How
realistic is our Beech A36?
Here's
what Julie, the owner of the real A36 that we simulated, had
to say:
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"Yesterday
morning I flew the sim plane for an hour, flew my plane
for a couple hours, and came back and flew the sim for a
while again. It is incredible how similar the characteristics
of the two are. You guys did an amazing job in designing
this. The sim plane handles and flies like my plane, the
view is similar, the avionics remarkably similar, the sounds
are like mine, the interior and exterior is better than
a photo. I don't know how you did it, but you did it. Here
is a standing ovation for all your talents!!" Julie
- Unsolicited
remarks received on February 4, 2005
And
from a retired British AIrways captain...
"This
Bonanza gives us the best of both worlds. It gives me a
superb "Flight Simulator"...the nearest simulation of real
flight that I can get on a computer...even in the demanding
scenarios of display flying."
By
Peter McLeland, ex-RAF fighter pilot, and retired British
Airways captain. An accomplished real pilot, and FS pilot
who specializes in aerobatic flying. Unsolicited remarks
received on February 17, 2005
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Introduction
When
a customer at our support forum asked us why we were doing the Beech
A36, and not the classic V-tail V35 Bonanza, he commented that the
A36 was nothing more than a "sterile business machine".
Well, everyone has their opinion, but we doubt this opinion is shared
by Julie, the owner of the lovely 1998 A36 that became the DreamFleet
A36. We might also add that when "push came to shove"
it was the V35 that was dropped from Raytheon's (Beechcraft's parent
company) product line, not the A36. Yes, you can still buy a new
A36 today, one almost identical to Julie's. Of course, the lineage
of the A36 is unmistakable, and most reminiscent of the venerable
V35. While much has changed over the years, little has also changed
since that first Bonanza rolled off Walter and Olive Ann's production
line in 1947.
Having
previously owned a late model Piper Archer III, which she very much
enjoyed flying, Julie needed something larger, not for business,
but to take the rest of her family along for the flight. The A36
proved the ideal aircraft for her mission. Comfortable, and extremely
well equipped, the Beech A36 remains one of the ultimate piston
singles, and perhaps the best built of all of them.
Inside:
Gone is the old "throw over" single control yoke (that
made someone a lot of money selling a dual yoke conversion!), and
the vernier engine controls have been replaced with levers. In fact,
the A36's panel will remind you very much of that in a Baron, or
even a King Air!
With
leather club seating and a fold-down table you could easily think
you are in a cabin-class twin. The Beech A36 reeks of luxury, and
quality. Indeed, like all Beechcrafts, the A36 is a true "class
act", and the "Rolls Royce" of single engine aircraft.
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