause trouble here? [-X [-X

:P

no just telling it like it is... of all the fly in's Ive attended at JC with aircraft lining both sides of the runway the entire length (about 100 aircraft) there wasn't one bonanza...

Image
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Tue May 10, 2011 4:20 am

Re: Anyone Fly a Bonanza as a back country plane?

Isn't there a users on here who calls himself Bonanza Man?
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Tue May 10, 2011 4:23 am

Re: Anyone Fly a Bonanza as a back country plane?

I've seen Bonanzas at both Johnson Creek and Smiley Creek..again as others have said..to know the capabilities of your flyer and the limitations of the pilot!!
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Tue May 10, 2011 5:25 am

Re: Anyone Fly a Bonanza as a back country plane?

A couple examples...... It doesn't mean that its the primo BC airplane, but...........

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qe0GzZIW9gI

http://www.youtube.com/user/Newps2600?b ... V3tDOH7aOg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUsX_k2nC4o
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Tue May 10, 2011 5:29 am

Re: Anyone Fly a Bonanza as a back country plane?

There are always exeptions, but certainly not the preferred backcountry plane, by most. Kinda depends on how far backcountry ya wanna go.
Don't see many at Mile Hi.
Most would consider the 182 a better backcountry plane tha the Bonanza, and the earlier 182's are usually considered better.
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Tue May 10, 2011 6:33 am

Re: Anyone Fly a Bonanza as a back country plane?

MNJon wrote:... or would a guy be much better off with a high-wing like a 182 if he wanted to do grass strips in fun locations?....
Thanks!


If this were the limitations of my 'backcountry flying' I would take the Bonanza over the 182 in a heartbeat... The Bonanzas gear is hell for stout, it's faster, roomier, and will handle just about any grass strip a 182 will... all the docs are now flying carbon cubs, and cirruses... (which doesn't make me think any less of those planes either)
If it's going to be more involved than manicured lawns you probably oughta consider why the masses are doing highwings and tailwheels...

Take care, Rob
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Tue May 10, 2011 7:09 am

Re: Anyone Fly a Bonanza as a back country plane?

Define "backcountry" ???? 8)

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Tue May 10, 2011 7:26 am

Re: Anyone Fly a Bonanza as a back country plane?

Rob wrote:
MNJon wrote:... or would a guy be much better off with a high-wing like a 182 if he wanted to do grass strips in fun locations?....
Thanks!


If this were the limitations of my 'backcountry flying' I would take the Bonanza over the 182 in a heartbeat... The Bonanzas gear is hell for stout, it's faster, roomier, and will handle just about any grass strip a 182 will... all the docs are now flying carbon cubs, and cirruses... (which doesn't make me think any less of those planes either)
If it's going to be more involved than manicured lawns you probably oughta consider why the masses are doing highwings and tailwheels...

Take care, Rob


I had a 182 for 7 years before I bought my Bo 6 years ago. I have brought my Bo every place I landed my 182. The gear on the Bo is a hell of a lot stronger than the 182, my gear is the same as on that years Baron which grosses 2000 pounds more than my Bo. No marginal firewall attach points either, the Bo nose wheel is attached similarly to a 206. One downside is I cannot get a larger tire, I'm stuck with a 5.00x5. I just installed an MT prop last week. I have only been able to fly it twice but so far the performance looks promising over my McCauley 2 blade. My 67 182 I used to have needed 450 feet to take off with myself and 40 gallons. My Bo with the two blade needed 550-600. With the three blade I am back in the 182 territory of approx 450-475 feet again. The three blade has a smaller diameter so my prop clearance is now 18", significantly more than my 182 that had a 6.00 nosewheel. I can't fly the Bo as slowly in the pattern as I could the 182 so I need to look at the narrow canyon strips a little harder.
That's my youtube page somebody above linked to(newps2600). That's me landing at Ryan Field two years ago. Look also on that page and you'll see a Cub, 180 and 185 landing there too on the same day. I got stopped before the Cub touched down. The 180 and 185 followed me in, similar story. I know both those guys and was able to ask them how the other end of the runway was as I didn't get down that far. :D Fact is it doesn't matter if you fly a Cub, if you don't fly it right, it really doesn't matter.
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Tue May 10, 2011 8:27 am

Re: Anyone Fly a Bonanza as a back country plane?

One of my hangar mates flies a Bonanza V-tail. I know it's a beast to move around the hangar by hand by yourself. Like others have had said alot of it depends on the conditions and your skill level. A really good pilot could land a 747 at Johnson Creek probably. As a very generic statement the key to most of the "fun" grass strips is go in there light and leave early in the morning. We had a Beech Staggerwing at JC all weekend the weekend of the Fly-in last year. I certainly would not consider it a "backcountry plane"

The folks that have issues are the ones that have no experience with grass, mountains, and density altitude. They load up everything but the kitchen sink and then try to leave at 2 in the afternoon and can't figure out why they their airplane is a dog. Several years ago a Kitfox buddy of mine destroyed his airplane making a precautionary landing after he lost oil pressure. While the news crew was at his home strip filming the story they caught this guy attempting to takeoff on film. The field elevation here (Cameron Park, CA) is only 1300ft and paved. It was in the high 90's that afternoon making the Density Altitude significantly higher than field elevation. After seeing the results of this you can imagine trying to take off out of Johnson Creek in the heat of the day at a Field Elevation of 4930 with the added drag of grass on take off roll. This guy killed 2 of his passengers after he failed to evaluate the conditions properly.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVJJzyXQNAg
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Tue May 10, 2011 1:12 pm

Re: Anyone Fly a Bonanza as a back country plane?

OscarDeuce wrote:Isn't there a users on here who calls himself Bonanza Man?


Yep. And that is his picture I posted, of his plane, above. That is Johnson Creek I believe :wink:

If there is a retractable gear, low wing plane that is suited for the backcountry, it is the Bonanza. Bomber gear and prop clearance that puts many "backcountry" airplanes to shame.
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Tue May 10, 2011 1:26 pm

Re: Anyone Fly a Bonanza as a back country plane?

once&futr_alaskaflyer wrote:
OscarDeuce wrote:Isn't there a users on here who calls himself Bonanza Man?


Yep. And that is his picture I posted, of his plane, above. That is Johnson Creek I believe :wink:


Schafer Meadows (MT) 8)
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Tue May 10, 2011 3:48 pm

Re: Anyone Fly a Bonanza as a back country plane?

Now that we know the Bonanza is a very capable backcountry plane. Which do you think would be better, a Maule, or a Bonanza?
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