Arrow Vs. Bonanza

H46Bubba

H46Bubba

Well-Known Member
I'm going to resume my quest for my commercial single in a few weeks, most likely at Sporty's. I've done most my complex in the Arrow, but Sporty's only has a Bonanza. Can someone who's flown both tell me how they compare? I'd greatly appreciate it.
 
like night (arrow) and day (bonanza)

they aren't even in the same league.

what model Bonanza?

it seems like an arrow would be much, much cheaper than a bonanza?
 
i'm surprised they are doing training in a gas guzzler like this.

bonanza's for the most part are sleek and have lots of power. they are made for range and comfort. they fly really good...but i don't know if i would want to do training in it.

maneuvers in the arrow, IMO, are a lot easier. the speeds are slower and it "mushes" through the air more. lots more forgiving.

this is just my experience with the two airplanes.

the bonanza is doable...but i definately wouldn't pay the extra price if an arrow is available.
 
Won't the Bonanza be a LOT more money? The Arrow is built more for a trainer. I did my Commercial in the Arrow and liked it a lot.
 
H46Bubba said:
I'm going to resume my quest for my commercial single in a few weeks, most likely at Sporty's. I've done most my complex in the Arrow, but Sporty's only has a Bonanza. Can someone who's flown both tell me how they compare? I'd greatly appreciate it.
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That's a loooooong drive to Clermont County (I69)! I should know...I used to do it!

And beware the Union police officers! No I didn't get beat or arrested because I'm black. In fact they never bothered me. But I hear they're bored and stop people for some ole petty ########!
 
H46Bubba said:
I think it's an A36.
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The A36 is a hell of a good airplane, and it is also quite a bit more airplane than the Arrow. As folks have already mentioned I would expect an A36 to be a pretty expensive training aircraft. The PA28R is a much more sensible aircraft for training.
 
It is an A36 - an older one. It's $170 an hour and the Arrow at Blue Ash is running about $55 an hour cheaper (depending on price of fuel). One of the corporations I flew for also had an A36 (with a Victor Gold engine - talk about an ass kickin' airplane) that we flew for short trips - it's an absolutley incredible airplane but as others have said, personally it would be hard for me to justify using it as a trainer at that price point.

Jason
 
I felt the commercial maneuvers in the A36 were easier and more fluid than in the Arrow. However, the large price difference wouldn't make up for it, but if price were no option I'd go for the A36. Plus it's just a fun plane to fly :D.
 
If price were no object, the Bonanza is by far the better airplane for doing everything in. I did my single Commercial in an Arrow and hated flying that airplane. The Arrow just felt sloppy, was hard to land smooth with forward CG and generally sucked in the Piper way of sucking. Like the feeling that whoever designed the airplane didn't think of making it pleasing to fly, they just kind of added this and that so finally you ended up with an airplane that flew like an overloaded Geo Metro. Yes I am biased against Pipers, I do have 300 plus hours in a variety of models so its an experienced bias. Malibus do make incredible gliders though.

This last summer I got to fly an A36 doing 135 charter. That airplane on the other hand seems to be designed to make the pilot feel like they're actually flying versus herding recycled beverage cans around the sky. Air work in the A36 is simple because the airplane stays where you put it or keeps going where you want it to go. The major thing I hated about the Arrow is you have to do so much freaking work in a steep turn, the Bonanza gets locked in and then you just have to make very small corrections all the way around.

The airplane that I flew charter in had the tip tank conversion which made it extremely nice because they allowed a gross weight increase of 180lbs as long as it was fuel, so you could still put 3 big guys in the plane and fly for 2 hours.

I'd stick with the Arrow though cause your $$$ savings will translate into more hours that way. It always cracked me up when my friends would get all excited about training in 172s because they were "bigger" than 150s, but they failed to realize that its all single engine low performance time anyway.
 
I only flew the A36TC, solid, stable, easy to fly.
Looks good to insurance if you fly H/P,Complex SE later on.
 
172RG vs Arrow?

I heard the A36 flys like a champ, but the cost of renting the beast outways the funds spent and time to learn a new a/c. I'm going to check out Blue Ash and it seems it will be cheaper to go there, since they do have an Arrow and a 172RG. Now what is better an Arrow or 172 RG, other than being cheaper?
 
Re: 172RG vs Arrow?

H46Bubba said:
Now what is better an Arrow or 172 RG, other than being cheaper?
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That's easy too (IMO :D): Arrow wins hands down. The 172RG is a POS. The retracts seem like more of an after thought in that plane, and it's my opinion the Arrow handles the commercial maneuvers better and is more predictable.
 
I'm not a huge fan of the 172RG either but it's about $20/hr cheaper and $20 is $20. For what's it worth, the 172RG only has the basic radios in it and the Arrow has a Garmin 430 in it if that makes a difference to you.

Jason
 
And don't forget that if you plan to use Blue Ash Aviation's airplane you'll have to pony up for the renters insurance of a certain amount - I believe it was going to cost me sround $200 a year if I remember correctly. Don't know how much flying you plan on diong but that flying club I told you about charges $108 an hour for the Arrow and $115 for the new 182 - all tach time instead of hobbs and no insurance required.

Jason
 
Jason said:
And don't forget that if you plan to use Blue Ash Aviation's airplane you'll have to pony up for the renters insurance of a certain amount - I believe it was going to cost me sround $200 a year if I remember correctly. Don't know how much flying you plan on diong but that flying club I told you about charges $108 an hour for the Arrow and $115 for the new 182 - all tach time instead of hobbs and no insurance required.

Jason
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Jason, is that just to for renting/renters or does that also include students?
 
Here's my suggestion...do your commercial in 2 airplanes. Learn all the maneuvers in a fixed gear and practice the landings in the complex. It saved me a ton of money learning all the maneuvers & the cross countries in the fixed gear. My checkride was 1.5 in my plane and .4 in the Arrow.

Go with the Arrow. Simple to fly, loves to land and ver stable.
 
H46Bubba said:
Jason, is that just to for renting/renters or does that also include students?
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Call them and double check but I don't believe it's required if all you're doing is dual -- the catch being that when you take the checkride you won't be dual and you're technically flying the plane as PIC thus requireing the insurance. It's been about 6 months since I talked to them but that's how I remember it.....like I said, double check with them - don't rely on me! :D

Jason
 
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