In article 4B6Fg.4479$SZ3.926@dukeread04,
"Jim Macklin" wrote:

Lands are all about controlling speed, the right speed. 1.3
Vs(x) for the weight you're actually flying.

Remember that Vsx gear down is about 15-20 mph slower than Vsx gear up.
Look it up in the charts.

You didn't say
what model Bonanza, but an A36 can be 800 pounds under
certificated GW, or 25% under. You must reduce your
approach speed by the proper amount or you will float
forever. Beech does publish excellent TO and Landing graphs
with speed adjustments.

Landing weight = w2
Max gross weight =w1
Stall speed landing weight, landing config = Vs1
Stall speed at max gross weight, landing config = Vs

[sqrt (w2/w1)*Vs] = Vs1

You can fly a few knots, not more than 5, faster which will
give you a steeper descent and then you can use the extra
speed to slow down to get a better glide. If you are using
best glide speed there is nothing you can do to improve your
approach without adding power.

You are likely flying too fast and too wide on downwind.
You are also probably watching your gauges and airspeed as
you configure the Bonanza for the approach, do it by sound
and feel and watch the runway for relative motion (drift and
glide path) and you should do fine.

Remember, you will get a landing gear failure and it may
come in the pattern with a simulated engine failure. Make
sure you know the procedure and have checked during the
pre-flight that the gear handle can be un-stowed [sometimes
the spar cover is installed over the handle]. But also
remember that it take 50 turns to get the gear down and you
only have so much time. If he gives you a simulated engine
failure and then the gear fails, exercise your judgment,
tell him that in a real case you'd land gear up rather than
risk a crash while trying to crank the gear. Then add power
and go-around, crank the gear on downwind to show him you
know how. Sometimes an examiner will give you a task to see
if you have fixated on the checkride and not the safety of
the flight.

Jim, is there any speed that is best to fly when cranking the gear down
by hand?