On Sat, 01 Sep 2007 11:25:47 -0700, Jay Honeck
wrote:

I've never flown a Bo so I don't know what is flaps characteristics are,
but if the flaps mainly add drag and don't lower the stall speed
appreciable, then using them for takeoff would make little sense. The
Arrow performed only marginally better when using flaps for takeoff.
The Skylane was a whole different airplane with flaps 20 on takeoff.
The deck angle was amazing and the climb speed substantially reduced.

Yep, horsepower makes all the difference. In our 150 hp Piper
Warrior, adding flaps for takeoff was something we did cuz we were
told to do so -- but they didn't really make much difference. That
plane just daintily floated off the ground (and back ON the ground,
when landing) no matter what the flap setting.

Our 235 hp Piper Pathfinder is WAY different. With 2 notches of
flaps, on a cool day, you can just hang on the prop and see nothing
but sky. It'll leap off the ground much faster with than without
flaps.

Which is why I'm surprised to hear of a high-horsepower plane like the
Bonanza that DOESN'T use flaps for takeoff. When I saw the video, I
thought for sure that was the reason for the crash.

Not all Bonanzas. The older ones I'm familiare with don't, but I
believe the newer A36 calls for 15 degrees which airn't much.

Roger