wrote:
I am contemplating buying an airplane mostly for business trips, but I
know a 172 or something like that will not stand the test of time
since I frequently travel to Wichita and the headwinds are brutal
sometimes.

I have been thinking about a Mooney or Bonanza but I wonder if I am
setting myself up for trouble since I have less than 100 hours logged.

Do you think I would be less safe in such an airplane, or would some
extra training be sufficient?


I had my private at 45 hours, and I started my Arrow training at 90 hrs
TT. I had to have at least 10 before the club I was at would allow me to
solo in the Arrow. The mooney wasn't far behind.

I had a few hours in Grumman Tigers before I started the complex thing,
and that plane was the best (compared to the 150/172/warrior) for honing
attention to detail - speed management, planning ahead. A slick Tiger
prepares you for a slick Mooney.

The key will really be how thick your wallet is, and what you are
prepared to pay for insurance. You may find yourself practially
uninsurable to own a Bo or other slick fastmover at 100 hrs total time
and no Instrument rating. Or have onerous training requirements thrown
at you.

The other thing is, how proficient are you in the slow movers. If you
arent already up to par, you will be behind in a fast mover. Can you
NAIL steep turns now, to commercial standards? No.. you dont need to,
but that one maneuver, above all, indicates how well you can manage
everything (bank, rudder, power, trim - just my opinion, as learned from
my instructors). If not, go play for a bit and polish it up before
throwing money at a fast mover, complex/HP bird. Can you do an approach
stall and not sink below your target altitude. Need to be a pretty good
airman in the slow stuff before tackling airplanes that sink like bricks
when stalled.

If available, and if you have the $$.. go get 10 hours dual in the
closest to what you think you want to own. If there is a rental mooney,
bonanza or 200 hp arrow in a club or on the line somewhere you can kill
two or three birds with one stone. Get the dual, get the complex
endorsement in the process, and after the first hour or so of pattern
work, rather than burning holes, start on your instrument training. You
dont have to do ALL your time in an expensive, complex bird, but if you
are going to be burning gass in the first place, get the most for your $$.

In this process you will discover, with your instructor, if you are
ready for the plane (in the first hour, really, and can back off then if
you choose). You will also likely be learning to work with the
instructor who will likely "check you off" in your own plane, when you
get one.

These are just my opinions. Nothing more.
If you want a good cross country airplane, and can afford it, go for it.
Get the training and do it right.. And.. again, an instrument rating
will reap dividends.. even if you never fly in bad weather

Dave