The Australian Beechcraft Society is holding their Pilot Proficiency Program for 2026 at Cowra from the 19th to 22nd of March, so if you own, fly or maintain Bonanzas and/or Barons, you're going to want to be there. There will be a comprehensive flying program, detailed maintenance reviews, and two days of presentations from specialists on the Bonanza and Baron, plus other speakers including Airservices, CASA, and Stralis Engineering.

We caught up with representatives from the Australian Beechcraft Society along with two very experienced members of the American Bonanza Society who will be coming to Australia for the event. It's a great chat with something to learn even if you don't fly a Beechcraft.

0:01:07 - We kick off the episode and oh wow, it's 2026 already. How did that happen?

0:04:25 - We chat with Dave Porter and David Young from the Australian Beechcraft Society about their flying experience and how they became part of the Beechcraft world. The conversation includes how Textron Aviation now owns both Cessna and Beechcraft, an overview of the Society, and the importance of aircraft type clubs for operational and maintenance knowledge, plus lobbying with regulators on your behalf. We also touch on the range of Beechcraft types, including the aerobatic Bonanzas and T-34 Mentor, then discuss what to expect from the 2026 Pilot Proficiency Program, the importance of attending, and how to sign up for it.

0:47:32 - We present a promotion for our latest podcast production: A History of the Future, then tell you a little about it.

0:51:20 - We're joined by Bob Ripley & Tom Turner from the American Bonanza Society and, after the inevitable discussion about the weather, we talk about their backgrounds and aviation experience, the number of Bonanzas and Barons still flying, and the benefits the Society provides to members. We also talk about some of the things pilots and maintainers should be aware of with these aircraft and that there are specific items for not only different models, but also specific to serial number ranges. We wrap our chat by learning the specifics of what they're bringing to the Australian event, including a detailed walk-around specific to your aircraft's model and serial number, and what unique aspects they've identified about flying and maintaining these aircraft in Australia.

1:30:26 - We talk briefly about Grant's trip to Singapore and introduce the next segment.

1:32:24 - Grant talks with Jimmy Beeson, Textron's Vice President for Product Development, about identifying opportunities for updates and new developments, working with customers to assess their needs and obtain feedback on new ideas, the latest developments, and the use of Virtual and Augmented Reality when working with customers. The conversation also touches on Textron's recent closure of the Bonanza and Baron production lines, plus what to expect from the new Denali aircraft and when it's going to be in production.

1:43:42 - We wrap up with summary of the Singapore Air Show, catching up with Brian Coleman while there, and then close out the episode.

Links:

Australian Beechcraft Society: abs.org.au
ABS PPP 2026: www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAFZSLrpE44
American Bonanza Society: www.bonanza.org
Textron Aviation: txtav.com
Beechcraft: beechcraft.txtav.com
Cessna: cessna.txtav.com
A History of the Future: www.australiandefence.com.au/history-of-the-future
Australian Defence Magazine: www.australiandefence.com.au
Singapore Air Show: www.singaporeairshow.com

Credits:

Introduction voice over - Kevin Hillier
Closing credits - Terry Daniel

Contact us via contact@planecrazydownunder.com

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